No. 275 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 275 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force
air-sea rescue
squadron that served between 1941 and 1959.
on 15 October 1941 for air-sea rescue duties in the Irish sea, the first aircraft being Lysanders Mk.IIIa's
. Later in the year Walruses
were added to the Squadron followed by Defiants
, Spitfires
and Ansons
.
In April 1944 the Squadron moved to RAF Warmwell
to cover the sea area between England and Normandy. Air-sea rescue missions continued until 15 February 1945 when the Squadron was disbanded at RAF Harrowbeer
.
No. 275 squadron was reformed at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
as a sea and rescue Squadron to provide cover over the North Sea on March 1953 equipped with Sycamore HR.13 and HR.14
Helicopters, later relocating to RAF Thornaby
on the 18th November 1954 and remaining at Thornaby until October 1957 when the Squadron moved to RAF Leconfield
. In March 1959 the unit converted to the Whirlwind HAR.4 helicopter
, but on the 1st September 1959 the Squadron was renumbered to No. 228 Squadron RAF
and No. 275 ceased to exist.
! style="text-align: left;"|To
! style="text-align: left;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left;"|Version
|-
| Oct 1941
| Aug 1943
| Westland Lysander
| Mk.IIIa
|-
| Dec 1941
| Feb 1945
| Supermarine Walrus
| Mks.I, II
|-
| May 1942
| Aug 1943
| Boulton Paul Defiant
| Mks.I, Ia
|-
| Jan 1943
| Apr 1943
| Supermarine Spitfire
| Mk.Vb
|-
| Mar 1943
| Aug 1944
| Avro Anson
| Mk.I
|-
| Apr 1944
| Feb 1945
| Supermarine Spitfire
| Mk.Vb
|-
| Apr 1953
| Sep 1959
| Bristol Sycamore
| HR.13, HR.14
|-
| Jan 1954
| Aug 1954
| Taylorcraft Auster
| AOP.5
|-
| Feb 1954
| May 1955
| Hiller
| HTE-2
|-
| Jul 1954
| Mar 1956
| de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
| T.10
|-
| Jul 1954
| Sep 1959
| Avro Anson
| T.21
|-
| Mar 1959
| Sep 1959
| Westland Whirlwind
| HAR.2, HAR.4
! style="text-align: left;"|To
! style="text-align: left;"|Name
! style="text-align: left;"|Remark
|-----
| 15 Oct 1941
| 14 Apr 1944
| RAF Valley
| Formed here
|-----
| 30 Nov 1941
| 25 Apr 1944
| RAF Andreas
| Detachment
|-----
| 30 May 1943
| 14 Apr 1944
| RAF Eglinton
| Detachment
|-----
| 14 Apr 1944
| 7 Aug 1944
| RAF Warmwell
|
|-----
| 7 Aug 1944
| 18 Oct 1944
| RAF Bolt Head
|
|-----
| 7 Aug 1944
| 15 Feb 1945
| RAF Portreath
| Detachment
|-----
| 18 Oct 1944
| 10 Jan 1945
| RAF Exeter
|
|-----
| 18 Oct 1944
| 15 Feb 1945
| RAF Bolt Head
| Detachment
|-----
| 10 Jan 1945
| 15 Feb 1945
| RAF Harrowbeer
| Disbanded here
|-----
| 1 Mar 1953
| 18 Nov 1954
| RAF Linton-on-Ouse
| Re-formed here
|-----
| 18 Nov 1954
| 9 Oct 1957
| RAF Thornaby
|
|-----
| 9 Oct 1957
| 1 Sep 1959
| RAF Leconfield
| Disbanded here
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
squadron that served between 1941 and 1959.
History
No. 275 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF ValleyRAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
on 15 October 1941 for air-sea rescue duties in the Irish sea, the first aircraft being Lysanders Mk.IIIa's
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
. Later in the year Walruses
Supermarine Walrus
The Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R. J. Mitchell and operated by the Fleet Air Arm . It also served with the Royal Air Force , Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Canadian Air Force , Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New...
were added to the Squadron followed by Defiants
Boulton Paul Defiant
The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc...
, Spitfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and Ansons
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
.
In April 1944 the Squadron moved to RAF Warmwell
RAF Warmwell
RAF Warmwell was a Royal Air Force station near Warmwell in Dorset, England from 1937 to 1946, located about 5 miles east-southeast of Dorchester; 100 miles southwest of London....
to cover the sea area between England and Normandy. Air-sea rescue missions continued until 15 February 1945 when the Squadron was disbanded at RAF Harrowbeer
RAF Harrowbeer
RAF Harrowbeer was a World War II Royal Air Force airfield situated in the parish of Buckland Monachorum, Devon in the UK.-Location:RAF Harrowbeer was located approximately nine miles NNE of the city of Plymouth and approximately six miles south of Tavistock, and also sits within the boundary of...
.
No. 275 squadron was reformed at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse is a Royal Air Force station at Linton-on-Ouse near York in Yorkshire, England. It is currently a major flying training centre, one of the RAF's busiest airfields...
as a sea and rescue Squadron to provide cover over the North Sea on March 1953 equipped with Sycamore HR.13 and HR.14
Bristol Sycamore
-See also:-External links:* on the Bristol Sycamore* on the Bristol Sycamore*...
Helicopters, later relocating to RAF Thornaby
RAF Thornaby
RAF Thornaby was a former RAF Station located at the Teesside town of Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire. The station was created in the mid 1920s and came under the control of No. 18 Group, RAF Coastal Command in 1939. Being used mostly for reconnaissance work, anti shipping strikes, and attacks on...
on the 18th November 1954 and remaining at Thornaby until October 1957 when the Squadron moved to RAF Leconfield
RAF Leconfield
The former RAF Leconfield, or 'Leconfield Camp' was a Royal Air Force airbase in Leconfield , East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The site is now used by the MoD Defence School of Transport Leconfield .-History:...
. In March 1959 the unit converted to the Whirlwind HAR.4 helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
, but on the 1st September 1959 the Squadron was renumbered to No. 228 Squadron RAF
No. 228 Squadron RAF
No. 228 Squadron RAF was a unit that during the greatest part of its existence flew over water, doing so in World War I, World War II and beyond, performing anti-submarine, reconnaissance and air-sea rescue tasks.-Formation and World War I:...
and No. 275 ceased to exist.
Aircraft operated
! style="text-align: left;"|From! style="text-align: left;"|To
! style="text-align: left;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left;"|Version
|-
| Oct 1941
| Aug 1943
| Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
| Mk.IIIa
|-
| Dec 1941
| Feb 1945
| Supermarine Walrus
Supermarine Walrus
The Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R. J. Mitchell and operated by the Fleet Air Arm . It also served with the Royal Air Force , Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Canadian Air Force , Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New...
| Mks.I, II
|-
| May 1942
| Aug 1943
| Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc...
| Mks.I, Ia
|-
| Jan 1943
| Apr 1943
| Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
| Mk.Vb
|-
| Mar 1943
| Aug 1944
| Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
| Mk.I
|-
| Apr 1944
| Feb 1945
| Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
| Mk.Vb
|-
| Apr 1953
| Sep 1959
| Bristol Sycamore
Bristol Sycamore
-See also:-External links:* on the Bristol Sycamore* on the Bristol Sycamore*...
| HR.13, HR.14
|-
| Jan 1954
| Aug 1954
| Taylorcraft Auster
Taylorcraft Auster
The Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
| AOP.5
|-
| Feb 1954
| May 1955
| Hiller
| HTE-2
|-
| Jul 1954
| Mar 1956
| de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and several other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years...
| T.10
|-
| Jul 1954
| Sep 1959
| Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
| T.21
|-
| Mar 1959
| Sep 1959
| Westland Whirlwind
| HAR.2, HAR.4
Squadron bases
! style="text-align: left;"|From! style="text-align: left;"|To
! style="text-align: left;"|Name
! style="text-align: left;"|Remark
|-----
| 15 Oct 1941
| 14 Apr 1944
| RAF Valley
RAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
| Formed here
|-----
| 30 Nov 1941
| 25 Apr 1944
| RAF Andreas
RAF Andreas
Royal Air Force Station Andreas, was a former RAF airfield in the Isle of Man which was operational between 1941 and 1946. It was built in fields between Andreas and Bride...
| Detachment
|-----
| 30 May 1943
| 14 Apr 1944
| RAF Eglinton
| Detachment
|-----
| 14 Apr 1944
| 7 Aug 1944
| RAF Warmwell
RAF Warmwell
RAF Warmwell was a Royal Air Force station near Warmwell in Dorset, England from 1937 to 1946, located about 5 miles east-southeast of Dorchester; 100 miles southwest of London....
|
|-----
| 7 Aug 1944
| 18 Oct 1944
| RAF Bolt Head
RAF Bolt Head
RAF Bolt Head was a Royal Air Force grass airfield 1 mile south west of Salcombe on the south Devon coast, England from 1941 to 1945. During World War II it was used as a satellite for RAF Exeter.The Ground Control Interceptor Station, RAF Hope Cove...
|
|-----
| 7 Aug 1944
| 15 Feb 1945
| RAF Portreath
| Detachment
|-----
| 18 Oct 1944
| 10 Jan 1945
| RAF Exeter
|
|-----
| 18 Oct 1944
| 15 Feb 1945
| RAF Bolt Head
RAF Bolt Head
RAF Bolt Head was a Royal Air Force grass airfield 1 mile south west of Salcombe on the south Devon coast, England from 1941 to 1945. During World War II it was used as a satellite for RAF Exeter.The Ground Control Interceptor Station, RAF Hope Cove...
| Detachment
|-----
| 10 Jan 1945
| 15 Feb 1945
| RAF Harrowbeer
RAF Harrowbeer
RAF Harrowbeer was a World War II Royal Air Force airfield situated in the parish of Buckland Monachorum, Devon in the UK.-Location:RAF Harrowbeer was located approximately nine miles NNE of the city of Plymouth and approximately six miles south of Tavistock, and also sits within the boundary of...
| Disbanded here
|-----
| 1 Mar 1953
| 18 Nov 1954
| RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse is a Royal Air Force station at Linton-on-Ouse near York in Yorkshire, England. It is currently a major flying training centre, one of the RAF's busiest airfields...
| Re-formed here
|-----
| 18 Nov 1954
| 9 Oct 1957
| RAF Thornaby
RAF Thornaby
RAF Thornaby was a former RAF Station located at the Teesside town of Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire. The station was created in the mid 1920s and came under the control of No. 18 Group, RAF Coastal Command in 1939. Being used mostly for reconnaissance work, anti shipping strikes, and attacks on...
|
|-----
| 9 Oct 1957
| 1 Sep 1959
| RAF Leconfield
RAF Leconfield
The former RAF Leconfield, or 'Leconfield Camp' was a Royal Air Force airbase in Leconfield , East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The site is now used by the MoD Defence School of Transport Leconfield .-History:...
| Disbanded here