No. 293 Squadron RAF
# No. 293 Squadron RAF

No. 293 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air-sea rescue squadron. During the Second World War the unit operated search and rescue missions for Allied aircraft operating over Italy.

## History

No. 293 Squadron was formed at RAF Blida, North Africa on 28 November 1943 with the Vickers Warwick in the air-sea rescue role. After providing detachments into Italy the squadron moved to Pomigliano, Italy in March 1944. In April 1944 the Warwicks were supplemented by Supermarine Walrus flying boats. In March 1945 the squadron moved to Foggia, but moved back to Pomigliano in June where it stayed until it was disbanded on 5 April 1946.

## Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 293 Squadron RAF, data from :

| From | To | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| November 1943 | April 1946 | Vickers Warwick | ASR Mk.I | Twin-engined bomber operated in the search and rescue role. |
| April 1944 | April 1946 | Supermarine Walrus | Mks.I, II | Single pusher-engined biplane rescue amphibian. |

## Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 293 Squadron RAF, data from :

| From | To | Base | Remark |
| - | - | - | - |
| November 1943 | December 1943 | RAF Blida, Algeria | |
| December 1943 | March 1944 | RAF Bone, Algeria | Det. at Pomigliano, Italy |
| March 1944 | March 1945 | Pomigliano, Italy | Dets. all over the Italian coast |
| March 1945 | June 1945 | Foggia, Italy | Dets. at Tortoreto, Italy; Udine, Italy and Cesenatico, Italy |
| June 1945 | April 1946 | Pomigliano, Italy | |

## Commanding officers

Officrs commanding no. 293 Squadron RAF, data from :

| From | To | Name |
| - | - | - |
| November 1943 | October 1944 | S/Ldr. R.W. Pye |
| October 1944 | August 1945 | S/Ldr. W.R. Gellatly, RNZAF |
| August 1945 | April 1946 | S/Ldr. R.J. Cruttenden |
