No. 251 Squadron RAF

No. 251 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Squadron which operated during the First World War and the Second World War. The Squadron was disbanded in 1945 and remains inactive.

No. 251 Squadron RAF
A Fortress GR Mark IIA of No. 251, which undertook meteorological reconnaissance flights from Reykjavik
Active31 May 1918 - 30 June 1919,
1 August 1944 - 30 October 1945
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part ofRAF Coastal Command
Motto(s)"However wind blows."[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA weathercock
Squadron CodesAD Aug 1944 - Oct 1945

History

No. 251 Squadron RAF was first formed in August 1918 from Nos. 504, 505, 506 and 510 (Special Duty) Flights based at Hornsea but operating from Atwick, RAF Greenland Top/Stallingborough) and Owthorne. The Squadron flew anti-submarine patrols on the coast of Yorkshire for the remainder of World War I and was then disbanded on 30 June 1919.[2]

No. 251 Squadron was then reborn after No. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight, stationed at Reykjavík, was renumbered for air-sea rescues on 1 August 1944. 1407 Flight was formed in October 1941, receiving Lockheed Hudson aircraft in April 1942. The number of aircraft was expanded in November with more Hudsons and a few Handley Page Hampdens. The latter were replaced with Lockheed Venturas in 1943.[3]

The new Squadron also operated as Meteorological Reconnaissance until it was finally disbanded in October 1945.[4]

Aircraft Used

During its first time in operation, the Squadron flew:

During its second time in operation, the Squadron flew:

See also

References
  1. Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 101. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. Squadron history page on official RAF website
  3. Sturtivant, R (2007), RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912, Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, p. 120, ISBN 9780851-303659
  4. Air of Authority
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