No. 510 Squadron RAF
Active15 October 1942 – 8 April 1944
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeFlying squadron
RoleTransport and Liaison
Part ofNo. 44 Group RAF, Transport Command[1][2]
Insignia
Squadron CodesRG (late 1943 – Mar 1944)[3]
VS (unconfirmed)[4]

No. 510 Squadron was a Royal Air Force transport and liaison aircraft squadron that disbanded during April 1944. It operated during the Second World War having formed during October 1942.

History

During 1942 it was decided that No. 24 Squadron was too large and the internal communication flight became No. 510 Squadron, on 15 October 1942 at RAF Hendon, located in London.[5] The squadron inherited an assortment of light transport types to allow it fly communications and liaison flights within the United Kingdom.[5] On 8 April 1944, still at RAF Hendon, the squadron was disbanded when it was renamed to the Metropolitan Communications Squadron,[5][6] inheriting the aircraft and code(s) of 510 squadron.[7]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 510 Squadron RAF, data from[6][8][9]
From To Aircraft Version Notes
October 1942 January 1943 Westland Lysander Mk.I Single-engined piston liaison monoplane
October 1942 October 1943 Stinson Reliant Single-engined liaison monoplane
October 1942 December 1943 de Havilland Hornet Moth Single-engined liaison biplane
October 1942 December 1943 de Havilland Puss Moth Single-engined liaison monoplane
October 1942 January 1944 Hawker Hart Single-engined biplane
October 1942 April 1944 Airspeed Oxford Twin-engined liaison monoplane
October 1942 April 1944 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I Single-engined fighter
October 1942 April 1944 de Havilland Tiger Moth Single-engined biplane
October 1942 April 1944 Percival Proctor Mks.I & III Single-engine monoplane
October 1942 April 1944 Percival Vega Gull Single-engined monoplane
October 1942 April 1944 Curtiss Mohawk Mk.III Single-engined fighter
October 1942 April 1944 Percival Q.6 Single-engined monoplane
October 1942 April 1944 de Havilland Gipsy Moth Single-engined biplane
October 1942 April 1944 Stampe SV.4 B Single-engined biplane
December 1942 April 1944 Avro Anson Mk.I Twin-engined monoplane
May 1943 December 1943 Koolhoven FK.43 Single-engined monoplane
August 1943 December 1943 General Aircraft Cygnet Single-engined monoplane
March 1944 April 1944 Percival Proctor Mk.IV Single-engined monoplane

The Stampe SV.4 was "liberated" by two Belgian pilots and flown across the Channel from occupied Belgium in 1941.[10]

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 510 Squadron RAF, data from[6][8][9]
From To Base
15 October 1942 8 April 1944 RAF Hendon, Middlesex

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ Delve 1994, p. 74.
  2. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 312.
  3. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 104.
  4. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 232.
  5. ^ a b c Orbis 1985, p. 4199.
  6. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 96.
  7. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 89, 106.
  8. ^ a b Rawlings 1982, p. 263.
  9. ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 393.
  10. ^ OO-ATD and the flight to freedom
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.
  • 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.
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