No. 524 Squadron RAF

No. 524 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Coastal Command aircraft squadron that operated during the Second World War.

No. 524 Squadron RAF
Active20 October 1943 – 7 December 1943
7 Apr 1944 – 25 May 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part ofNo. 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 Codes7R (Apr 1944 – May 1945)[2][3]

History
A 524 Sqn. Mariner I at Oban, Scotland, (October 1943)

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.

Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by no. 524 Squadron RAF, data from[4][5][6]
FromToAircraftVersionType
October 1943January 1944Martin MarinerMk.ITwin-engined maritime patrol flying boat
April 1944January 1945Vickers WellingtonMk.XIIITwin-engined medium bomber
December 1944May 1945Vickers WellingtonMk.XIVTwin-engined medium bomber

Squadron bases
Bases and airfields used by no. 524 Squadron RAF, data from[4][5][6]
FromToBaseRemark
20 October 19437 December 1943RAF Oban, Argyll, Scotland
7 April 19441 July 1944RAF Davidstow Moor, Cornwall
1 July 194423 July 1944RAF Docking, Norfolk
23 July 194417 October 1944RAF Bircham Newton, NorfolkDets. at RAF Docking, Norfolk; RAF Langham, Norfolk
and RAF Dallachy, Moray, Scotland (under No. 18 Group RAF, Coastal Command[1])
17 October 194425 May 1945RAF Langham, NorfolkDet. at RAF Dallachy, Moray, Scotland

Commanding officers
Officers commanding no. 524 Squadron RAF, data from[4]
FromToName
October 1943December 1943W/Cdr. W.E.M. Lowry
April 1944July 1944S/Ldr. A.W.B. Naismith
July 1944May 1945W/Cdr. R.G. Knott, DSO, DFC
May 1945June 1945S/Ldr. G.E. Willis, DFC

References

Notes
  1. rafcommands
  2. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 92.
  3. Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 60.
  4. Rawlings 1982, p. 230.
  5. Halley 1988, p. 399.
  6. Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  7. 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.
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