No. 518 Squadron RAF

No. 518 Squadron RAF
Active 6 July 1943 – 1 October 1946[1]
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Role meteorological
Part of No. 15 Group RAF, Coastal Command[2]
Motto Gealic: Tha An Iuchair Againn-Ne
(Translation: "We hold the key")[3]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry A hand couped at the wrist holding a key, the ward uppermost[3]
Squadron Codes Y3 (Jun 1944 – Oct 1946)[4][5]

No. 518 Squadron RAF was a meteorological squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

History

No. 518 Squadron formed on 6 July 1943 from at RAF Stornoway, Scotland and was equipped with the Handley Page Halifax. After moving to RAF Tiree on 25 September 1943, and absorbing 1402 Flight,[1][6] it became operational with daily flight out into the North Atlantic to collect meteorological data. It also kept observations for U-Boat activity.[7]

After the end of the Second World War the squadron moved to RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland where it absorbed 1402 Flight who had been operating Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes. With these added to the squadron, the main equipment was changed from the Handley Page Halifax Mk.V to the Mk.VI. No. 518 squadron was the last of the wartime meteorological squadrons when it was re-numbered to 202 Squadron on 1 October 1946.[1][3][7]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 518 Squadron RAF, data from[1][3][7]
From To Aircraft Version
July 1943 June 1945 Handley Page Halifax Mk.V
March 1945 October 1946 Handley Page Halifax Mk.III
September 1945 October 1946 Supermarine Spitfire Mks.VII & IX
September 1945 October 1946 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
March 1946 October 1946 Handley Page Halifax Mk.VI

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 518 Squadron RAF, data from[1][3][7]
From To Base Remark
9 July 1943 25 September 1943 RAF Stornoway, Western Isles, Scotland
25 September 1943 18 September 1945 RAF Tiree, Hebrides, Scotland Spitfire detachment at RAF Tain, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
18 September 1945 1 October 1946 RAF Aldergrove, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  2. ↑ Delve 1994, pp. 72, 79.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Halley 1988, p. 397.
  4. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, pp. 118–119 and 160.
  5. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 121.
  6. ↑ Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 120.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Rawlings 1982, p. 253.

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.
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • 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, 1981–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • 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.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

External links

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