No. 275 Squadron RAF

No. 275 Squadron RAF
No. 275 Squadron Badge
Active15 October 1941 – 1 September 1959
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleAir-sea rescue
Motto(s)Latin: Non interibunt
("They shall not perish")
Insignia
Squadron BadgeA walrus' head erased[1]
Squadron CodesPV (Oct 1941 – Feb 1945)

No. 275 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force air-sea rescue squadron that served between 1941 and 1959.

Supermarine Walrus

History

[edit]

No. 275 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Valley on 15 October 1941[2] for air-sea rescue duties in the Irish sea and was 9 Group's Air Sea Rescue Unit.[3] Its first commander was Squadron Leader Ronald Hamlyn.[4]

Following the Squadron's formation the first aircraft to be operated were Lysanders Mk.IIIa's. Later in the year Walruses were added to the Squadron followed by Defiants, Spitfires and Ansons.[1]

Part of the Squadron's operation saw a detachment based at RAF Andreas. The detachment's Walrus amphibian Mk.I's were often to be seen flying around the Isle of Man[3] in addition to which Blackburn Skuas were also operated.

The Blackburn Skua was operated by No. 275 Air Sea Rescue Squadron, which had a detachment based at RAF Andreas from October 1941.

In April 1944 the Squadron moved to RAF Warmwell to cover the sea area between England and Normandy. Air-sea rescue missions continued until 15 February 1945 when the Squadron was disbanded at RAF Harrowbeer.[5]

No. 275 squadron was reformed at RAF Linton-on-Ouse as a sea and rescue Squadron to provide cover over the North Sea in March 1953 equipped with Sycamore HR.13 and HR.14 Helicopters, later relocating to RAF Thornaby on 18 November 1954 and remaining at Thornaby until October 1957 when the Squadron moved to RAF Leconfield. In March 1959 the unit converted to the Whirlwind HAR.4 helicopter, but on 1 September 1959 the Squadron was renumbered to No. 228 Squadron RAF and No. 275 ceased to exist.

Aircraft operated

[edit]
From To Aircraft Version
Oct 1941 Aug 1943 Westland Lysander Mk.IIIa
Dec 1941 Feb 1945 Supermarine Walrus Mks.I, II
May 1942 Aug 1943 Boulton Paul Defiant Mks.I, Ia
Jan 1943 Apr 1943 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb
Mar 1943 Aug 1944 Avro Anson Mk.I
Apr 1944 Feb 1945 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb
Apr 1953 Sep 1959 Bristol Sycamore HR.13, HR.14
Jan 1954 Aug 1954 Taylorcraft Auster AOP.5
Feb 1954 May 1955 Hiller HTE-2
Jul 1954 Mar 1956 de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10
Jul 1954 Sep 1959 Avro Anson T.21
Mar 1959 Sep 1959 Westland Whirlwind HAR.2, HAR.4

[1][2][5]

Squadron bases

[edit]
From To Name Remark
15 Oct 1941 14 Apr 1944 RAF Valley Formed here
30 Nov 1941 25 Apr 1944 RAF Andreas Detachment
30 May 1943 14 Apr 1944 RAF Eglinton Detachment
14 Apr 1944 7 Aug 1944 RAF Warmwell
7 Aug 1944 18 Oct 1944 RAF Bolt Head
7 Aug 1944 15 Feb 1945 RAF Portreath Detachment
18 Oct 1944 10 Jan 1945 RAF Exeter
18 Oct 1944 15 Feb 1945 RAF Bolt Head Detachment
10 Jan 1945 15 Feb 1945 RAF Harrowbeer Disbanded here
1 Mar 1953 18 Nov 1954 RAF Linton-on-Ouse Re-formed here
18 Nov 1954 9 Oct 1957 RAF Thornaby
9 Oct 1957 1 Sep 1959 RAF Leconfield Disbanded here

[1][5]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 342.
  2. ^ a b Rawlings 1982, p. 250.
  3. ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 342.
  4. ^ "The Airmen's Stories – Sgt. R F Hamlyn". Battle of Britain London Monument. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 84.

References

[edit]
  • 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.
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