'Churchill's Own'

摘要

Formed as an army co-operation unit flying Hawker Hectors and Avro Tutors at Kenley, Surrey, in 1937, the decaying state of Europe changed the role of 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force. The 1938 Munich crisis saw 615 transferred to 11 Group, Fighter Command on November 7, under the command of Sqn Ldr A V Harvey. Moving to Old Sarum in Wiltshire, 615 re-equipped with a combination of Gloster Gauntlets and Gladiators taken from other squadrons in the process of re-equipping with the Hawker Hurricane. The position of Honorary Air Commodore was readily filled by the Rt Hon Winston Churchill, an honour that was later personalised when the squadron became known as 'Churchill's Own'.