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
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]

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]

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

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 524 Squadron RAF, data from^[4][5][6]

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

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 524 Squadron RAF, data from^[4]

From	To	Name
October 1943	December 1943	W/Cdr. W.E.M. Lowry
April 1944	July 1944	S/Ldr. A.W.B. Naismith
July 1944	May 1945	W/Cdr. R.G. Knott, DSO, DFC
May 1945	June 1945	S/Ldr. G.E. Willis, DFC