No. 246 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
In the World War I
The squadron was formed at the former Royal Naval Air Station Seaton CarewSeaton Carew
Seaton Carew is a small seaside resort within the Borough of Hartlepool, in North East England with a population of 6,018 . It is situated on the North Sea coast between the town of Hartlepool and the mouth of the River Tees...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on 18 August 1918 to provide coastal patrols. It was the only RAF squadron to operate the Blackburn Kangaroo
Blackburn Kangaroo
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography...
. The base closed and the squadron was disbanded, in May 1919 as some claim, while others have 15 March 1919 or 24 March 1919
In the World War II
The squadron reformed on 1 September 1942 at Bowmore on Islay to operate the Short SunderlandShort Sunderland
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
flying boat. It began patrols in December 1942 but was disbanded on 30 April 1943.
Post-war
On 11 October 1944 it reformed at RAF LynehamRAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham is a Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. It was the home of all the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force before they were relocated to RAF Brize Norton.The station was also home to No...
as a transport squadron with the Consolidated Liberator, moving to RAF Holmsley South
RAF Holmsley South
RAF Station Holmsley South is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately northeast of Christchurch; about southwest of London...
in the December. The Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
was also operated for experimental and conversion duties. In December 1944 the squadron began to receive the Avro York
Avro York
The Avro York was a British transport aircraft that was derived from the Second World War Lancaster heavy bomber, and used in both military and airliner roles between 1943 and 1964.-Design and development:...
. In February 1945 the squadron absorbed the VVIP Flight and the Metropolitan Communications Squadron at RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
. In November 1945 the Halifax aircraft were retired and the Douglas Skymaster
C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
introduced. In 1945 the squadron standardised on the Avro York
Avro York
The Avro York was a British transport aircraft that was derived from the Second World War Lancaster heavy bomber, and used in both military and airliner roles between 1943 and 1964.-Design and development:...
and operated scheduled services to India and the Middle East until it merged with 511 Squadron
No. 511 Squadron RAF
No. 511 Squadron was a Royal Air Force transport squadron, active during World War II, the Berlin Airlift and during the sixties and early seventies. It operated, during its three periods of existence, aircraft such as the Douglas Dakota, the Avro York, the Handley Page Hastings and the Bristol...
on 15 October 1946.
Aircraft operated
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|From! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|To
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Version
|-
| Aug 1918
| Mar 1919
| Short 184
|
|-
| Aug 1918
| Oct 1918
| Sopwith Baby
Sopwith Baby
-See also:...
|
|-
| Aug 1918
| Oct 1918
| Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2
The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 was a two-seat pusher biplane that was operated as a day and night bomber and as a fighter aircraft by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War...
| F.E.2b
|-
| Aug 1918
| Nov 1918
| Short 320
|
|-
| Aug 1918
| Nov 1918
| Blackburn Kangaroo
Blackburn Kangaroo
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography...
|
|-
| Oct 1942
| Apr 1943
| Short Sunderland
Short Sunderland
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
| Mks.II, III
|-
| Oct 1944
| Nov 1945
| Consolidated Liberator
| Mks.III, VI
|-
| Nov 1944
| Feb 1945
| Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
| Mk.III
|-
| Dec 1944
| Oct 1946
| Avro York
Avro York
The Avro York was a British transport aircraft that was derived from the Second World War Lancaster heavy bomber, and used in both military and airliner roles between 1943 and 1964.-Design and development:...
| C.1
|-
| Apr 1945
| Jul 1945
| Douglas Skymaster
C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
| Mk.I