RAF No 293 Squadron

RAF No 293 Squadron

Motto: Ex aere salus (Safety from the air)

Formed from a nucleus provided by No's 283 and 284 Squadrons in the UK on 20 October 1943 this unit was destined for ASR operations in the Middle East. At this point the unit did not have a number, but on 28 November, it was allocated the number 293.

Based at Blida in Algeria, its Warwicks provided ASR support along the North African coast and from January 1944 it sent detachments to operate in Italy. The squadron HQ moved to Italy in March and the following month it was supplemented by the arrival of Walrus amphibians, taken over from No 283 Squadron.

It continued to operate in the Italian theatre until disbanding on 5 April 1945.

Squadron Codes used: - XJ Allocated Apr - Sep 1939; ZE Nov 1943 - Apr 1946

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 293 Squadron RAF, data from ^[5][6][7][8]

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	Supermarine WalrusSupermarine Walrus Mks.I, II	Single pusher-engined biplane rescue amphibian.

Squadron bases

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, Iatly
June 1945	April 1946	Pomigliano, Italy

Commanding officers

Officrs 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

Known Warwick's which served with RAF 293

BV234 ZE-F, ZE-L
BV237 ZE-F
BV238 ZE-K
BV243
BV251 ZE-E
BV269
BV271 ZE-F
BV273
BV274 ZE-S
BV275 ZE-O
BV277 ZE-T
BV278 ZE-U
BV279 ZE-M
BV283 ZE-M
BV284 ZE-D
BV287 ZE-V
BV297 ZE-F
BV315 ZE-H
BV332 ZE-R
BV365
BV415 ZE-C
BV420
BV444 ZE-A
BV445 ZE-A
BV446 ZE-G
BV447 ZE-U1
BV449 ZE-A
BV450 ZE-X1
BV451
BV454 ZE-D
BV455 ZE-Y
BV457 ZE-E
BV464 ZE-B
BV502 ZE-N
BV505
HF948 ZE-F
HF955 ZE-A, ZE-H
HF958 ZE-H
HF966 ZE-H
HG132 ZE-C

Known Hurricane's which served with RAF 293

K2736
KW849
LB660

Known Supermarine Walrus which served with RAF 293

P5667 ZE-V
L2170
L2207
L2217
L2266
R6547 ZE-X
W2719 ZE-Q
W2729 ZE-T
W2750
W2757 ZE-O
X9474 ZE-F
X9503
X9506 ZE-C
Z1756 ZE-Y
Z1777
Z1779
Z1813

References:

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, 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. 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.