No. 504 Squadron RAuxAF

No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron RAuxAF
Active26 Mar 1928 – 10 Aug 1945
10 May 1946 – 10 Mar 1957
1 Oct 1999 – present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Auxiliary Air Force
RoleLogistics
Part ofNo 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing, RAF A4 Force
Current StationRAF Wittering
Nickname(s)County of Nottingham
Motto(s)Latin: Vindicat in Vetis
(Translation: "It avenges in the wind")
Post-1952 aircraft insignia
Battle honoursFrance and Low Countries, 1940;
Battle of Britain, 1940;
Home Defence, 1940–42;
Atlantic, 1941–42;
Fortress Europe, 1942–44;
Normandy, 1944;
Arnhem, 1944;
France and Germany, 1944–45.
These honours are all emblazoned on the squadron standard
Commanders
Honorary Air CommodoresLord Sherwood (48–56)
J.M. Birkin (56–57)
Notable
commanders
Sir H.M. Seely, MP
John Hamar "Johnnie" Hill
Herbert Hallowes
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryAn oak tree fronted and eradicated
The 'Major Oak' of Sherwood forest from the armorial bearings of the county of Nottingham, also thought to be appropriate for a Hurricane squadron
Squadron CodesAW (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939)
TM (Sep 1939 – Aug 1945, 1949 – 1952)
RAD (May 1946 – 1949)

No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron was one of the Special Reserve Squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force, and today is a reserve force of the RAF Regiment. It was integrated into the AAF proper in 1936. Based at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, 504 Squadron used a variety of light bombers before being re-tasked to fighters with the Hawker Hurricane in 1939. It subsequently became a Fighter Squadron. Currently No. 504 Squadron no longer has a flying role, but as part of No 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing of the RAF A4 Force.