Flying Boat Training Squadron RAF is a former Squadron of the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

which was operational between 1931 and 1956 through various names.

Structure

The squadron was formed on 2 January 1939 at

RAF Calshot Royal Air Force Calshot or more simply RAF Calshot was initially a seaplane and flying boat station, and latterly a Royal Air Force marine craft maintenance and training unit. It was located at the end of Calshot Spit in Southampton Water, Hamp ...

flying Supermarine Stranraers and Supermarine Scapas before being disbanded and merged with the Seaplane Training Squadron to make No. 4 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit on 16 March 1941. History of the Seaplane Training Squadron The squadron was formed on 1 October 1931 at Calshot by redesignating the Seaplane Training Flight operating a variety of aircraft including

Fairey IIID The Fairey Aviation Company Fairey III was a family of British reconnaissance biplanes that enjoyed a very long production and service history in both landplane and seaplane variants. First flying on 14 September 1917, examples were still in us ...

Supermarine Southampton The Supermarine Southampton was a flying boat of the interwar period designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Supermarine. It was one of the most successful flying boats of the era. The Southampton was derived from the experime ...

s and

Swordfish Swordfish (''Xiphias gladius''), also known as broadbills in some countries, are large, highly migratory predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, pointed bill. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. Swordfis ...

s until it was disbanded at

RAF Wig Bay Royal Air Force Wig Bay or more simply RAF Wig Bay is a former Royal Air Force station near Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway Dumfries and Galloway ( sco, Dumfries an Gallowa; gd, Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh) is one of 32 unitary coun ...

. History of No. 4 OTU No. 4 (Coastal) OTU was formed on 16 March 1941 at RAF Stranraer and operating a large number of aircraft including Saro Londons,

Short Singapore The Short Singapore was a British multi-engined biplane flying boat built after the First World War. The design was developed into two four-engined versions: the prototype Singapore II and production Singapore III. The latter became the Royal ...

s and Consolidated PBY Catalinas. It was disbanded on 31 July 1947 at RAF Pembroke Dock to become No. 235 Operational Conversion Unit RAF. History of No. 235 OCU The Conversion unit was formed at RAF Calshot and operated

Short Sunderland The Short S.25 Sunderland is a British flying boat patrol bomber, developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The aircraft took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of Sunderland in North East ...

s and

Short Seaford The Short S.45 Seaford was a 1940s flying boat, designed as a long range maritime patrol bomber for RAF Coastal Command. It was developed from the Short S.25 Sunderland, and initially ordered as "Sunderland Mark IV". Background In 1942, the Air ...

s until 17 October 1953 when it was disbanded at Calshot. Reformation The squadron was reformed at RAF Pembroke Dock on 17 October 1953 flying Sunderlands before being disbanded less than 3 years later on 5 October 1956 still at Pembroke Dock.

Notes

References

* {{RAF Operational Training units Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons Flying training squadrons Military units and formations disestablished in 1956 Seaplanes