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No. 517 Squadron RAF

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No. 517 Squadron RAF
Active11 August 1943 – 21 June 1946
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleMeteorological squadron
Part ofNo. 19 Group RAF, Coastal Command[1]
Motto(s)Latin: Non Nobis Laboramus
(Translation: "We work not for ourselves")[2]
Insignia
Squadron BadgeTwo cubit arms erased, holding a flash of lightning[2]
Squadron CodesX9 (1943 - 1946)[3]

No. 517 Squadron RAF was a meteorological squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

History

No. 517 Squadron was formed on 11 August 1943 at RAF St Eval, Cornwall, when 1404 Meteorological Flight was re-numbered.[4] It was equipped with Lockheed Hudsons and Handley Page Hampdens, which it flew daily out into the Atlantic to collect meteorological data. Between September and November 1943 four United States Army Air Forces Flying Fortresses were temporary attached to the squadron, awaiting the arrival of adapted Handley Page Halifaxes. By November 1943 the squadron had re-equipped with the Halifax and then moved to RAF St David's in Wales. Two further moves followed, one to RAF Brawdy in February 1944 and then after the war to RAF Chivenor where the squadron was disbanded on 21 June 1946.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 517 Squadron RAF[5][6][7]
From To Aircraft Version Notes
August 1943 September 1943 Lockheed Hudson Mk.III
August 1943 October 1943 Handley Page Hampden Mk.I
September 1943 November 1943 Flying Fortress B-17F 4 USAAF aircraft on attachment from 379th Bomber Squadron USAAF
November 1943 June 1946 Handley Page Halifax Mk.V
February 1945 June 1946 Handley Page Halifax Mk.III

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 517 Squadron RAF[5][6][7]
From To Base Remark
11 August 1943 26 November 1943 RAF St Eval, Cornwall
26 November 1943 1 February 1944 RAF St David's, Pembrokeshire, Wales Det. at RAF Tiree, Hebrides, Scotland
1 February 1944 26 November 1945 RAF Brawdy, Pembrokeshire, Wales
26 November 1945 21 June 1946 RAF Chivenor, Devon

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Delve 1994, pp. 64, 73 and 80.
  2. ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 396.
  3. ^ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 117.
  4. ^ Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 120.
  5. ^ a b Rawlings 1982, p. 253.
  6. ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 397.
  7. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 97.

Bibliography

  • 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, 1918-88. 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.
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