A Consolidated PBY Catalina of No 240 Squadron based at RAF Stranraer as seen in 1941
The squadron was re-formed at RAF Calshot on 30 March 1937. It was at initially equipped with Supermarine Scapas and after a year converted to Short Singapores, which were followed a year later by the Saro London, planning to convert later to Saro Lerwicks, but getting Supermarine Stranraers in June 1940 instead. During March 1941 these were replaced with Consolidated Catalinas, to carry out anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic Ocean. It then moved to India in March 1942 where it flew anti-shipping and submarine patrols from Red Hills Lake, where it was disbanded on 1 July 1945.[1][5] The squadron reformed that same day, 1 July 1945, from elements of 212 Squadron and 240 Squadron's Special Duties Flight. The squadron was continuing "special duties" into September 1945, evacuating Operation "Lunch" from the Andaman Islands on 7 September 1945.[6] The squadron converted to Short Sunderland Mk.Vs and moved to Ceylon in 1945, where it disbanded on 31 March 1946 at RAF Koggala.[1][5]
The squadron reformed once again on 1 August 1959, as one of 20 Thor Strategic Missile (SM) Squadrons, associated with Project Emily. The squadron was equipped with three ThorIntermediate range ballistic missiles, and stationed at RAF Breighton.[1][5] In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron was kept at full readiness, with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the USSR. The squadron was disbanded with the termination of the Thor Programme in Great Britain, on 8 January 1963.
^NARA OSS History Record Group 226Entry 99,Box 126, India Burma Theater Report September 1945
Bibliography
Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN0-85059-364-6.
Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN0-7106-0187-5.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 240 Squadron RAF.
History of No.'s 236–240 Squadrons at RAF Web
October 21, 2023
squadron, royal, force, flying, boat, seaplane, squadron, during, world, world, 1959, then, reformed, strategic, missile, squadron, serving, thus, till, 1963, active20, 1918, 1919, 1937, 1946, 1952, 1958, 1959, 1963countryunited, kingdombranchroyal, forcerolea. No 240 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force flying boat and seaplane squadron during World War I World War II and up to 1959 It was then reformed as a strategic missile squadron serving thus till 1963 No 240 Squadron RAFActive20 Aug 1918 15 May 1919 30 Mar 1937 31 May 1946 1 May 1952 1 Nov 1958 1 Aug 1959 8 Jan 1963CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceRoleAnti submarine warfareMaritime patrolStrategic Missile ForceMotto s Icelandic Sjo Vordur Lopt Vordur Translation Guardian of the sea guardian of the sky 1 InsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryA viking helmet 1 Squadron CodesSH Apr 1939 Sep 1939 2 BN Sep 1939 Jun 1942 3 L May 1952 1956 4 240 1956 Nov 1958 Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation and World War I 1 2 Reformation and World War II 1 3 Post war Shackletons and Missiles 2 Aircraft operated 3 Squadron bases 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditFormation and World War I Edit No 240 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed at RAF Calshot on 20 August 1918 to provide anti submarine protection using its Short 184s seaplanes and Felixstowe F2A flying boats It was disbanded on 15 May 1919 1 5 Reformation and World War II Edit nbsp A Consolidated PBY Catalina of No 240 Squadron based at RAF Stranraer as seen in 1941The squadron was re formed at RAF Calshot on 30 March 1937 It was at initially equipped with Supermarine Scapas and after a year converted to Short Singapores which were followed a year later by the Saro London planning to convert later to Saro Lerwicks but getting Supermarine Stranraers in June 1940 instead During March 1941 these were replaced with Consolidated Catalinas to carry out anti submarine patrols over the Atlantic Ocean It then moved to India in March 1942 where it flew anti shipping and submarine patrols from Red Hills Lake where it was disbanded on 1 July 1945 1 5 The squadron reformed that same day 1 July 1945 from elements of 212 Squadron and 240 Squadron s Special Duties Flight The squadron was continuing special duties into September 1945 evacuating Operation Lunch from the Andaman Islands on 7 September 1945 6 The squadron converted to Short Sunderland Mk Vs and moved to Ceylon in 1945 where it disbanded on 31 March 1946 at RAF Koggala 1 5 Post war Shackletons and Missiles Edit On 1 May 1952 the squadron re formed again at RAF Aldergrove and was equipped with Avro Shackleton Mk 1a maritime reconnaissance aircraft The squadron moved to Northern Ireland in June 1952 where it disbanded on 1 November 1958 at RAF Ballykelly by being renumbered to 203 sqn 1 5 The squadron reformed once again on 1 August 1959 as one of 20 Thor Strategic Missile SM Squadrons associated with Project Emily The squadron was equipped with three Thor Intermediate range ballistic missiles and stationed at RAF Breighton 1 5 In October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis the squadron was kept at full readiness with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the USSR The squadron was disbanded with the termination of the Thor Programme in Great Britain on 8 January 1963 Aircraft operated EditAircraft operated by No 240 Squadron RAF 1 5 From To Aircraft VariantAug 1918 May 1919 Curtiss H 12Aug 1918 May 1919 Fairey CampaniaAug 1918 May 1919 Felixstowe F 2 aAug 1918 May 1919 Short 320Aug 1918 May 1919 Short Type 184 bMar 1937 Jan 1939 Supermarine ScapaNov 1938 Jan 1939 Short Singapore Mk IIIJul 1939 Jun 1940 Saro London Mk IIJun 1940 Jan 1941 Supermarine Stranraer Mk IMar 1941 Dec 1945 Consolidated Catalina Mks I Ib amp IIJul 1945 Mar 1946 Short Sunderland Mk VMay 1952 Nov 1958 Avro Shackleton MR 1aJul 1953 Aug 1954 Avro Shackleton MR 2Aug 1959 Jan 1963 Douglas Thor SM 75Squadron bases EditBases and airfields used by No 240 Squadron RAF From To Base Remarks20 August 1918 15 May 1919 RAF Calshot Hampshire30 March 1937 12 August 1939 RAF Calshot Hampshire12 August 1939 4 November 1939 RAF Invergordon Ross and Cromarty Scotland4 November 1939 1 April 1940 RAF Sullom Voe Shetland Scotland1 April 1940 27 May 1940 RAF Invergordon Ross and Cromarty Scotland27 May 1940 30 July 1940 RAF Pembroke Dock Pembrokeshire Wales30 July 1940 28 March 1941 RAF Stranraer Wigtownshire Scotland Also flying Stranraer28 March 1941 25 August 1941 RAF Killadeas County Fermanagh Northern Ireland25 August 1941 6 June 1942 RAF Castle Archdale Lower Lough Erne County Fermanagh Northern Ireland Ground echelon left 29 March 194229 March 1942 4 July 1942 En route to British India4 July 1942 1 July 1945 RAF Red Hills Lake Madras British India1 July 1945 10 January 1946 RAF Red Hills Lake Madras British India Reformation as Short Sunderland unit10 January 1946 31 March 1946 RAF Koggala Ceylon1 May 1952 25 May 1952 RAF Aldergrove County Antrim Northern Ireland25 May 1952 5 June 1952 RAF St Eval Cornwall5 June 1952 1 November 1958 RAF Ballykelly County Londonderry Northern Ireland1 August 1959 8 January 1963 RAF Breighton East Riding of Yorkshire as No 240 SM SquadronReferences EditNotes a b c d e f g h Halley 1988 p 307 Bowyer and Rawlings 1979 p 14 Bowyer and Rawlings 1979 p 22 Flintham and Thomas 2003 p 192 a b c d e f Jefford 2001 p 78 NARA OSS History Record Group 226Entry 99 Box 126 India Burma Theater Report September 1945 BibliographyBowyer Michael J F and John D R Rawlings Squadron Codes 1937 56 Cambridge UK Patrick Stephens Ltd 1979 ISBN 0 85059 364 6 Flintham Vic and Andrew Thomas Combat Codes A full explanation and listing of British Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing Ltd 2003 ISBN 1 84037 281 8 Halley James J The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1918 1988 Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd 1988 ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Jefford C G RAF Squadrons a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing 1988 second edition 2001 ISBN 1 85310 053 6 Rawlings John D R Coastal Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Jane s Publishing Company Ltd 1982 ISBN 0 7106 0187 5 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 240 Squadron RAF History of No s 236 240 Squadrons at RAF Web Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 240 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1177813074, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
