No. 609 Squadron — West Riding

No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron formed at RAF Yeadon in February 1936 as an Auxiliary Air Force day-bomber unit, converting to Spitfires on the eve of war. During the Battle of Britain the squadron flew from Middle Wallop under 10 Group, and on 13 August 1940 destroyed fourteen enemy aircraft in a single engagement over the Isle of Wight. By October it had become the first RAF squadron to claim one hundred confirmed kills. Táctical innovations by Squadron Leader Darley — abandoning rigid pre-war formations — helped produce aces including John Dundas and Frank Howell. In April 1942 the squadron became the third, and the only Auxiliary unit, to receive the Hawker Typhoon, emerging as the type’s highest-scoring squadron. Rocket- and bomb-armed Typhoons attacked coastal raiders, radar stations, and transport links in the run-up to D-Day, after which the unit served under 84 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, supporting the advance through Normandy and the Low Countries into Germany until disbandment in September 1945.