No. 259 Squadron RAF

No. 259 Squadron RAF
Active 20 August 1918 – 14 January 1919
16 February 1943 – 1 May 1945
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s) Swahili: Haya ingia napigane
("Get in a fight")
Insignia
Squadron Badge An eagle head over a globe
Squadron Codes VP (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939)

No. 259 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed in Africa as a reconnaissance and anti-submarine unit in World War II.

History

World War I

No. 259 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was authorized to form on 20 August 1918 but there is no evidence that it actually did so and it was formally disbanded on 14 January 1919.

Formation in World War II

The squadron formed on 16 February 1943 at Kipevu, Kenya and flew anti-submarine patrols over the Indian Ocean equipped with Catalinas. Detachments of the squadron were based at Dar-es-Salaam, Diego Suarez, Khormaksar, Masirah, Port Victoria, Tulear, Lake St. Lucia in South Africa[1][2] and Mauritius. The squadron was disbanded on 1 May 1945 by which time it was re-equipping with Sunderlands.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 259 Squadron RAF
From To Aircraft Variant
Feb 1943 Apr 1945 Consolidated PBY Catalina IB
Mar 1945 Apr 1945 Short Sunderland V

References

  1. ↑ Gaisford, Jeff (17 January 2011). "The Catalinas of Lake St. Lucia". South African Air Force Museum. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Bizley, Bill (1993–94). "U-Boats off Natal" (PDF). Natalia. Natal Society Foundation. 23 & 24: 76–98. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
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