No. 521 Squadron RAF

===First formation===

===First formation===

The Squadron began on 4 February 1941 as '''No. 401 (Met) Flight''' of [[RAF Bomber Command]]. When all the meteorological flights were put under [[RAF Coastal Command]] it became '''No. 1401 (Met) Flight'''. On 1 August 1942 at [[RAF Bircham Newton]] the flight combined with [[No. 1403 Flight RAF|1403 flight]] to form No. 521 (Met) Squadron. It took part in [[RAF Coastal Command during World War II#Coastal Command Meteorological operations|Coastal Command's Meteorological operations]]<ref>{{Harvnb|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=120.}}</ref>

The Squadron began on 4 February 1941 as '''No. 401 (Met) Flight''' of [[RAF Bomber Command]]. When all the meteorological flights were put under [[RAF Coastal Command]] it became '''No. 1401 (Met) Flight'''. On 1 August 1942 at [[RAF Bircham Newton]] the flight combined with [[No. 1403 Flight RAF|1403 flight]] to form No. 521 (Met) Squadron. It took part in [[RAF Coastal Command during World War II#Coastal Command Meteorological operations|Coastal Command's meteorological operations]]<ref>{{Harvnb|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=120.}}</ref>

The squadron had inherited from its 1401 flight aircraft such as [[Gloster Gladiator]] biplanes and some [[Hawker Hurricane]]s. From 1403 flight came its [[Bristol Blenheim]]s and [[Lockheed Hudson]]s. Later the squadron received some [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s and [[de Havilland Mosquito]]s. The operations of the original Flights and later the Squadron was taking meteorological information for weather forecasting – previously provided by merchant shipping to the [[Met Office]]. The aircraft would take measurements of temperature and [[humidity]] in set areas over the [[North Sea]] from an altitude of 40,000&nbsp;ft downwards. The squadron's Mosquitoes would operate on "PAMPA" flights that took them deep into occupied Europe to assess the weather over target areas for the bombers. On 31 March 1943 at Bircham Newton the squadron was split into nos. Nos. 1401 and [[No. 1409 Flight RAF|1409 (Met) Flight]]s.<ref name="Rawlings1982p254">{{Harvnb|Rawlings|1982|p=254.}}</ref><ref name="Halley1988p399">{{Harvnb|Halley|1988|p=399.}}</ref><ref name="Jefford2001p97">{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=97.}}</ref>

The squadron had inherited from its 1401 flight aircraft such as [[Gloster Gladiator]] biplanes and some [[Hawker Hurricane]]s. From 1403 flight came its [[Bristol Blenheim]]s and [[Lockheed Hudson]]s. Later the squadron received some [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s and [[de Havilland Mosquito]]s. The operations of the original Flights and later the Squadron was taking meteorological information for weather forecasting – previously provided by merchant shipping to the [[Met Office]]. The aircraft would take measurements of temperature and [[humidity]] in set areas over the [[North Sea]] from an altitude of 40,000&nbsp;ft downwards. The squadron's Mosquitoes would operate on "PAMPA" flights that took them deep into occupied Europe to assess the weather over target areas for the bombers. On 31 March 1943 at Bircham Newton the squadron was split into nos. Nos. 1401 and [[No. 1409 Flight RAF|1409 (Met) Flight]]s.<ref name="Rawlings1982p254">{{Harvnb|Rawlings|1982|p=254.}}</ref><ref name="Halley1988p399">{{Harvnb|Halley|1988|p=399.}}</ref><ref name="Jefford2001p97">{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=97.}}</ref>