The first Royal Air Force Standard of His Majesty The King’s reign has been presented to 600 (City of London) Squadron at RAF Northolt.
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadron received the Standard from the Representative Lord Mayor of London, Sir Charles Bowman, during an impressive ceremony and parade. Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, the newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff, acted as Reviewing Officer for the parade.
The 600 (City of London) Squadron Standard contains a living history that embodies the Squadron, connects every member of the Squadron, and reminds us of their strong bonds with the City of London. From its very beginning in 1925, 600 Squadron has recruited from the City, and it was proud to be part of London with its aircraft displaying the City Crest. Always at the core of the Squadron are its people – they are what makes 600 Squadron great, and they are the current custodians of this rich history.
Alderman Sir Charles Bowman
In December 2017 Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II approved nine new Standards to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, with 600 Squadron receiving in recognition of its contribution to the United Kingdom in both peace and war. The Squadron was last presented with a Standard in 1953 by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, who was also the Squadron’s Honorary Air Commodore.
Today marks a wonderful day for the Station with the first RAF Standard Presentation to take place during the reign of King Charles III. It is also an enormous privilege to have the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, with us today as the Reviewing Officer for his first Standard Presentation as CAS.
600 (City of London) Squadron is a core part of the Station and the composition of the parade today shows just how well integrated our Reserve and Regular personnel are here, working together and delivering for Station and more widely every day. I know the Station, friends and families of the Squadron will remember today for a long time to come.
Group Captain Victoria McPhaden,
Station Commander RAF Northolt
600 (City of London) Squadron is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force General Service Squadron. It was formed at RAF Northolt and served predominantly as a fighter squadron including the Battle of Britain, North Africa and Italy. It now provides trained administrative, logistics, flight operations, intelligence, communications and information systems and medical personnel. Recently, personnel have served on operations in Afghanistan, the Baltic countries, the Balkans, the Falkland Islands, Iraq and the Middle East. The Squadron also has a flight of subject matter experts with specialist backgrounds such as aircrew, engineers, chaplains and legal officers.
The presentation of our new Standard is a highly significant, once in a generation event, as it recognises the valour and sacrifice of all those who have served. Those on parade today can be extremely proud of their part in the history of this Battle of Britain Squadron.
We are also privileged to receive the Standard from the Representative Lord Mayor of the City of London, given our close association with the City, since the formation of the Squadron in 1925.
Wing Commander Steve Duddy,
Officer Commanding 600 (City of London) Squadron
On 1st April 1943, the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force, His late Majesty King George VI approved the award of the Standard to operational Regular and Auxiliary Squadrons. On 16 May 1953 at Buckingham Palace No. 600 (City of London) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was the first Auxiliary Squadron to receive its Standard.
The Standard is a beautifully embroidered work of art. In the centre is the original Squadron badge and on either side are eight Battle Honours, selected from the ten won by the Squadron; these eight are:
Home Defence 1940-1942
France and The Low Countries 1940
Battle of Britain 1940
North Africa 1942-1943
Sicily 1943
Italy 1943-1945
Salerno 1943
Anzio and Nettuno 1944
The original Standard was laid up in the Lady Chapel of St Bartholomew The Great Church, in the City of London in 1960, where it has remained.
