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 Oct 1943 – 7 Dec 1943
7 Apr 1944 – 25 May 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part ofNo. 15 Group RAF, Coastal Command (Okt 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 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 and Rawlings 1979, p. 92.
  3. Flintham and 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. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 2nd edition 1976. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
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