Consolidated Catalina
coming in to land,
Sri Lanka
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Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books
No.191 Squadron was a maritime reconnaissance squadron that operated from bases in India and modern Pakistan from 1943 until it was disbanded in June 1945.
The squadron was reformed at Korangi Creek near Karachi on 17 May 1943 as a general reconnaissance squadron equipped with the Catalina flying boat. Its first patrol came on 21 May, and during 1943 it was used to patrol the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. Detachments were posted at Bahrain and other bases to give it wider range.
In 1944 the squadron moved to the east coast of India, with aircraft based on Addu Atoll, in southern India and on Celyon, while maintenance was still carried out back at Korangi Creek. In November 1944 the maintenance echelon finally moved to Madra, before in April 1945 the squadron concentrated on Ceylon.
The squadron had an extreme version of Coastal Command's often monotonous existence. During its two years of operations its aircraft never located a submarine, while its maximum number of sorties in an individual month was only 38, in March 1944. The squadron was finally disbanded on 15 June 1945 due to a lack of enemy naval activity.
Aircraft
May 1943-June 1945: Consolidated Catalina Ib
September 1944-June 1945: Consolidated Catalina IVb
Location
May 1943-November 1943: Korangi Creek
November-April 1945: Redhills Lake
April-June 1945: Koggala
Squadron Codes: U
Duty
1943-1945: Maritime patrols from India
Part of
1 July 1944: No.225 Group; Air Command South Asia
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