Commemoration Sculpture 601 (County of London) Squadron

G Lokey, on November 1, said:

No 601 Squadron was formed at Northolt in 1925 as a light bomber unit of the Auxiliary Air Force. Flying did not begin until 1926 when its Avro 504s were supplemented by DH9A light bombers. In January 1927 the Squadron moved to Hendon where it was based up to the outbreak of war. In November 1929 Waptis replaced the DH9As and in 1933 these were replaced by Harts. The following year the Squadron was re-designated a Fighter unit and in 1937 the Harts were replaced by Demons. The following year they converted to Guantlet single-seater fighters and the following year they began to receive Blenheims. It was with these that they began fighter patrols at the outbreak of war and by the following year they had converted to Hurricanes. A detachment operated from French soil for a week and then the Squadron carried out defensive duties from the South of England during the Battle of Britain. In February 1941 they were re-equipped with Airacobras which proved useless and in in March 1942 they were discarded in favour of Spitfires. In April 1942 the Squadron sailed for the Middle East and were based in Egypt until the end of the African campaign in May 1943. From there it was to Tunisia and then to Malta to cover the Sicily landings. After that it was to Italy to carry out ground support to the Army until the end of the war. On the 14th August 1945 the Squadron was disbanded. On 10th May 1946 the Auxuliary Air Force was re-formed and 601 began recruiting at Hendon. In October it commenced flying Spitfires and in 1949 moved to North Weald. It then flew Vampires and then Meteors before on 10th March 1957 the AAF was disbanded and 601 ceased to exist. The sculpture is to commemorate 601's time at Hendon.