'Shrieking from the clouds, the Stukas achieved the measure of surprise they needed. The accuracy of the raid was good. Every runway was hit, the length of them just bomb craters, rock and earth. Fires were started in all the hangers eventually spreading to enormous proportions. As the operations room disappeared in one large explosion, the Station Commander fell dead with a piece of jagged concrete driven straight through his skull...' 500 Squadron was formed in 1930 at Manston in Kent. Initially recruited from Kent men and women, it became international when war broke out. The Battle Honours are the English Channel and North Sea, Dunkirk, Biscay Ports, Atlantic, North Africa, the Mediterranean and Italy. In peacetime, it won the coveted Cooper and Esher Trophy twice for the best performance in the auxiliary squadrons. Sadly, it fell victim to defence cuts in 1957 when allauxiliary squadrons were disbanded. The squadron may have disappeared from the Royal Air Force Order of Battle, but it will never be forgotten.Its history lies in the annals of the service and the fact that the Old Comrades Association of 500 Squadron holds an annual reunion at their ancestral home, RAF Manston in Kent.

About the Author
Robin Brooks was born in Sevenoaks, Kent, and served as an apprentice as an electrician before National Service in the RAF. Being an air cadet, he enjoyed his service in the trade of author writing aircraft servicing schedules. After demob, he did not want to return to being an electrician and took a job as a display designer in London. Brooks later returned to the tools and became an office equipment engineer initially on typewriters, but then moved to copiers and fax machines. Brooks retired early to enjoy his hobby that he has now become a full-time occupation i.e. aviation.


Book Information
ISBN 9781781553220
Author Robin J. Brooks
Format Paperback
Page Count 160
Imprint Fonthill Media Ltd
Publisher Fonthill Media Ltd