No. 293 Squadron RAF

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.

No. 293 Squadron RAF
Active28 Nov 1943 – 5 Apr 1946
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Roleair-sea rescue
Part ofMediterranean Air Command[1]
Motto(s)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]

History

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 RAF, data from[5][6][7]
FromToAircraftVariantNotes
November 1943April 1946Vickers WarwickASR Mk.ITwin-engined bomber operated in the search and rescue role.
April 1944April 1946Supermarine WalrusMks.I, IISingle pusher-engined biplane rescue amphibian.

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

Commanding officers
Officrs commanding no. 293 Squadron RAF, data from[8]
FromToName
November 1943October 1944S/Ldr. R.W. Pye
October 1944August 1945S/Ldr. W.R. Gellatly, RNZAF
August 1945April 1946S/Ldr. R.J. Cruttenden
gollark: I can *provide* services if you request them, but otherwise no.
gollark: No, I do not.
gollark: I can go check the API code.
gollark: From the Linux `fortunes` program.
gollark: It provides random fortunes.

See also

References

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

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