No. 278 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an air-sea rescue unit in World War II.
History The squadron formed at RAF Matlaske on 22 December 1941 and was equipped with the Lysander, Walrus and then the Anson. Spitfires were then supplied for spotting downed aircrew. The area of operations of the squadron was the coast of East Anglia and North East England. There were also detachments in Scotland.
The Warwick was operated from April 1944 and the Sea Otter from May 1945. The squadron was disbanded at Thorney Island on 15 October 1945.
Aircraft operated +Aircraft operated by No. 278 Squadron RAF From To Aircraft Variant Oct 1941 Feb 1943 Westland Lysander IIIA Feb 1943 May 1944 Avro Anson I Apr 1944 May 1944 Supermarine Spitfire IIA Apr 1944 Jan 1945 Vickers Warwick I May 1944 Feb 1945 Supermarine Spitfire VB May 1945 Oct 1945 Supermarine Sea Otter II
References
External links History of No.'s 276–280 Squadrons at RAF Web 278 Squadron history on the official RAF website