No._524_Squadron_RAF
No. 524 Squadron RAF
Military unit
No. 524 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Coastal Command aircraft squadron that operated during the Second World War.
| No. 524 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 20 October 1943 – 7 December 1943 7 Apr 1944 – 25 May 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Part of | No. 15 Group RAF, Coastal Command (Oct 43 – Dec 43) No. 19 Group RAF, Coastal Command (Apr 44 – Jul 44) No. 16 Group RAF, Coastal Command (Jul 44 – May 45)[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Codes | 7R (Apr 1944 – May 1945)[2][3] |
No. 524 Squadron was formed at RAF Oban, Argyll and Bute in Scotland on 20 October 1943 to operate the Martin PBM Mariner flying boat.[4][5][6] The squadron's role was to introduce the Mariner into RAF service.[7] By the end of 1943 the aircraft was ready for operations but the RAF had decided not to operate the type and the squadron was disbanded on either 7 December 1943[5][6] or 29 January 1944.[1][4]
The squadron was reformed at RAF Davidstow Moor on 7 April 1944 to operate the Vickers Wellington.[4][5][6] The squadron carried out night operations of the French coast in preparation for D-Day, mainly attacking E-boats and submarines but also other shipping.[7] It also provided escort to Coastal Command Beaufighters carrying out night strikes. After the Normandy Invasion the squadron moved to the east of England to RAF Docking in a similar role along the Dutch coast. The squadron also directed surface vessels to attack enemy shipping.[7] With the end of the war approaching the squadron was disbanded on either 25 May 1945[5][6] or on 25 June 1945 at RAF Langham,[1][4] the appointment of S/Ldr. Willis pointing to the latter.
| From | To | Aircraft | Version | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 1943 | January 1944 | Martin Mariner | Mk.I | Twin-engined maritime patrol flying boat |
| April 1944 | January 1945 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.XIII | Twin-engined medium bomber |
| December 1944 | May 1945 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.XIV | Twin-engined medium bomber |
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 October 1943 | 7 December 1943 | RAF Oban, Argyll, Scotland | |
| 7 April 1944 | 1 July 1944 | RAF Davidstow Moor, Cornwall | |
| 1 July 1944 | 23 July 1944 | RAF Docking, Norfolk | |
| 23 July 1944 | 17 October 1944 | RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk | Dets. at RAF Docking, Norfolk; RAF Langham, Norfolk and RAF Dallachy, Moray, Scotland (under No. 18 Group RAF, Coastal Command[1]) |
| 17 October 1944 | 25 May 1945 | RAF Langham, Norfolk | Det. at RAF Dallachy, Moray, Scotland |
Notes
- Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 92.
- Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 60.
- Rawlings 1982, p. 230.
- Halley 1988, p. 399.
- Jefford 2001, p. 97.
- Orbis 1985, p. 4212.
Bibliography
- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
- Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
