No. 283 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 283 Squadron was a Royal Air Force
squadron that served during the Second world war in the air-sea rescue
(ASR) mission role whilst flying Supermarine Walrus
es and both in ASR and the anti-submarine patrol role whilst flying Vickers Warwick
s.
on the 11 February 1943 as an air-sea rescue
squadron. The squadron was equipped with the Supermarine Walrus
and was responsible for air-sea rescue along the North African coast. The squadron moved to Palermo
in August 1943 to provide cover for the campaign in southern Italy
. The squadron re-equipped with the Vickers Warwick
in February 1944 and moved to RAF Hal Far
, Malta
. At the end of the Second World War the squadron disbanded at RAF Hal Far
on 31 March 1946.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|To
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Version
|-----
| April 1943
| April 1944
| Supermarine Walrus
| Mks.I & II
|-----
| March 1944
| March 1946
| Vickers Warwick
| Mk.I
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|To
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Name
|-----
| February 1943
| May 1943
| Hussein Bay, Algiers
|-----
| May 1943
| May 1943
| Maison Blanche
|-----
| May 1943
| May 1943
| Tingley
|-----
| May 1943
| August 1943
| La Sebala
|-----
| August 1943
| December 1943
| Palermo
|-----
| December 1943
| December 1943
| Ajaccio
, Corsica
|-----
| December 1943
| April 1944
| Borgo
|-----
| April 1944
| March 1946
| RAF Hal Far
, Malta
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...
squadron that served during the Second world war in the 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...
(ASR) mission role whilst flying 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...
es and both in ASR and the anti-submarine patrol role whilst flying Vickers Warwick
Vickers Warwick
The Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas...
s.
History
No. 283 Squadron was formed at AlgiersAlgiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
on the 11 February 1943 as an 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. The squadron was equipped with the 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...
and was responsible for air-sea rescue along the North African coast. The squadron moved to Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
in August 1943 to provide cover for the campaign in southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The squadron re-equipped with the Vickers Warwick
Vickers Warwick
The Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas...
in February 1944 and moved to RAF Hal Far
RAF Hal Far
The RAF Hal Far airfield in Malta, titled HMS Falcon during the Royal Navy base, was constructed and opened on 1 April 1929, and was used by Royal Navy air crews. It was the first permanent airfield to be built in Malta. It was transferred to the Maltese Government and redeveloped as from January...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. At the end of the Second World War the squadron disbanded at RAF Hal Far
RAF Hal Far
The RAF Hal Far airfield in Malta, titled HMS Falcon during the Royal Navy base, was constructed and opened on 1 April 1929, and was used by Royal Navy air crews. It was the first permanent airfield to be built in Malta. It was transferred to the Maltese Government and redeveloped as from January...
on 31 March 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
|-----
| April 1943
| April 1944
| 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
|-----
| March 1944
| March 1946
| Vickers Warwick
Vickers Warwick
The Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas...
| Mk.I
Squadron bases
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|From! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|To
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Name
|-----
| February 1943
| May 1943
| Hussein Bay, Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
|-----
| May 1943
| May 1943
| Maison Blanche
|-----
| May 1943
| May 1943
| Tingley
|-----
| May 1943
| August 1943
| La Sebala
|-----
| August 1943
| December 1943
| Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
|-----
| December 1943
| December 1943
| Ajaccio
Ajaccio
Ajaccio , is a commune on the island of Corsica in France. It is the capital and largest city of the region of Corsica and the prefecture of the department of Corse-du-Sud....
, Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
|-----
| December 1943
| April 1944
| Borgo
|-----
| April 1944
| March 1946
| RAF Hal Far
RAF Hal Far
The RAF Hal Far airfield in Malta, titled HMS Falcon during the Royal Navy base, was constructed and opened on 1 April 1929, and was used by Royal Navy air crews. It was the first permanent airfield to be built in Malta. It was transferred to the Maltese Government and redeveloped as from January...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...