When I was a kid back in the 50s (aaargh ! ) my Dad was in this squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force,and enjoyed many happy times until the squadron was finally disbanded.
Does anyone have any memories of the squadron to share ?
I know the annual camp was the highlight of his year.I believe they went several times to Bawdsey in Suffolk,once to Devon ( when a tin of an exotic delicacy called clotted cream arrived in the post ),and one year to somewhere in Germany.
Anything you can come up with would certainly make an old man very happy.
By: Thunderbird167 - 7th October 2010 at 19:22
This might be of interest as it is the post war squadron which disbanded in March 1957
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=62455
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=40798
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1951/1951%20-%200787.html
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%201380.html
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%201381.html
By: northeagle - 6th October 2010 at 17:29
As an Auxilliary Air Force squadron, it should really be abbreviated to RAuxAF to save confusion with Royal Australian Air Force. 😉
As far as I can see the posts refer to 615 Squadron during the WW2 years and before. Therefore: Auxiliary Air Force, AAF. The ‘Royal’ was not conferred until 1947 so, from 1947: Royal Auxiliary Air Force or RAuxAF.
Best Wishes.
Robert.
By: Arabella-Cox - 6th October 2010 at 16:21
Does anyone have any memories of the squadron to share ?
A late friend of mine, EJ “Jack” Tanner, was a pilot with 615 from 1945 (when the sq reformed) until 1953. Flew Spit Mk22 then Meteors. He represented 11 Group in RAF aerobatic contests, notably at North Weald and Manston. See:
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1950/1950%20-%200943.html
Neville Duke was his CO for some of this time. Duke offered EJ Tanner a job as a test pilot when he was leaving the RAF (something he considered seriously; pay was good) but he joined BEA as a civil pilot, completing his career in 1977 as a BA Captain on 707s.
By: AdlerTag - 6th October 2010 at 14:33
As an Auxilliary Air Force squadron, it should really be abbreviated to RAuxAF to save confusion with Royal Australian Air Force. 😉
By: pobjoy pete - 6th October 2010 at 13:36
615 Squadron
Very much associated with Kenley (and Croydon) pre war and actually went to France with Gladiators before converting to Hurricanes.
Were operating out of Kenley during the famous low level dornier raid there on 18th Aug 1940.
Post war the squadron had to go to Biggin Hill with the jets as the Kenley runway’s were to short.Disbanded in the 50’s.
The science museum Hurricane (L1592) KW-Z (a 615 machine) took off from Kenley on its last operational scramble 18 08 40 and force landed later at Croydon.
The 615 number lives on with 615 VGS (ATC GLIDING) still at Kenley.
Neville Duke the well known Hawker test pilot was one of the post war CO’s.
By: paulmcmillan - 6th October 2010 at 11:44
“615 County of Surrey squadron RAAF“
Struth mate!
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October 6, 2010 at 11:11 am