No. 259 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 259 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force
Squadron formed in Africa
as a reconnaissance
and anti-submarine unit in World War II
.
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.
, Kenya
and flew anti-submarine patrols over the Indian Ocean
equipped with Catalinas. Detachments of the squadron were based at Dar-es-Salaam, Diego Saurez, Khormaksar
, Masirah, Port Victoria
, Tulear, Lake St. Lucia in South Africa
and Mauritius
. The squadron was disbanded on 1 May 1945 by which time it was re-equipping with Sunderlands
.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Squadron formed in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
as a reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
and anti-submarine unit in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
World War I
No. 259 Squadron Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
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 KipevuKipevu
Kipevu is a suburb of Mombasa, Kenya. Located in the Changamwe Constituency, it had a population of 44,720 in 1999....
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and flew anti-submarine patrols over the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
equipped with Catalinas. Detachments of the squadron were based at Dar-es-Salaam, Diego Saurez, Khormaksar
Khormaksar
Khormaksar , is a city district in Aden Governorate, Yemen, with a population of 47,044 according to 2004 census.-History:As part of Aden Colony Khormaksar was a military base for the British forces who built multiple barracks in the area. Its importance strengthened further after the Royal Air...
, Masirah, Port Victoria
Port Victoria
Port Victoria may refer to several places:* Victoria, Seychelles* Port Victoria, South Australia* Port Victoria, Kenya, a town in Busia District* Port Victoria, Kent, England** Port Victoria railway station, a former railway station in Kent, England...
, Tulear, Lake St. Lucia in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. The squadron was disbanded on 1 May 1945 by which time it was re-equipping with Sunderlands
Short Sunderland
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1943 | Apr 1945 | Consolidated PBY Catalina | IB |
| Mar 1945 | Apr 1945 | Short Sunderland Short Sunderland The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England.... |
V |