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No. 525 Squadron RAF

No. 525 Squadron was a Royal Air Force transport aircraft squadron that operated during the Second World War.

No. 525 Squadron RAF
Active1 September 1943 – 1 December 1946
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part ofNo. 44 Group, RAF Transport Command[1] (1943–1944)
No. 47 Group, RAF Transport Command[2] (1945–1946)
Motto(s)Latin: Vinciendo Vincimus
(Translation: "We link together to conquer")[3]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA winged foot enfiled by a chaplet of roses and maple leaves[3]
Squadron Codes8P (Allocation confirmed, use unconfirmed)[4][5]
WF (Feb 1945 – Dec 1946)[6]
Aircraft flown
TransportVickers Warwick Twin-engined converted former medium bomber
C-47 Skytrain Twin-engined military transport version of famous Douglas DC-3 Dakota airliner
Short Stirling Four-engined converted former heavy bomber

History

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The squadron was formed on 1 September 1943 at RAF Weston Zoyland to operate the Vickers Warwick in the transport role.[7] It first operated on the routes from England to Gibraltar and North Africa, but the Warwick was not the best aircraft for the role and it was withdrawn in 1944.[7] The Warwick was replaced with the Douglas Dakota and one example[8] of the Mark III transport version of the former four-engined heavy bomber, the Short Stirling.[9] The squadron soon operated on routes throughout Europe and also became mainly manned by Canadian personnel.[7] By the end of the war it was mainly operating routes to India.[7] The Canadians withdrew at the end of the war, but the squadron continued with trooping flights.[7] On 1 December 1946 the squadron was disbanded at RAF Abingdon, when it was re-numbered to 238 Squadron.[7][9]

Aircraft operated

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Aircraft operated by No. 525 Squadron RAF[3][8][9]
From To Aircraft Version
September 1943 September 1944 Vickers Warwick Mk.I
June 1944 July 1945 Douglas Dakota Mk.III
July 1944 November 1944 Short Stirling Mk.III
August 1944 September 1944 Vickers Warwick Mk.III
February 1945 December 1946 Douglas Dakota Mk.IV

Squadron airfields

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stations and airfields used by No. 525 Squadron RAF[3][8][9]
From To Airfield Remark
2 September 1943 6 February 1944 RAF Weston Zoyland, Somerset
6 February 1944 15 July 1945 RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire Det. at RAF Almaza, Egypt
15 July 1945 31 October 1945 RAF Membury, Berkshire Det. at Vienna-Schwechat, Austria
31 October 1945 1 December 1946 RAF Abingdon, Berkshire Det. at Vienna-Schwechat, Austria

Commanding officers

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Officers commanding No. 525 Squadron RAF[8]
From To Name
October 1943 September 1944 W/Cdr. C.E.F. Riley
September 1944 June 1945 W/Cdr. D.R. Miller
June 1945 March 1946 W/Cdr. R.G. Dutton, DSO, DFC
March 1946 December 1946 W/Cdr. H.G. Newman

See also

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References

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Notes
  1. ^ Delve 1994, p. 74.
  2. ^ Delve 1994, p. 81.
  3. ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 400.
  4. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 84.
  5. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 61.
  6. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 116.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Orbis 1985, p. 4213
  8. ^ a b c d Rawlings 1982, p. 230.
  9. ^ a b c d Jefford 2001, p. 97.
Bibliography
  • 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.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • 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.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
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