No. 262 Squadron RAF

No. 262 Squadron RAF was an anti-submarine patrol squadron of the Royal Air Force between 1942 and 1945.

No. 262 Squadron RAF
Active	29 September 1942 – 15 February 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	anti-submarine patrol squadron
Part of	RAF Coastal Command
Flying Boat	Consolidated Catalina
Insignia
Squadron Badge	No badge authorised[1]
Squadron Codes	TR (1944) The same combination is also mentioned for 265 Squadron, in both cases it is not confirmed.[1]

History

The squadron was officially formed on 29 September 1942[1][2][3] at RAF Hednesford, although this was a paper exercise as the squadron personnel and equipment were at that moment in transit to Congella in South Africa. It did not start to operate as a squadron until arriving in Durban on 5 November 1942, arriving at Congella a week later,[1] but still had to wait until February 1943 before their first Consolidated Catalina aircraft arrived. It began to operate long anti-submarine patrols over the Indian Ocean. From November 1943 it started to training crews from the South African Air Force with a detachment at Langebaanweg in the Cape Province, it still carried out anti-submarine patrols but began to restrict those patrols to within the South Africa Defence Area. On 15 February 1945 the squadron was disbanded when it was renumbered as 35 Squadron South African Air Force.[1][2][3]

Aircraft operated

From	To	Aircraft	Variant
1943	1945	Consolidated Catalina	Mk.Ib
1944	1945	Consolidated Catalina	Mk.IVb

[1][2][3]

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

References

Notes

1. Rawlings 1982, pp. 185–186.
2. Halley 1988, p. 328.
3. Jefford 2001, p. 82.

Bibliography

• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & 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.
• Spring, Ivan. Flying Boat: The History of 262 Squadron RAF and the origins of 35 Squadron SAAF. Johannesburg, South Africa: Spring Air, 1995. ISBN 0-9583977-2-4.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), Orbis Publishing, UK.