No. 292 Squadron RAF

No. 292 Squadron RAF was an air-sea rescue (ASR) squadron of the Royal Air Force operating in the Bay of Bengal during the Second World War.

For the Australian unit, see No. 292 Squadron RAAF
No. 292 Squadron RAF
Active1 February 1944 – 14 June 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleAir-sea rescue
Part ofAir Command, South East Asia
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryNo badge authorised[1]
Squadron CodesNo code(s) are known to have been used by this squadron[2][3]

History

292 squadron was formed at RAF Jessore, Bengal, (then) British India, on 1 February 1944, as a dedicated air-sea rescue squadron equipped with Walrus flying boats. A detachment of the squadron was sent further south, in Ceylon. In April the squadron received a number of Vickers Warwick patrol aircraft, but these were found to be unsuitable in the tropical climate, and in December 1944 they received Consolidated Liberator Mk.VIs as replacements. In November 1944 the squadron already received a number of Supermarine Sea Otters, a bit more modern flying boat. The squadron were posted to RAF Agartala in February 1945, as operations had shifted further eastwards through Burma; they were located there when the squadron was disbanded on 14 June.[4] Its duties were then taken over by three independent flights, No's 1347, 1348 and 1349 Flight RAF.

Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by no. 292 Squadron RAF, data from[5][6][7]
FromToAircraftVersion
February 1944June 1945Supermarine WalrusMks.I, II
April 1944June 1945Vickers WarwickASR.Mk.I (unsuited for tropical climate, non-operational after November 1944)
November 1944June 1945Supermarine Sea OtterMk.II
December 1944June 1945Consolidated LiberatorMk.VI

Squadron Airfield
Camps and airfields used by No. 292 Squadron RAF, data from[5][6][7][8]
FromToAirfieldRemark
1 February 19445 February 1945RAF Jessore, Bengal, British IndiaDet. at RAF Ratmalana, Ceylon; RAF Sigiriya, Ceylon and RAF Santacruz, Maharashtra, British India
5 February 194514 June 1945RAF Agartala, Tripura, British IndiaDets. at RAF Kankesanthurai, Ceylon and RAF Chittagong, Bengal, British India

References

Notes
  1. "An index to the badges of RAF Squadrons in AIR 2". National Archives. 1993.
  2. Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 147.
  3. Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 231.
  4. "RAF - History". mod.uk.
  5. Rawlings 1982, p. 252.
  6. Halley 1988, p. 350.
  7. Jefford 2001, p. 86.
  8. Delve 1994, pp. 76–77.

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.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • 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). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • 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.
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