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No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, originally formed on 10 February 1936 at RAF Yeadon, now Leeds Bradford International Airport as a bomber squadron. In the Second World War active as fighter squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force.
The squadron is no longer a flying squadron but was re-formed at RAF Leeming on 1 July 1998 and was originally named the Air Defence Support Squadron. the 609 number plate was granted on 1 October 1999. Its role has changed to one of Force Protection, based at RAF Leeming. It role is now to prevent or minimise the effects of enemy attack on RAF bases.
The Squadron was deployed to Ali Al Salem as part of Operation Telic from February to August 2003. Additionally, 15 of the Squadrons reservists deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Over 50 of the Squadrons reservists were awarded the Iraq Medal. Since then, several Squadron members have deployed with Regular RAF Regiment Squadrons on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It is also known as 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAuxAF.