No. 502 Squadron RAF facts for kids
Quick facts for kids No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 15 May 1925 – 25 May 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 September 2013 - present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Part of | RAF Bomber Command (25–38,46) RAF Coastal Command (38–45) RAF Fighter Command (47–57) |
| Nickname(s) | Ulster |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Nihil timeo (Translation: "I fear nothing") |
| Battle honours | Atlantic, 1939–44 Biscay, 1941–44 Channel & North Sea, 1942–45 Dieppe Baltic, 1944–45 These honours are all emblazoned on the squadron standard |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Air Commodores | Lord Londonderry Viscount Brookeborough |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A red hand erased The red hand is taken from the arms of Ulster, 502 being the Ulster Auxiliary Squadron. The hand is erased though, instead of couped. |
| Squadron Codes | KQ (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939) YG (Sep 1939 – Feb 1943) V9 (Jun 1944 – May 1945, 1949–1953) RAC (May 1946–1949) |
No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron is a special part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. This squadron played an important role in World War II. It is the oldest reserve squadron, first formed in 1925. It was brought back to life in September 2013.
Contents
History of the Ulster Squadron
How the Squadron Started
No. 502 Squadron began on May 15, 1925. It was first called No. 502 (Bomber) Squadron. It was a Special Reserve squadron based at RAF Aldergrove. The team included both regular and reserve air force members. On December 1, 1925, it officially became No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron.
The squadron's first job was to fly heavy night bombers. They used Vickers Vimy planes from June 1925. Later, they got Handley Page Hyderabads in July 1928. In December 1931, Vickers Virginias joined the fleet. But in October 1935, their role changed to day bombing. For this, they used Westland Wallace planes. In April 1937, they received Hawker Hind aircraft. Soon after, on July 1, 1937, the squadron became part of the Auxiliary Air Force. The Special Reserve group was then closed down.
Protecting the Coasts in Wartime
On November 28, 1938, No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron joined RAF Coastal Command. They received Avro Anson planes in January 1939. When World War II began, the squadron flew patrols over the Atlantic Ocean. They watched the waters near the Irish Coast. From October 1940, the squadron started using Armstrong Whitworth Whitley aircraft.
There was a report that on November 30, 1941, the squadron was the first Coastal Command unit to successfully attack a German U-boat. They supposedly used new air-to-surface radar. This attack was said to have sunk U-boat U-206 in the Bay of Biscay. However, newer information suggests U-206 was likely sunk by British mines. The squadron's attack might have been on U-71, which got away safely.
In January 1942, the squadron moved to RAF Docking in Norfolk and RAF St Eval in Cornwall. Until 1944, their main job was to fly anti-submarine patrols. In January 1943, they started using Halifax GR.Mk.IIs. The first patrol with this type of plane was on March 12. Besides hunting submarines, they also attacked enemy ships off the French coast.
By September 1944, the French coast was back in Allied hands. The squadron then moved to RAF Stornoway in Scotland. From there, they attacked German ships near the Norwegian coast. They stayed there until the war ended. The squadron was officially closed on May 25, 1945.
Entering the Jet Age
The Auxiliary Air Force was brought back, and so was No. 502 Squadron. It reformed on May 10, 1946, again at RAF Aldergrove. This time, it was a light bomber squadron. They flew Mosquito B.25s from July 1946. In December, night fighter Mosquitoes replaced the bombers.
By June 1948, all units of the now Royal Auxiliary Air Force switched to day fighter roles. Squadron 502 received Spitfire F.22s for this purpose. They began training with jet planes in January 1951. This was when Vampire FB.5s arrived. More Vampire FB.9s were added in July 1954. The squadron continued to fly both types of Vampire jets. However, like all flying units of the RAuxAF, it was disbanded on March 10, 1957.
Reforming at Aldergrove Today
In September 2013, it was confirmed that No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron had reformed. It is now based at Aldergrove Flying Station once more. As a general squadron, its goal is to train Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel. These trained individuals support various missions around the world. No. 502 is the oldest reserve squadron, first formed in 1925. In 2019, the squadron received a new standard (a special flag). The old standard, awarded in 1939, was worn out.
Aircraft Used by the Squadron
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1925 | July 1928 | Vickers Vimy | |
| July 1928 | February 1932 | Handley Page Hyderabad | |
| December 1931 | October 1935 | Vickers Virginia | Mk.X |
| October 1935 | May 1937 | Westland Wallace | Mk.I |
| November 1935 | May 1937 | Westland Wallace | Mk.II |
| April 1937 | April 1939 | Hawker Hind | |
| January 1939 | November 1940 | Avro Anson | Mk.I |
| August 1940 | November 1940 | Blackburn Botha | Mk.I |
| September 1940 | February 1942 | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley | Mk.V |
| November 1941 | February 1943 | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley | Mk.VII |
| January 1943 | March 1945 | Handley Page Halifax | GR.Mk.II Srs.IA |
| December 1944 | May 1945 | Handley Page Halifax | GR.Mks.IIIA, VI |
| July 1946 | December 1947 | de Havilland Mosquito | B.25 |
| December 1947 | June 1948 | de Havilland Mosquito | NF.30 |
| June 1948 | January 1951 | Supermarine Spitfire | F.22 |
| January 1951 | March 1951 | de Havilland Vampire | F.3 |
| March 1951 | March 1957 | de Havilland Vampire | FB.5 |
| July 1954 | March 1957 | de Havilland Vampire | FB.9 |
Squadron Bases Over the Years
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 January 1925 | 27 January 1941 | RAF Aldergrove, County Antrim | Detachment at RAF Hooton Park, Cheshire |
| 27 January 1941 | 12 January 1942 | RAF Limavady, County Londonderry | Detachments at RAF Wick, Caithness, Scotland; RAF Chivenor, Devon; RAF St Eval, Cornwall and RAF Reykjavik, Iceland |
| 12 February 1942 | 22 February 1942 | RAF Docking, Norfolk | Detachment at RAF St Eval, Cornwall |
| 22 February 1942 | 2 March 1943 | RAF St Eval, Cornwall | |
| 2 March 1943 | 25 March 1943 | RAF Holmesley South, Hampshire | Detachment at RAF St Eval, Cornwall |
| 25 March 1943 | 30 June 1943 | RAF St Eval, Cornwall | |
| 30 June 1943 | 10 December 1943 | RAF Holmesley South, Hampshire | Detachment at RAF St Eval, Cornwall |
| 10 December 1943 | 11 September 1944 | RAF St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales | |
| 11 September 1944 | 25 May 1945 | RAF Stornoway, Western Isles, Scotland | Detachment at RAF Wick, Caithness, Scotland |
| 17 July 1946 | 10 March 1957 | RAF Aldergrove, County Antrim |
Notable People in the Squadron
- Clive Beadon
- John Burrough (rower), who died on November 26, 1944.
- William Maxfield (cyclist), who died on December 27, 1943.
- Michael Oser Weizmann, son of Chaim Weizmann, who was reported missing in 1942 after his plane was shot down.
