No. 600 (City of London) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force is a squadron of the RAF Reserves. It was formed in 1925 and operated as a night fighter squadron during the Second World War with great distinction. After the war, 600 Squadron went on to operate jet fighters until 1957. Reactivated in 1999, 600 Squadron is the only RAF Reserve unit within the M25. It is a Headquarters Support Squadron and provides trained part-time reservists to support RAF operations around the world.

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No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF
Active	14 October 1925 – 21 August 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 1 October 1999 – present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Part of	Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Base	RAF Northolt, London
Nickname(s)	City of London
Motto(s)	Latin: Praeter sescentos (Translation: "More than six hundred")[1][2]
Post 1950 Squadron markings
Battle honours	France and Low Countries, 1940* Battle of Britain, 1940* Home defence, 1940–42* North Africa, 1942–43* Sicily, 1943* Italy, 1943–45* Salerno* Anzio & Nettuno* Gustav Line Gothic Line The honours marked with an asterisk* are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Commanders
Officer Commanding	Wing Commander
Honorary Air Commodore	Lord Trenchard
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	No 600 is the only squadron in the RAF to have two official badges[3] In front of an increscent, a sword on bend[2][4] The crescent moon represents the squadron's night-fighter activities whilst the sword commemorates the connection with the city of London[1] The City of London arms, overflown by an eagle Also known as 'the dust-cart crest'[5]
Squadron Codes	MV (Jan 1939 – Sep 1939)[6][7] BQ (Sep 1939 – Aug 1943)[8][9] 6 (Aug 1943 – Jul 1944)[10] RAG (May 1946 – 1949)[11][12] LJ (1949 – Apr 1951)[13]

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Since 1999, the Squadron has provided initial and professional training to part-time reservists in a variety of RAF ground trades – Operations, Intelligence, Personnel Support, Nursing, Medical & Logistics among others. Many 600 Squadron reservists have had the privilege of literally making the headlines – from exercises in Africa, the Middle East and Malaysia, to front-line operations in Iraq, Afghanistan the Falkland's and further afield. Their involvement has run the gamut of the RAF’s More recently, our reservists mobilised from their civilian lives to assist in the planning, and on the front-lines of the response to the global pandemic – and there is likely to be more opportunities for our reservists to make a mark on history just as their predecessors did.

In the UK, Reservists from 600 Squadron have served on RAF stations, flying squadrons, at HQ Air Command, in joint operations rooms, with RAF Regiment Squadrons and in posts within the Ministry of Defence. Indistinguishable from full-time colleagues, part-time personnel have led change and success in the traditions of the unit, often gaining awards and commendations – or transferring into successful RAF Regular careers.

Meanwhile, 600 Squadron is the only RAF Reserve presence within Greater London, and with “Privileged Regiment Status” within the City of London, is regularly involved in high-profile ceremonial events there, or on the national stage.

600 Squadron still actively seeks to recruit and train motivated men and women who live within a 50-mile radius of RAF Northolt, with or without prior armed forces experience, and who have an interest in supporting the RAF in their spare-time.^[17]

• Richard Haine