No. 278 Squadron RAF

No. 278 Squadron RAF
Active	1 October 1941 – 15 October 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto(s)	Latin: Ex mare ad referiendum (From out of the sea to strike again)
Insignia
Squadron Badge	A seagull in front of a lifebelt
Squadron Code	MY (October 1942 – October 1945)

No. 278 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an air-sea rescue unit in World War II.

History

Formation in World War II

The squadron formed at RAF Matlaske on 22 December 1941 equipped with the Lysander, Walrus and then the Anson. Spitfires were then supplied for spotting downed aircrew. The area of operations of the squadron was the coast of East Anglia and North East England. There were also detachments in Scotland.

The Warwick was operated from April 1944 and the Sea Otter from May 1945. The squadron was disbanded at Thorney Island on 15 October 1945.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 278 Squadron RAF

From	To	Aircraft	Variant
Oct 1941	Feb 1943	Westland Lysander	IIIA
Feb 1943	May 1944	Avro Anson	I
Apr 1944	May 1944	Supermarine Spitfire	IIA
Apr 1944	Jan 1945	Vickers Warwick	I
May 1944	Feb 1945	Supermarine Spitfire	VB
May 1945	Oct 1945	Supermarine Sea Otter	II

External links

• History of No.'s 276–280 Squadrons at RAF Web
• 278 Squadron history on the official RAF website