No. 510 Squadron RAF

No. 510 Squadron was a Royal Air Force transport and liaison aircraft squadron that operated during the Second World War.

No. 510 Squadron RAF
Active	15 Oct 1942 – 8 Apr 1944
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Transport and Liaison
Part of	No. 44 Group RAF, Transport Command[1][2]
Insignia
Squadron Codes	RG (late 1943 – Mar 1944)[3] VS (unconfirmed)[4]

History

During 1942 it was decided that 24 Squadron was too large and the internal communication flight became no. 510 Squadron on 15 October 1942 at RAF Hendon.[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

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

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. Orbis 1985, p. 4199.
6. Jefford 2001, p. 96.
7. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 89, 106.
8. Rawlings 1982, p. 263.
9. 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.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.