Country United Kingdom Role Air-sea rescue | Branch Royal Air Force | |
Active 24 Sep 1943 – 8 Apr 1946 Part of RAF Middle East Command Motto(s) Latin: Vita ex undix abrepta
(Translation: "Life snatched from the waves") | ||
No. 294 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air search and rescue (ASR) squadron active under RAF Middle East Command. During the second world war the unit operated rescue missions for Allied aircraft and aircrew over the eastern Mediterranean and later the Persian Gulf and Arabian sea.
History
No. 294 Squadron was formed at Berka, near Benghazi, Libya on 24 September 1943 from the former air-sea rescue Flight. Equipped with the Vickers Wellington and Supermarine Walrus in the air search and rescue (ASR) role. The squadron aircraft were detached to various airfields around the eastern Mediterranean. In October 1943 the squadron moved to LG.91 (Landing Ground 91), but still provided detachments to other airfields. In March 1944 the squadron moved to Idku, still in Egypt, and re-equipped with the Wellington Mk.XI and later also the Wellington Mk.XIII and the Vickers Warwick. In June 1945 the squadron moved to RAF Basra, Iraq to provide rescue cover in the Persian Gulf and Arabian sea until it was disbanded on 8 April 1946.