No. 280 Squadron RAF

No. 280 Squadron RAF
Active	10 December 1941 – 21 June 1946
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Flying squadron
Role	Air-sea rescue
Part of	Coastal Command
Motto(s)	We Shall Be There
Insignia
Squadron Badge	In front of a fountain a hand holding a pole, flying therefrom two flags representing the international distress signal 'N.C' [1]
Squadron Codes	YF (Feb 1942 – Aug 1943) 3 (Aug 1943 – Jul 1944) ME (Jul 1944 – Jun 1946)

No. 280 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air-sea rescue squadron during the Second World War.

History

No. 280 Squadron was formed at RAF Thorney Island, England on 10 December 1941 as an air-sea rescue squadron. The squadron was equipped with the Avro Anson and was responsible for air-sea rescue along the south coast of England and East Anglia. The squadron re-equipped with the Vickers Warwick in October 1943.

At the end of the Second World War the squadron disbanded at RAF Thornaby on 21 June 1946.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 280 Squadron ^{[2] [3]}

From	To	Aircraft	Version
Feb 1942	Oct 1943	Avro Anson	Mk.I
Oct 1943	Jun 1946	Vickers Warwick	Mk.I

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

References

Notes

1. Halley 1988, p. 345.
2. Rawlings 1982, p. 251.
3. Jefford 2001, p. 85.

Bibliography

• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN   0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN   1853100536. (second revised edition 2001. ISBN   1-84037-141-2.)
• Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN   0-7106-0187-5.

External links

• squadron histories nos. 276-280 sqn