Country United Kingdom | Branch Royal Air Force | |
Active 20 Oct 1943 – 7 Dec 1943
7 Apr 1944 – 25 May 1945 Part of No. 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) Squadron Codes 7R (Apr 1944 – May 1945) | ||
No. 524 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Coastal Command aircraft squadron that operated during the Second World War.
History
No. 524 Squadron was formed at RAF Oban, Argyll and Bute in Scotland on 20 October 1943 to operate the Martin Mariner flying boat. The squadron's role was to introduce the Mariner into RAF service. 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 or 29 January 1944.
The squadron was reformed at RAF Davidstow Moor on 7 April 1944 to operate the Vickers Wellington. 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. 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. With the end of the war approaching the squadron was disbanded on either 25 May 1945 or on 25 June 1945 at RAF Langham, the appointment of S/Ldr. Willis pointing to the latter.