No 279 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force air-sea rescue squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed on 16 November 1941 and disbanded on 10 March 1946.

History No. 279 Squadron was formed at RAF Bircham Newton on 16 November 1941. It was originally equipped with Lockheed Hudsons fitted, from 1943, to carry Mark I airborne lifeboats. Detachments of the squadron were stationed at several RAF stations in the south-west of England between April 1942 and December 1943 to provide an air-sea rescue capability over the Bay of Biscay and Western Approaches.

In October 1944 No. 279 Squadron was transferred to RAF Thornaby and re-equipped with Vickers Warwick aircraft. The squadron subsequently deployed detachments to RAF airfields in the north of Scotland to provide support to patrol and strike squadrons. Following the end of the war the Warwicks were replaced with Avro Lancasters in September 1945. These were flown until the squadron was disbanded on 10 March 1946 at RAF Beccles by being renumbered to No. 38 Squadron. A detachment had left in January 1946 for Pegu in Burma and upon arrival there around March was designated 1348 Air Sea Rescue Flight.Docherty 2007, p. 207.

Aircraft operated +Aircraft operated by No. 279 SquadronRawlings 1982, p. 251.Docherty 2007, pp. 210–217. From To Aircraft Version November 1941 November 1944 Lockheed Hudson Mks. III, V, VI November 1944 September 1945 Vickers Warwick ASR Mks.I, VI April 1945 June 1945 Hawker Hurricane Mks.IIc, IV July 1945 September 1945 Supermarine Sea Otter Mk.II September 1945 March 1946 Avro Lancaster ASR.3

Squadron locations +Airfields used by No. 279 SquadronDocherty 2007, p. 209. From To Airfield Remark 16 November 1941 14 October 1944 RAF Bircham Newton Posted 28 April 1942 29 May 1942 RAF Sumburgh Detachment 29 June 1942 1942 RAF Benbecula Detachment 15 July 1942 1942 RAF Leuchars Detachment 26 July 1942 15 August 1942 RAF Reykjavik, Iceland Detachment 14 August 1942 15 August 1942 RAF Thorney Island Detachment 15 August 1942 19 August 1942 RAF Chivenor Detachment 23 August 1942 5 February 1943 RAF St Eval Detachment 25 September 1942 1942 RAF Beaulieu Detachment 5 February 1943 9 June 1943 RAF Davidstow Moor Detachment 9 June 1943 14 December 1943 RAF Harrowbeer Detachment 28 September 1943 1945 RAF Wick Detachment 1 January 1944 1 August 1944 RAF Reykjavik, Iceland Detachment 1 October 1944 September 1945 RAF Tain Detachment 1 October 1944 September 1945 RAF Wick Detachment 14 October 1944 3 September 1945 RAF Thornaby Posted 31 October 1944 27 December 1944 RAF Banff Detachment 27 December 1944 September 1945 RAF Fraserburgh Detachment 26 May 1945 September 1945 RAF Reykjavik, Iceland Detachment July 1945 September 1945 RAF Banff Detachment 3 September 1945 10 March 1946 RAF Beccles Posted

References Notes

Bibliography

Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. . Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. .

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. . Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. . 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 (second edition 2001). . Lake, Alan. Flying Units of the RAF: The ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1999. . Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. .

External links

RAF Bircham Newton Squadron histories for nos. 276–280 Squadron on RafWeb's Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation