1409 Flight was formed on 1 April 1943 to provide meteorological information for RAF Bomber Command

Bomber Command

Bomber Command is an organizational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. Many countries have a "Bomber Command", although the most famous ones were in Britain and the United States. A Bomber Command is generally used for Strategic bombing , and is composed of bombers...

 and the USAAF. Equipped with unarmed de Havilland Mosquito

De Havilland Mosquito

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...

 aircraft, the crews of the Flight undertook long range meteorological reconnaissance flights until the end of the Second World War in Europe and continued in this role until 1947.

Formed at RAF Oakington

RAF Oakington

RAF Oakington was an RAF base situated in Cambridgeshire, England.Construction was started in 1939, but was affected by the outbreak of war, the original plan called for Type C hangars two type J were erected instead. It was used by No. 2 Group in July 1940 for No. 218 Squadron which had recently...

 as part of the disbandment of 521 Squadron

No. 521 Squadron RAF

No. 521 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a Second World War meteorological observation unit operating from Norfolk.-First formation:The Squadron began on 4 February 1941 as No. 401 Flight of RAF Bomber Command. When all the meteorological flights were put under RAF Coastal Command it became...

, the Flight was part of No. 8 Group RAF

No. 8 Group RAF

No. 8 Group RAF was a Royal Air Force group which existed during the final year of World War I and during World War II.-Formation in World War II:...

, the Pathfinders. Flying as single aircraft the missions were codenamed PAMPA (Photorecce And Meteorological Photography Aircraft).

In January 1944 the Flight moved to RAF Wyton

RAF Wyton

RAF Wyton is a Royal Air Force station near St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, England.In terms of organisation RAF Wyton is now part of the combined station RAF Brampton Wyton Henlow, a merger of Wyton with two previously separate bases, RAF Brampton and RAF Henlow. Wyton is the largest of the three. It...

 where it remained until July 1945 when it moved to RAF Upwood

RAF Upwood

RAF Upwood was a United States Air Force installation adjacent to the village of Upwood, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom.It is a non-flying station which was under the control of the United States Air Force, and one of three RAF stations in Cambridgeshire currently used by the United States...

. In October 1945 the Flight was transferred to No. 47 Group RAF and partially re-equipped with Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft in addition to its Mosquitos at RAF Lyneham

RAF Lyneham

RAF Lyneham is a Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. It was the home of all the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force before they were relocated to RAF Brize Norton.The station was also home to No...

. The Flight was disbanded at Lyneham in May 1946.

During the war the Flight flew 1,364 operations for a loss of only 3 aircraft.

Stations

• RAF Oakington: 1 April 1943 – January 1944
• RAF Wyton: January 1944 – 4 July 1945
• RAF Upwood: 4 July 1945 – 10 October 1945
• RAF Lyneham: 10 October 1945 – 13 May 1946