11/02/2024
I’ve been fortunate to spend the last week in Palm Springs visiting with some tour members from across the US and Canada. On a visit to the Palm Springs Air Museum, guided by the sister of one of my TMs, I spotted the motto on the crest of this plane - Gin Ye Daur! A little research and I found out that this plane belonged to Squadron 603 of the RAF known as the Edinburgh Squadron.
They were formed in 1925 as an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron at RAF Turnhouse, with the Squadron Headquarters in Learmonth Terrace, Edinburgh, where it remains today. In 1939 they were equipped with Spitfires and are credited with shooting down the first enemy aircraft over the UK in World War Two - shooting a bomber into the Firth of Forth ( a story we know well!). They became one of the of the leading scoring squadrons of WWII and were in the thick of it at the Battle of Britain before being deployed to defend Malta and North Africa.
In 1951 they converted from Spitfires to De Havilland Vampires which is the plane here in the museum.
The crest features a three-towered castle and the motto Gin Ye Daur - Go on I Dare You - which I would imagine is based on Nemo Me Impune Lacessit.
In 2018 the Squadron were presented with The Freedom of the City of Edinburgh followed by a reception at the Palace of Holyrood hosted by the Queen.
Always lovely to spot a connection with Scotland so far from home!
