Avro Anson Mk I Squadrons

The majority of the squadrons using the Avro Anson for training in 1939-1940 were former bomber squadrons that became training squadrons when the majority of Fairey Battle squadrons went to France.

The pre-war training squadrons were normally bomber squadrons waiting for more modern bomber aircraft to arrive.
 
The Avro Anson was used by 54 RAF squadrons, two South African Air Force squadrons and one squadron of the allied Royal Hellenic Air Force. Of those fifty seven units twenty-one served with Coastal Command (14 in reconnaissance and anti-submarine duties early in the war and 7 in air-sea rescue duties from 1943). One non-coastal command reconnaissance squadron used the type, while No. 624 squadron used the aircraft to spot mines in the Aegean.

Fourteen squadrons used the Anson as a training aircraft, mostly in 1939-40. Three squadrons used the Anson as a bomber in the pre-war period while they were waiting for more modern aircraft to arrive. Ten squadrons used the Anson for communications or light transport duties, often as one of a mix of aircraft with an eleventh squadron using it for post-war ferrying duties.

Five squadrons used the Anson on special duties, ranging from anti-aircraft calibration to combined operations training.

Squadron

Dates

Function (of Ansons)

7

1939-1940

Training

24

1940-45

Communication

35

1939-1940

Training

44

1939

Training

48

1936-1941

Recon, Convoy Escort

51

1937-1938

Bomber (waiting for Whitleys)

52

1939-1940

Training

61

1937-1938

Bomber (waiting for Blenheims)

63

1939-1940

Training

75

1937, 1939

Training

76

1939-1940

Training

97

1939-1940

Training

104

1939-1940

Training

106

1939

Training

108

1939-1940

Training

109

1940-1942

Wireless Intelligence Development Unit

116

1945 (I and XII)

Anti-Aircraft Calibration Flight

144

1937

Day bomber

147

1944-1946

Transport

148

1939-1940

Training

173

1943-1944

Communication

187

c.1946

Post-war ferrying

192

1945

Radar counter measures

206

1936-1940

Anti-submarine patrols

207

1939-1940

Training

215

1937, 1940

Training

217

1937-1940

Coastal Reconnaissance

220

1936-1939

Reconnaissance

224

1937-1939

Coastal Reconnaissance

233

1937-1939

Coastal Reconnaissance

251

1944-1945

Air-sea rescue from Iceland

267

1940-1942

Local transport Egypt

269

1936-1940

Coastal Reconnaissance

275

1943-1944

Air-sea rescue in Irish Sea

276

1943-1944

Air-sea rescue around Cornwall and Devon

278

1943-1944

Air-sea rescue on east coast

280

1943-1944

Air-sea rescue in south east England

281

1943

Air-sea rescue

282

1943-1944

Air-sea rescue from Scotland

320

1940-1941

Coastal reconnaissance

321

1940-1941

Anti-submarine patrols

353

1944-1945

Communications (India)

437

1944-1945

Light transport

500

1939-1941

Patrols over channel

502

1939-1940

Patrols off Irish coast

510

c.1942

Communications

516

1943-1944

Combined Operations training

544

1942-1943

Reconnaissance

567

1945

Anti-aircraft co-operation

575

1944-1945

Transport*

577

?

?

608

1939-1941

Anti-submarine patrols

612

1939-1941

Coastal reconnaissance

624

1945

Mine spotting

28 SAAF

1943-44, 1945

Communications

44 SAAF

1945

Communications

13 RHAF

1941-1942

Anti-submarine patrols

* No. 575 squadron operated a small number of Ansons as transport plans, but its main duties involved glider towing.

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (24 November 2007), Avro Anson Mk I Squadrons, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/lists_avro_anson_squadrons.html

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