No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, currently based in Glasgow, is a distinguished Royal Auxiliary Air Force unit that recruits reservists from across Scotland to support the RAF in specialized roles such as Intelligence, Flight Operations, and Photography. Re-formed in 2006, it continues a proud Scottish aviation tradition. Formed in 1925, the squadron holds a significant place in the history books: it was the first Auxiliary unit to be equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire, receiving them even before some Regular squadrons. In 1939, its pilots flew the first sortie of the Second World War over British soil and were credited (jointly with No. 603 Squadron) with shooting down the first German aircraft over the UK—a Heinkel He 111 over the Firth of Forth. Its badge features the Scottish Lion Rampant, and its motto, Cave Leonem Cruciatum ("Beware the crossed/tormented lion"), serves as a fierce warning to any who threaten its home.
