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No. 293 Squadron RAF

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No. 293 Squadron RAF
Active28 Nov 1943 – 5 Apr 1946
CountryUnited Kingdom 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]

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.

History

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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

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Aircraft operated by no. 293 Squadron RAF, data from[5][6][7]
From To Aircraft Variant Notes
November 1943 April 1946 Vickers Warwick ASR Mk.I Twin-engined bomber operated in the search and rescue role.
April 1944 April 1946 Supermarine Walrus Mks.I, II Single pusher-engined biplane rescue amphibian.

Squadron bases

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

Commanding officers

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Officers commanding no. 293 Squadron RAF, data from[8]
From To Name
November 1943 October 1944 S/Ldr. R.W. Pye
October 1944 August 1945 S/Ldr. W.R. Gellatly, RNZAF
August 1945 April 1946 S/Ldr. R.J. Cruttenden

See also

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References

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Notes

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

Bibliography

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  • 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.
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