No. 276 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an air-sea rescue unit in World War II.
History Formation in World War II The squadron formed at RAF Harrowbeer, Devon on 21 October 1941 equipped with the Lysander and Walrus, with the responsibility of Air Sea Rescue over the Western part of the English Channel and the Bristol Channel.Dunnell Aeroplane April 2018, p. 60. Hurricanes, Defiants, Spitfires and Ansons were then supplied, the fighter aircraft being used for spotting downed aircrew at sea and for dropping dinghies to the downed airmen.Rawlings 1982, pp. 250–251.Dunnell Aeroplane April 2018, p. 61. For a time it was commanded by Squadron Leader Ronald Hamlyn.
Warwicks which could drop lifeboats were operated from April 1944 until they were transferred to No. 277 Squadron RAF. A detachment and then the whole squadron relocated to Querqueville, France, and then Belgium following the Normandy landings. The squadron then moved to Kjevik, Norway, on 23 August 1945 and it returned to RAF Dunsfold on 10 November 1945 where it disbanded on 14 November 1945.
Aircraft operated +Aircraft operated by No. 276 Squadron RAF From To Aircraft Variant Oct 1941 May 1943 Westland Lysander IIIA Nov 1941 Jan 1942 Hawker Hurricane I Jan 1942 Nov 1945 Supermarine Walrus Mar 1942 Apr 1942 Supermarine Spitfire IIA May 1942 Jun 1943 Boulton Paul Defiant I Feb 1943 May 1944 Supermarine Spitfire IIA Mar 1943 Mar 1944 Avro Anson I Feb 1944 May 1944 Supermarine Sea Otter Apr 1944 Nov 1944 Vickers Warwick I May 1944 Jun 1945 Supermarine Spitfire VB
References
External links
History of No.'s 276–280 Squadrons at RAF Web 276 Squadron history on the official RAF website