No._292_Squadron_RAF
No. 292 Squadron RAF
Air-sea rescue squadron of the Royal Air Force
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.
| No. 292 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 February 1944 – 14 June 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | Air-sea rescue |
| Part of | Air Command, South East Asia |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | No badge authorised[1] |
| Squadron Codes | No code(s) are known to have been used by this squadron[2][3] |
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.
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1944 | June 1945 | Supermarine Walrus | Mks.I, II |
| April 1944 | June 1945 | Vickers Warwick | ASR.Mk.I (unsuited for tropical climate, non-operational after November 1944) |
| November 1944 | June 1945 | Supermarine Sea Otter | Mk.II |
| December 1944 | June 1945 | Consolidated Liberator | Mk.VI |
| From | To | Airfield | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February 1944 | 5 February 1945 | RAF Jessore, Bengal, British India | Det. at RAF Ratmalana, Ceylon; RAF Sigiriya, Ceylon and RAF Santacruz, Maharashtra, British India |
| 5 February 1945 | 14 June 1945 | RAF Agartala, Tripura, British India | Dets. at RAF Kankesanthurai, Ceylon and RAF Chittagong, Bengal, British India |
Notes
- "An index to the badges of RAF Squadrons in AIR 2". National Archives. 1993.
- Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 147.
- Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 231.
- "RAF - History". mod.uk.
- Rawlings 1982, p. 252.
- Halley 1988, p. 350.
- Jefford 2001, p. 86.
- Delve 1994, pp. 76–77.
Bibliography
- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.