No. 246 Squadron RAF
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
No. 246 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.
The squadron was formed at the former Royal Naval Air Station Seaton Carew, England on 18 August 1918 to provide coastal patrols. It was the only RAF squadron to operate the Blackburn Kangaroo. The base closed and the squadron was disbanded in May 1919.
The squadron reformed on 1 September 1942 at Bowmore on Islay to operate the Short Sunderland flying boat. It began patrols in December 1942 but was disbanded on 30 April 1943.
On 11 September 1946 it reformed at RAF Lyneham as a transport squadron with the Consolidated Liberator, moving to RAF Holmsley South in the December. The Handley Page Halifax was also operated for experimental and conversion duties. In December 1944 the squadron began to receive the Avro York. In February 1945 the squadron absorbed the VVIP Flight and the Metropolitan Communications Squadron at RAF Northolt. In November 1945 the Halifax aircraft were retired and the Douglas Skymaster introduced. In 1945 the squadron standardised on the Avro York and operated scheduled services to India and the Middle East until it merged with 511 Squadron in October 1946.
[edit] Aircraft Operated
- 1918 - Blackburn Kangaroo
- 1918 - Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b
- 1918 - Short 184
- 1918 - Short 320
- 1918 - Sopwith Baby
- 1942 - Short Sunderland
- 1944 - Consolidated Liberator VII
- 1944 - Handley Page Halifax III
- 1944 - Avro York
- 1945 - Consolidated Liberator III
- 1944 - Consolidated Liberator VI
- 1945 - Douglas Skymaster
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- G G Jefford, RAF Squadrons, second edition 2001, Airlife Publishing, UK, ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
