No. 292 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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 based 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.VI
s as replacements. In November 1944 the squadron already received a number of Supermarine Sea Otter
s, a bit more modern flying boat. The squadron rebased to RAF Agartala
in February 1945, as operations had shifted further eastwards through Burma; they were based there when the squadron was disbanded on 14 June. Its duties were then taken over by three independent flights, No's 1347, 1348 and 1349 Flight RAF.
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) squadron of the Royal Air Force
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...
operating in the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
during the Second World War.
History
292 squadron was formed at RAF JessoreJessore Airport
-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*...
, Bengal, (then) British India, on 1 February 1944, as a dedicated 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 equipped with 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...
flying boats. A detachment of the squadron was based further south, in Ceylon. In April the squadron received a number of 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...
patrol aircraft, but these were found to be unsuitable in the tropical climate, and in December 1944 they received Consolidated Liberator Mk.VI
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
s as replacements. In November 1944 the squadron already received a number of Supermarine Sea Otter
Supermarine Sea Otter
|-Survivors:No museum holds a complete aircraft. Australia's Museum of Flight has the nose section of JN200, a Sea Otter which served with the Royal Australian Navy.-See also:-References:...
s, a bit more modern flying boat. The squadron rebased to RAF Agartala
Agartala Airport
-World War II:During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Force Tenth Air Force 4th Combat Cargo Group, which flew C-46 Commando transport aircraft over Burma...
in February 1945, as operations had shifted further eastwards through Burma; they were based there when the squadron was disbanded on 14 June. Its duties were then taken over by three independent flights, No's 1347, 1348 and 1349 Flight RAF.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1944 | June 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 |
| April 1944 | June 1945 | 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... |
ASR.Mk.I (unsuited for tropical climate, non-operational after November 1944) |
| November 1944 | June 1945 | Supermarine Sea Otter Supermarine Sea Otter |-Survivors:No museum holds a complete aircraft. Australia's Museum of Flight has the nose section of JN200, a Sea Otter which served with the Royal Australian Navy.-See also:-References:... |
Mk.II |
| December 1944 | June 1945 | Consolidated Liberator B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber... |
Mk.VI |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February 1944 | 5 February 1945 | RAF Jessore Jessore Airport -Airlines and destinations:-External links:*... , Bengal Bengal Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous... , British India |
Det. at RAF Ratmalana Ratmalana Airport Ratmalana Airport , formally known as Colombo Airport, is a major domestic airport and military base in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was once Colombo's international airport, until the current Bandaranaike International Airport opened in the 1960s... , Ceylon; RAF Sigiriya Sigiriya Sigiriya is a large stone and ancient rock fortress and palace ruin in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures... , Ceylon and RAF Santa Cruz, Maharashtra Maharashtra Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India... , British India |
| 5 February 1945 | 14 June 1945 | RAF Agartala Agartala Airport -World War II:During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Force Tenth Air Force 4th Combat Cargo Group, which flew C-46 Commando transport aircraft over Burma... , Tripura Tripura Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are... , British India |
Dets. at RAF Kankesanthurai, Ceylon and RAF Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport Shah Amanat International Airport , named after an Islamic saint, is an international airport serving Bangladesh's south-eastern port city of Chittagong and the Bangladesh Air Force. It is Bangladesh's second largest airport... , Bengal, British India |