Summary
No. 276 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an air-sea rescue unit in World War II.
| No. 276 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 21 October 1941 – 14 November 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Motto(s) | Retrieve |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | The head of a labrador Retriever dog |
| Squadron Code | AQ (October 1941 - November 1945) |
History edit
Formation in World War II edit
The squadron formed at RAF Harrowbeer, Devon on 21 October 1941 equipped with the Lysander and Walrus, with the responsibility of Air Sea Rescue over the Western part of the English Channel and the Bristol Channel.[1] Hurricanes, Defiants, Spitfires and Ansons were then supplied, the fighter aircraft being used for spotting downed aircrew at sea and for dropping dinghies to the downed airmen.[2][3]
Warwicks which could drop lifeboats were operated from April 1944 until they were transferred to No. 277 Squadron RAF. A detachment and then the whole squadron relocated to Querqueville, France, and then Belgium following the Normandy landings. The squadron then moved to Kjevik, Norway, on 23 August 1945 and it returned to RAF Dunsfold on 10 November 1945 where it disbanded on 14 November 1945.
Aircraft operated edit
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1941 | May 1943 | Westland Lysander | IIIA |
| Nov 1941 | Jan 1942 | Hawker Hurricane | I |
| Jan 1942 | Nov 1945 | Supermarine Walrus | |
| Mar 1942 | Apr 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | IIA |
| May 1942 | Jun 1943 | Boulton Paul Defiant | I |
| Feb 1943 | May 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | IIA |
| Mar 1943 | Mar 1944 | Avro Anson | I |
| Feb 1944 | May 1944 | Supermarine Sea Otter | |
| Apr 1944 | Nov 1944 | Vickers Warwick | I |
| May 1944 | Jun 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | VB |
References edit
- Dunnell, Ben (April 2018). "'The Sea Shall Not Have Them'". Aeroplane. Vol. 46, no. 4. pp. 60–61. ISSN 0143-7240.
- Rawlings, John D. R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
- Thomas, Andrew (6–19 December 1991). "The Retrievers: No.276 Squadron, Royal Air Force". Aviation News. Vol. 20, no. 15. pp. 698–701.
External links edit
- History of No.'s 276–280 Squadrons at RAF Web
- 276 Squadron history on the official RAF website