RAF No 293 Squadron

Photo's: W2757 was assigned to FAA 1941-43; 284 Sqn. 1943; 293 Sqn. Aug,1944. Coded 'P'.
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 the 5 April 1946. Further according to RAF serials by Air Britain this plane served with 284 SQ and 392 MU but was finally damaged in gale, Brindisi, 1.2.46 and SOC 14.3.46.

There is a No.293 Sqn/57FG connection in 'Beyond Courage'.
Walker and Burnett were back on the score-sheet on 18 March (1945), (Walrus,L2217), picking up Captain James C. Hare, from the 57th Fighter Group Headquarters, after him being forced to ditch his Thunderbolt. They found him in his dinghy one and a half miles off Cervia.
Appendix C - Main Air Sea Rescues by Walrus Aircraft. 293 Squadron.
Dtae: 18 Mar 1945
Walrus L2217 - 16.10-17.00 hrs.
Lt K B Walker SAAF
F/Sgt W Burnett
(Rescued) Capt J C Hare 57th Ftr HQ.
Same 'Beyond Courage' ref. page's 157 and 178

Photo's: Supermarine Walrus Mark I, R6547 of ‘C’ Flight, No. 293 Squadron RAF Detachment, taxying to its dispersal at Nettuno, Italy, following a search and rescue sortie off Anzio. Behind it is parked a Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX of No. 93 Squadron RAF Detachment.

Photo's 01: Warrant Officer J R Berry (wireless operator) and Flight Sergeant E J Holmes (pilot), an experienced air-sea rescue crew, stand in front of their Supermarine Walrus Mark I, X9506 ‘C’, of ‘C’ Flight, No. 293 Squadron RAF Detachment at Nettuno, Italy. Berry and Holmes were both recipients of the Distinguished Flying Medal for their work with No. 284 Squadron RAF, and flew several more successful rescue sorties after transferring with their aircraft to 293 Squadron in April 1944. The rescue tally on the X9506′s nose shows 23 aircrew extricated from the waters around Italy.

Photo's 02: Supermarine Walrus Mark Is of ‘C’ Flight No. 293 Squadron RAF Detachment, on the ground at Nettuno, Italy: X9506 ‘C’ is parked in front of R6547 ‘X’. In the foreground an American water bowser is sprinkling the surface of the landing ground in order to suppress the dust. Behind the Walruses, Supermarine Spitfire Mark IXs of No. 93 Squadron Detachment undergo repair and maintenance.

Known Supermarine Walrus which served with RAF 293
P5667 ZE V
L2170, L2207
L2217 ZE P
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

Beyond Courage:Air Sea Rescue by Walrus Squadrons in the Adriatic, Mediterranean and Tyrrehenian Seas 1942-1945. Franks,Norman. London: Grub Street, 2003 page 16

This Squadron flew on ASR duties in the Mediterranean and Adriatic from November 1943 until April 1946. eg, Walrus I ZE:P - L2217; Warwick I ZE:L - BV234.

Squadron Codes 1937-56. Bowyer,M.J.F. & J.D.R.Rawlings. Cambridge:P.S.L.,1979. p.120.