No. 292 Squadron RAF

For the Australian unit, see No. 292 Squadron RAAF
No. 292 Squadron RAF
Active 1 February 1944 – 14 June 1945
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Role Air-sea rescue
Part of Air Command, South East Asia
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry No badge authorised[1]
Squadron Codes No code(s) are known to have been used by this squadron[2][3]

No. 292 Squadron RAF was an air-sea rescue (ASR) squadron of the Royal Air Force operating in the Bay of Bengal during the Second World War.

History

292 squadron was formed at RAF Jessore, Bengal, (then) British India, on 1 February 1944, as a dedicated air-sea rescue squadron equipped with Walrus flying boats. A detachment of the squadron was sent further south, in Ceylon. In April the squadron received a number of Vickers Warwick patrol aircraft, but these were found to be unsuitable in the tropical climate, and in December 1944 they received Consolidated Liberator Mk.VIs as replacements. In November 1944 the squadron already received a number of Supermarine Sea Otters, a bit more modern flying boat. The squadron were posted to RAF Agartala in February 1945, as operations had shifted further eastwards through Burma; they were located there when the squadron was disbanded on 14 June.[4] Its duties were then taken over by three independent flights, No's 1347, 1348 and 1349 Flight RAF.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 292 Squadron RAF, data from[5][6][7]
From To Aircraft Version
February 1944 June 1945 Supermarine Walrus Mks.I, II
April 1944 June 1945 Vickers Warwick ASR.Mk.I (unsuited for tropical climate, non-operational after November 1944)
November 1944 June 1945 Supermarine Sea Otter Mk.II
December 1944 June 1945 Consolidated Liberator Mk.VI

Squadron Airfield

Camps and airfields used by No. 292 Squadron RAF, data from[5][6][7][8]
From To Airfield Remark
1 February 1944 5 February 1945 RAF Jessore, Bengal, British India Det. at RAF Ratmalana, Ceylon; RAF Sigiriya, Ceylon and RAF Santacruz, Maharashtra, British India
5 February 1945 14 June 1945 RAF Agartala, Tripura, British India Dets. at RAF Kankesanthurai, Ceylon and RAF Chittagong, Bengal, British India

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). 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 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • 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.
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