No. 293 Squadron RAF

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No. 293 Squadron RAF
Active28 Nov 1943 – 5 Apr 1946
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
Role air-sea rescue
Part of Mediterranean Air Command [1]
Mottos Latin: Ex aere salus
(Translation: "Safety from the air") [2]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryOver waves of the sea, a dexter hand couped at the wrist in bend sinister [2]
Squadron CodesZE (Nov 1943 – Apr 1946) [3] [4]

No. 293 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air-sea rescue squadron. During the Second World War the unit operated search and rescue missions for Allied aircraft operating over Italy.

Contents

History

A Vickers Warwick of No. 293 Squadron at Foggia in Italy 293 Squadron RAF Warwick Foggia IWM CNA 4201.jpg
A Vickers Warwick of No. 293 Squadron at Foggia in Italy

No. 293 Squadron was formed at RAF Blida, North Africa on 28 November 1943 with the Vickers Warwick in the air-sea rescue role. After providing detachments into Italy the squadron moved to Pomigliano, Italy in March 1944. In April 1944 the Warwicks were supplemented by Supermarine Walrus flying boats. In March 1945 the squadron moved to Foggia, but moved back to Pomigliano in June where it stayed until it was disbanded on 5 April 1946.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 293 Squadron [5] [6] [7]
FromToAircraftVariantNotes
November 1943April 1946 Vickers Warwick ASR Mk.ITwin-engined bomber operated in the search and rescue role.
April 1944April 1946 Supermarine Walrus Mks.I, IISingle pusher-engined biplane rescue amphibian.

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 293 Squadron [5] [6] [7] [8]
FromToBaseRemark
November 1943December 1943 RAF Blida, Algeria
December 1943March 1944 RAF Bone, AlgeriaDet. at Pomigliano, Italy
March 1944March 1945Pomigliano, ItalyDets. all over the Italian coast
March 1945June 1945 Foggia, ItalyDets. at Tortoreto, Italy; Udine, Italy and Cesenatico, Italy
June 1945April 1946Pomigliano, Italy

Commanding officers

Officers commanding No. 293 Squadron [8]
FromToName
November 1943October 1944 S/Ldr. R.W. Pye
October 1944August 1945S/Ldr. W.R. Gellatly, RNZAF
August 1945April 1946S/Ldr. R.J. Cruttenden

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Delve 1994, pp. 75 and 82.
  2. 1 2 Halley 1988, p. 350.
  3. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 120.
  4. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 123.
  5. 1 2 Rawlings 1982 , p. 252.
  6. 1 2 Halley 1988 , p. 351.
  7. 1 2 Jefford 2001 , p. 86.
  8. 1 2 Franks 2003 , p. 182.

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.
  • Franks, Norman (2003). Beyond Courage: Air Sea Rescue by Walrus Squadrons in the Adriatic, Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian Seas, 1942-1945. London: Grub Street. ISBN   1-904010-30-X.
  • 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.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
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