No. 277 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No.277 Squadron was an air-sea rescue unit that covered the area between the south-east of England and the French coast, one of the busiest areas around the British coast during the Second World War.

The squadron was formed on 22 December 1941 from a number of air-sea rescue detachments scattered around the coast of south-east England. It was one of four squadrons formed at this time, and was allocated to Fighter Command. It was equipped with a mix of Lysanders and Walrus flying boats, with the Lysanders used to spot downed airmen and drop dinghies, while the Walruses were used for rescues.

The squadron's area of operations was expanded to include the Cornish coast in August 1944, at about the same time as No.276 Squadron moved from that area to new bases in France. No.277 Squadron continued to cover most of the English Channel until 26 February 1945, when its role was taken over by No.278 Squadron (although the squadron had officially been disbanded on 15 February).

The squadron kept its Lysanders and Walruses for the entire period, but also operated Defiants, Spitfires, Sea Otters and even the Vickers Warwick.

Aircraft
December 1941-February 1945: Westland Lysander
December 1941-February 1945: Supermarine Walrus I and II
May 1942-May 1943: Boulton Paul Defiant
December 1942-May 1944: Supermarine Spitfire IIA
May 1944-Febuary 1945: Supermarine Spitfire VB
November 1943-April 1944: Supermarine Sea Otter
November 1944-February 1945: Vickers Warwick I

Location - Main
December 1941-December 1942: Stapleford Tawney
December 1942-April 1944: Gravesend
April 1944-October 1944: Shoreham
October 1944-February 1945: Hawkinge
Detachments
December 1941-October 1944: Detachments at Shoreham, Hawkinge and Martlesham Heath
August 1944: Detachments at Warmwell and Hurn
November 1944-February 1945: Detachment at Portreath

Squadron Codes: BA

Duty
1941-1945: Air sea rescue

Part of
6 June 1944: No.11 Group; Air Defence of Great Britain; Allied Expeditionary Air Force

Books

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