No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, headquartered in a historic townhouse on Learmonth Terrace in Edinburgh, is a prestigious Royal Auxiliary Air Force unit that recruits reservists from across Scotland for specialized roles in Force Protection, Intelligence, and RAF Police. Re-formed in 1999, it provides critical support to RAF bases and operations worldwide, including recent deployments to the Falklands and Cyprus. Formed in 1925, the squadron has an illustrious combat record; flying Spitfires in World War II, its pilots shared credit (with No. 602 Squadron) for shooting down the first German aircraft over British soil near the Firth of Forth in October 1939. It later gained fame for its heroic defence of Malta. The squadron maintained a unique bond with the late Queen Elizabeth II, who served as its Honorary Air Commodore for over 60 years. Its badge depicts Edinburgh Castle, and its Scots dialect motto, Gin Ye Daur ("If You Dare"), perfectly captures its defiant spirit.
