No. 519 Squadron RAF

No. 519 Squadron RAF was a meteorological squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 519 Squadron RAF
Active15 August 1943 – 31 May 1946
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RoleMeteorological
Part ofNo. 18 Group RAF, Coastal Command[1]
Motto(s)Undaunted by Weather[2]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA polar bear's gamb erased in bend holding a scroll of parchment in front of a flash of lightning[2]
Squadron codesZ9 (Aug 1943 - May 1946)[3][4]

History

No. 519 Squadron was formed on 15 August 1943[5] at RAF Wick from 1406 Flight,[6] equipped with Handley Page Hampdens and Supermarine Spitfires. Its purpose was collecting meteorological data from the northern waters of the North Sea all the way to Norway. It soon replaced the Hampdens with Lockheed Hudsons and Lockheed Venturas. The squadron base moved on a number of times along the east coast of Scotland but the squadron's role remained the same. In November 1944 the squadron started using the Boeing Fortress, which it operated to the end of the war. With the war over the squadron standardised on the Halifax Mk.III, until it was disbanded at RAF Leuchars on 31 May 1946.[2][5][6]

Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by No. 519 Squadron RAF[2][5][6]
FromToAircraft
August 1943October 1943Handley Page Hampden Mk.I
August 1943January 1945Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VI
September 1943October 1943Lockheed Hudson Mks.III and IIIa
October 1943October 1944Lockheed Ventura Mk.V
July 1944March 1945Lockheed Hudson Mks.III and IIIa
November 1944September 1945Boeing Fortress Mk.II
October 1944December 1945Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VII
August 1945May 1946Handley Page Halifax Mks III and VI

Squadron bases
RAF stations used by No. 519 Squadron RAF[2][5][6]
FromToBase
15 August 194311 December 1943RAF Wick, Caithness, Scotland
11 December 194329 November 1944RAF Skitten, Caithness, Scotland
29 November 194417 August 1945RAF Wick, Caithness, Scotland
17 August 19458 November 1945RAF Tain, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
8 November 194531 May 1946RAF Leuchars, Fife, Scotland

See also

References
Notes
  1. Delve 1994, pp. 64, 72, 80.
  2. Halley 1988, p. 398.
  3. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 123.
  4. Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 123.
  5. Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  6. Rawlings 1982, p. 253.
Bibliography
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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