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) an ...

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 Stranraer The Supermarine Stranraer is a flying boat designed and built by the British Supermarine Aviation Works company at Woolston, Southampton. It was developed during the 1930s on behalf of its principal operator, the Royal Air Force (RAF). It wa ...

s and

Supermarine Scapa The Supermarine Scapa was a British general reconnaissance flying boat built by Supermarine that was used by the Royal Air Force between 1935 and 1939. It was developed from the Southampton and formed the basis of the later Stranraer flying boat ...

s 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, Supermarine Southamptons and Swordfishs until it was disbanded at RAF Wig Bay. History of No. 4 OTU No. 4 (Coastal) OTU was formed on 16 March 1941 at

RAF Stranraer 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 ...

and operating a large number of aircraft including

Saro London The Saunders Roe A.27 London was a British military biplane flying boat built by the Saunders Roe company. Only 31 were built, entering service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1936. Although due for replacement by the outbreak of World War ...

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 Roya ...

s and

Consolidated PBY Catalina The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In Canadian service it was known as the Canso. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served wi ...

s. It was disbanded on 31 July 1947 at

RAF Pembroke Dock Royal Air Force Pembroke Dock or more simply RAF Pembroke Dock was a Royal Air Force Seaplane and Flying Boat station located at Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The Royal Navy contingent left in 1926 with the Royal Air Force occupying the ...

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 Ea ...

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 Ai ...

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