No. 526 Squadron RAF

Summary

No. 526 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a British Second World War calibration and communications squadron.[4][5][6][7]

No. 526 Squadron RAF
Active15 June 1943 – 1 May 1945
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleCalibration and Communications
Part ofNo. 60 Group RAF, RAF Fighter Command[1]
Insignia
Squadron CodesMD (Jun 1943 – May 1945)[2][3]

History edit

No. 526 Squadron was formed on 15 June 1943 at RAF Longman,[5] Inverness, Scotland[4] from the calibration flights of Nos. 70, 71 and 72 Wing RAF[8] to carry out calibration duties in northern Scotland.[6] It had a mixture of mainly twin-engined aircraft, including the Bristol Blenheim and Airspeed Oxford.[6][7] The squadron also operated the de Havilland Dominie and de Havilland Hornet Moth, which apart from calibration were also used for communications duties.[4][7] The squadron was disbanded on 1 May 1945 when it was merged into 527 Squadron.[4][5][6][7]

Aircraft operated edit

 
Bristol Blenheim
Aircraft operated by no. 526 Squadron RAF, data from[4][5][6]
From To Aircraft Version
June 1943 May 1945 Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV
June 1943 May 1945 de Havilland Hornet Moth
June 1943 May 1945 Airspeed Oxford Mk.I
August 1943 May 1945 de Havilland Dominie Mk.I

Squadron bases edit

Bases and airfields used by no. 526 Squadron RAF, data from[4][5][6][9]
From To Base Remark
June 1943 May 1945 RAF Longman, Inverness, Scotland Dets. at RAF Tealing, Angus, Scotland and in Northern Ireland[8]

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Delve 1994, p. 79.
  2. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 71.
  3. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 89.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Rawlings 1982, p. 261.
  5. ^ a b c d e Halley 1988, p. 400.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  7. ^ a b c d Orbis 1985, p. 4213.
  8. ^ a b Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, pp. 291, 312.
  9. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 200–201.

Bibliography edit

  • 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.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing. 1985.

External links edit

  • Squadron history on MOD site
  • Squadron histories for nos 52–540 squadron at RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation