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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Marine Craft Units/Air-Sea Rescue Units
This section covers units involved in Air-Sea Rescue excluding training units and operational squadrons.
Air/Jungle Rescue Flight
This was formed on an unknown date under the control of AHQ Burma at an unknown location and ceased to exist on 13 August 1946.
Air/Jungle Rescue Flight
It reformed on an unknown date at Mingaladon and disbanded on 1 July 1947.
No 1 Air Sea Rescue Control Unit
This was formed on 28 July 1944 under the control of at Palermo and was expanded and redesignated No 300 ASR Control Unit on 27 September 1944.
No 300 Air Sea Rescue Control Unit
This was formed from No 1 ASR Control Unit on 27 September 1944 at Palermo, from where it operated detachments at Messina, Erice and Trepani during 1945 and disbanded in late 1945.
No 301 Air Sea Rescue Control Unit
This was formed from No 1 ASR Control Unit on 17 October 1944 at Basria, Corsica and remained in existence until at least 17 April 1945 after which its fate is unknown.
No 302 Air Sea Rescue Control Unit
This was formed from No 1 ASR Control Unit on 9 October 1944 at St Tropez but probably disbanded before 26 November.
It reformed from No 1 ASR Control Unit on 26 November 1944 at Brindisi with a detachment at San Maria di Leuca. By June 1945 it was under the control of No 281 Wing and disbanded in 1945.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 14 May 1941 under the control of No 10 Group at Warmwell and was redesignated 'A' Flight, No 276 Squadron on 21 October 1941.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 14 May 1941 under the control of No 10 Group at Roborough and was absorbed into No 276 Squadron on 21 October 1941.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 14 May 1941 under the control of No 10 Group at Pembrey, moving to Fairwood Common on 4 July, where it and was redesignated 'D' Flight, No 276 Squadron on 21 October 1941.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 18 July 1941 under the control of No 10 Group at Portreath was redesignated 'C' Flight, No 276 Squadron on 5 November 1941.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 14 May 1941 under the control of No 11 Group at Martlesham Heath and was redesignated 'A' Flight, No 277 Squadron on 22 December 1941.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 18 July 1941 under the control of No 11 Group at Hawkinge and was redesignated 'B' Flight, No 277 Squadron on 22 December 1941.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 14 May 1941 under the control of No 11 Group at Shoreham, moving to Friston on 9 July and then back to Shoreham on 15 October, where it was redesignated 'C' Flight, No 277 Squadron on 22 December 1941.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on in 1941 under the control of No 11 Group at Merston, moving to Westhampnett on on 15 November and then back to Shoreham on 30 November, being absorbed into 'C' Flight, No 277 Squadron on 30 November 1941.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on in July 1941 under the control of No 12 Group at Matlask and was redesignated 'A' Flight, No 278 Squadron on 1 October 1941.
Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 18 July 1941 under the control of No 12 Group at Coltishall and was absorbed into No 278 Squadron, probably on 1 October 1941.
No 1 (North Africa) Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 24 June 1943 under the control of at Sidi Ahmed, moving to Protville in August and then to Blida on 14 October, where it disbanded on 31 December 1943.
No 2 (North Africa) Air Sea Rescue Flight
No formation or disbandment dates have been found for this unit and it may not have come into existence
No 3 (North Africa) Air Sea Rescue Flight
No formation or disbandment dates have been found for this unit and it may not have come into existence
No 4 (North Africa) Air Sea Rescue Flight
No formation or disbandment dates have been found for this unit and it may not have come into existence
No 5 (North Africa) Air Sea Rescue Flight
This had formed by August 1943 at Derna but its fate is unknown.
No 6 (North Africa) Air Sea Rescue Flight
This had formed by August 1943 at Mellaha but its fate is unknown.
No 1 Air Sea Rescue Flight (Far East)
This was formed from 'C' Flight, No 292 Squadron on 1 April 1945 under the control of No 222 Group at Ratmalana, moving to Kankesunterai on 22 May 1945, where it was redesignated No 1346 ASR Flight on 15 June 1945.
No 2 Air Sea Rescue Flight (Far East)
This was formed from an element of No 292 Squadron on 1 April 1945 under the control of No 222 Group at Agartala and was redesignated No 1347 ASR Flight on 15 June 1945.
No 3 Air Sea Rescue Flight (Far East)
This was formed from an element of No 292 Squadron on 1 April 1945 under the control of No 222 Group at Karachi, moving Agartala on 19 May 1945, where it was redesignated No 1348 ASR Flight on 15 June 1945.
No 4 Air Sea Rescue Flight (Far East)
This was formed from an element of No 292 Squadron on 1 April 1945 under the control of No 222 Group at Agartala, moving to Cox's Bazaar on 19 April 1945, where it was redesignated No 1349 ASR Flight on 15 June 1945.
No 5 Air Sea Rescue Flight (Far East)
This was formed from an element of No 292 Squadron on 1 April 1945 under the control of No 222 Group at Ratmalana, with a detachmentr at China Bay, and was redesignated No 1350 ASR Flight on 15 June 1945.
No 6 Air Sea Rescue Flight (Far East)
This was formed from an element of No 292 Squadron on 1 April 1945 under the control of No 222 Group at Akyab and was redesignated No 1351 ASR Flight on 8 July 1945.
No 7 Air Sea Rescue Flight (Far East)
This was formed from an element of No 292 Squadron on 1 April 1945 under the control of No 222 Group at Akyab, moving to Cox's Bazaar in June 1945, where it disbanded into No 1351 ASR Flight on 8 July 1945.
Air Sea Rescue and Communication Flight
This was formed on 1 March 1943 at Hal Far, moving to Takali on 25 August before returning to Hal Far o 31 Jannuary 1944, where it was redesignated Malta Communication Flight on 1 March 1944.
School of Air Sea Rescue
This was formed on 3 May 1943 under the control of No 25 Group at Blackpool (flying element at Squires Gate). It moved to Calshot on 12 February 1945 with its Ansons going to Gosport on 19 February and was redesignated Survival and Rescue Training Unit on 23 July 1945.
No 1 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Sumburgh, moving to Lerwick on 1 November 1944 and disbanded on 15 November 1945.
No 2 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Shapinshay, Kirkwall and disbanded on 25 January 1945.
No 3 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was due to form on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Thurso but probably never came into existance.
No 4 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Wick and disbanded on 1 February 1946.
No 5 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Meikle Ferry but may have been transferred to Invergordon in No 17 Group and disbanded in 1943.
No 6 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Inverness (Alness), moving to Cromarty on 12 August 1943. It was placed in Care and Maintenance on 27 March 1944 and disbanded on 1 January 1945.
No 7 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Burghead and disbanded on 1 February 1946.
No 8 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Buckie and disbanded on 1 February 1945.
No 9 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Fraserburgh and disbanded on 15 November 1945.
No 10 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Aberdeen and disbanded on 1 November 1945.
No 11 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Montrose and disbanded on 10 February 1946.
No 12 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Tayport and disbanded on 2 May 1946.
No 13 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Methil and disbanded in June 1942.
No 14 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Berwick-upon-Tweed and disbanded on 28 April 1944.
No 15 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Blythe and disbanded on 15 November 1945.
No 16 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was due to form on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Hartlepool but probably never came into existance.
No 17 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from an element of No 1 ASR MCU at 1 July 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Scalloway, moving to Sumburgh on 15 January 1944 and disbanded on 15 November 1945.
No 21 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Bridlington and was redesignated No 1104 MCU on 10 February 1946.
No 22 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Grimsby, parented by RAF North Coates and disbanded on 8 February 1946.
High Speed Launches operated: -
HSL 2559, HSL 2560, HSL 2571, HSL 2572, HSL 2573, HSL 2574, HSL 2576, HSL 2578, HSL 2579, HSL 2594, HSL 2677, HSL 2678,
Commanding Officers: -
28 Sep 1943 Sqn Ldr E A Haines
12 Apr 1944 Sqn Ldr W H Bowen
No 23 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Wells-on-Sea, being placed in Care and Maintenance on 27 March 1944 and disbanded on 19 April 1944.
No 24 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Gorleston, Great Yarmouth. On 1 July 1943 it took over No 25 ASR MCU at Lowestoft as a detachment and disbanded on 30 July 1946.
No 25 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Lowestoft and disbanded to becoma a detachment of No 24 ASR MCU on 1 July 1943.
No 26 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Felixstowe and disbanded on 1 November 1945.
No 27 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Dover, witth a detachment at Ramsgate. The main unit joined the detachment at Ramsgate on 1 November 1944 and disbanded on 1 March 1945.
Commanding Officers: -
xx xxx 1943 Sqn Ldr W H Bowen
10 Apr 1944 Sqn Ldr E A Haines
No 28 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Newhaven and was redesignated No 1107 MCU on 1 July 1946.
No 29 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Littlehampton and disbanded on 8 December 1944.
No 30 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Gosport, moving to Cowes on the Isle of Wight and disbanded on 1 March 1945.
No 31 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on in September 1942 under the control of No 16 Group at Sheerness and disbanded on 20 February 1946.
No 32 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 27 March 1944 under the control of No 16 Group at Calshot. Transferred to No 85 Group on 15 July it moved to Cherbourg on 12 October. From here it operated detachments at Arromanches, Ostende, Treport and Calshot. It finally moved into E-Boat pens at Ostende on 22 November 1944 and disbanded on 20 September 1945.
No 33 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 14 June 1944 under the control of No 16 Group at Calshot. Transferred to No 85 Group on 15 July it was based in the E-Boat pens at Ostende by 7 November 1944. It was transferred to No 88 Group on 15 May 1945, returning to the UK at Felixstowe on 29 September until it rejoined Coastal Command at Gorleston on 10 December, where it disbanded on 10 February 1946.
No 36 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was due to form on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Poole but probably never came into existence.
It reformed on 27 March 1944 under the control of No 16 Group at Poole and disbanded on 7 November 1944.
No 37 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Lyme Regis and disbanded on 15 February 1946.
No 38 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Exmouth but may have been placed in Care and Maintenance as it seems to have been reformed at Poole on 27 March 1944 and disbanded on 6 November 1944.
No 39 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Torquay and disbanded on 3 October 1944.
No 40 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Dartmouth and disbanded in December 1942.
It reformed on 27 March 1944 under the control of No 19 Group at Portland/Weymouth, with a detachment at Guernsey from February 1946 and disbanded on 2 August 1946.
No 41 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Salcombe and disbanded on 15 July 1945.
No 42 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Falmouth with a detachment at Newlym. It moved to Newlyn on 1 January 1945, leaving a detachment at Falmouth until March and disbanded on 14 May 1946.
No 43 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Newlyn and disbanded into No 42 ASR MCU on 1 June 1943.
It reformed on 10 April 1944 under the control of No 19 Group at Mount Batten and disbanded on 9 September 1944.
No 44 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Padstow and disbanded on 15 December 1945.
No 45 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Barry and was redesignated No 1105 MCU on 22 March 1946.
No 46 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Porthcawl and disbanded on 10 February 1946.
No 47 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Ferryside and disbanded on 10 May 1944.
No 48 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Tenby, moving tp Pembroke on 1 February 1945 and disbanded on in May 1945.
No 49 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Tenby, but by 21 December 1943 it had moved to Fishguard in No 17 Group and disbanded on 25 May 1946.
No 50 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 19 Group at Swansea and disbanded on 23 September 1943.
No 51 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Pwllheli and disbanded on 1 July 1945.
No 52 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Holyhead and disbanded in May 1945.
No 53 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Fleetwood. By 1945 it had been transferred to No 17 Group and disbanded on 15 March 1945.
No 54 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Douglas, Isle of Man with detachments at Peel and Ramsey and was redesignated No 1106 MCU on 15 June 1946.
No 55 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Gibbhill, Kirkcudbright and disbanded on 1 January 1945.
No 56 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Portaferry and disbanded on 1 November 1945.
No 57 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Donghadee and disbanded on 1 December 1944.
No 58 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Larne and disbanded on 1 August 1944.
No 59 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was due to form on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Stranraer but never came into existance.
No 60 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Lough Foyle and disbanded on 1 March 1945.
No 61 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Campbeltown and disbanded on 1 March 1945.
No 62 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 28 March 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Benbecula was placed in Care and Maintenance at Loch Boiusdale on 23 March 1944 and disbanded on 18 August 1944.
It reformed on 16 October 1944 at Benbecula, moving to Lochboisdale on 29 November and disbanded on 1 November 1945.
No 63 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 18 October 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Menai Strait and disbanded on 8 May 1946.
No 64 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 5 May 1942 at Drummore until at least 1 December 1943, By 18 November 1944 it was at Turnberry in No 15 Group but by 29 December it was at Ayr, where it disbanded on 1 February 1946.
No 65 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 18 October 1942 under the control of No 15 Group at Oban and disbanded on 11 May 1944.
No 66 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 30 May 1942 under the control of No 18 Group at Stornoway and disbanded on 15 November 1945.
No 67 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 1 April 1943 under the control of No 15 Group at Port Ellen and disbanded on 5 April 1946.
No 71 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 16 February 1943 at Gibraltar and disbanded on 1 April 1946.
No 74 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1945 under the control of No 247 Group at Lagens, Azores and disbanded on 23 April 1946.
Air Sea Rescue Training Unit
This was formed from the Warwick Training Unit at 13 October 1943 under the control of No 16 Group at Bircham Newton, using Docking as a base. It moved to Thornaby on 20 October and disbanded into No 5 (C) OTU at Turnberry on 2 June 1944.
Air Sea Rescue Unit HQ
This was formed in November 1943 at Kalafrana and disbanded in May 1944.
No 101 (Long Range) Air Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed as No 101 ASR MCU on 1 December 1944 at Calshot but was soon redesignated No 101 (LR) ASRU. It moved to Malta on 3 July 1945 and disbanded on 31 January 1946.
No 102 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 1 January 1945 under the control of at Calshot, moving to Fraserburgh on October with detachments at Lerwick, Blyth and Stornoway and disbanded on 2 July 1946.
No 103 (Long Range) Air Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 February 1945 under the control of at Calshot and disbanded on 15 November 1945.
No 104 (Long Range) Air Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 March 1945 at Calshot and disbanded on 15 November 1945.
No 105 (Long Range) Air Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 April 1945 at Calshot and disbanded on 15 November 1945.
No 201 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 21 November 1941 at Aberdeen but by September 1943 was at Bathurst and disbanded on 7 August 1945.
No 202 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on in September 1943 at Freetown and disbanded on 7 August 1945.
No 203 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 November 1942 under the control of No 222 Group at Colombo, with a detachment at Galle by March 1944. It moved to Port Sweetenham on 14 November 1945 and disbanded on 28 February 1946.
No 204 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 at Kalafrana, with detachments at Pantellaria, Palermon and Augusta at various times and disbanded on 16 October 1945.
No 205 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on in July 1943 at Malta and disbanded on 15 March 1944.
No 206 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 at Aden. It came under the control of ASR MCU Aden on 1 March 1945 and disbanded on 31 March 1946.
No 207 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 29 November 1942 by redesignating ASR Base at Paphos in Cyprus and disbanded on before June 1943.
It reformed under the control of Marine Craft Unit, Alexandria on 1 June 1943 at Alexandria, moving to Paphos in July , where it absorbed Nos 208-212 ASRUs. It operated detachment at various time at Beirut, Cyrenaica, Derna, Haifa, Larnaca, Mersa Matruh, Nicosia Piraeus/Heraklion and Port Said. The unit relocated to Port Said on 15 January 1946 and disbanded on 31 March 1946.
No 208 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 at Haifa and disbanded into No 207 ASRU on 21 December 1943.
No 209 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
No formation or disbandment details have been found for this unit but it was disbanded into No 207 ASRU on 21 December 1943.
No 210 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 at Alexandria and disbanded into No 207 ASRU on 21 December 1943.
No 211 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 at Mersa Matruh and disbanded into No 207 ASRU on 21 December 1943.
No 212 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 at Tobruk and disbanded into No 207 ASRU on 21 December 1943.
No 213 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 December 1943 at Benghazi and disbanded into No 207 ASRU on 21 December 1943.
No 214 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 at Basrah, moving to Masirah in April 1944. It came under the control of ASR MCU Masirah on 1 March 1945 and disbanded on 15 December 1945.
No 215 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 at Malta, moving to Bender Risut on 10 August 1944. It came under the control of ASR MCU Masirah on 1 March 1945 and disbanded on 15 December 1945.
No 216 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was due to form on 1 June 1943 in the Persian Gulf but was moved to the Eastern Mediterranean by December and by 1 June 1945 it was at Apapa, where it disbanded on 15 December 1945.
No 217 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 in the Persian Gulf but by September was in West Africa, after which its fate is unknown.
No 217 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 20 April 1944 at Banana, moving to Apapa on 1 September and disbanded on 7 August 1945.
No 218 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 April 1944 at Port Etienne and disbanded on 6 September 1945.
No 219 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 17 December 1943 at Mombasa and disbanded on 10 February 1945.
It reformed on 10 February 1945 under the control of AHQ Iraq and Persia at Habbaniya and disbanded on 31 March 1946.
No 220 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
A nucleus was formed on 1 June 1943 at in East Africa and by 10 August 1944 was in Hordio in Somaliland. It came under the control of ASR MCU Aden on 1 March 1945 and disbanded on 15 December 1945.
No 221 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
A nucleus was formed on 1 June 1943 in East Africa but formation probably never took place.
No 222 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1943 at Bone/Bougie and disbanded in MAAF on 15 March 1944.
No 223 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed in December 1942 at Hussein Dey, moving to Bone in January 1943, from where it operated a detachment at Tabarka. It moved to Bizerte by 18 June still with a detachment at Tabarka but by 9 August was at Pantellaria. By 20 September it was at Palermo and then by 5 November at Bizerte before moving to its final base at Naples on 5 January 1944, where it disbanded on 5 January 1944.
No 224 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on in December 1942 at Hussein Dey, moving to Bone in January 1943, moving to Philippevile in February and then to Sousse on 18 June from where it operated a detachment at Bone. By 9 August it was at Pantellaria, Sousse by 30 September and Salerno by 5 November before moving to its final base at Naples in January 1944, where it and disbanded on 15 March 1944.
No 225 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 22 November 1942 at Hussein Dey, moving to Bone on 18 June 1943 (detachments at Sfax, Pantellaria and Bizerte). By 30 September it was at Sousse before moving to its final base at Bizerte on 2 January 1944, where it and disbanded on 15 March 1944.
No 226 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 10 November 1942 under the control of No 224 Group at Calcutta. It was transferred to AHQ Bengal on 27 November and by 10 January 1944 was at Chittagong but returned to Calcutta under No 231 Group on 15 February 1945 and disbanded on 1 October 1945.
No 227 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 15 August 1943 under the control of No 224 Group at Chittagong, moving to Cox's Bazaar on 10 February 1944 then to Maishkal Island before returning to Chittagong on 20 February. It left No 224 Group in June 1944 and on 8 February 1945 was sent to Akyab as a tremporary measure pending No 230 ASRU becoming operational. It moved to Calcutta on 15 February under the control of No 231 Group but was transferred to No 218 Group on 25 November 1945, returning to Chittagong in January 1946, where it disbanded on 1 June 1946.
No 228 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 15 August 1943 under the control of No 224 Group at Chittagong, moving to King George V Dock in Calcutta on 3 March 1944, transferring to No 231 Group at the same time. It returned to Chittagong on 29 June and in October 1945 it moved to Hong Kong, wher it disbanded on 1 June 1946.
No 229 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 19 November 1944 at Calcutta and by 1 April 1945 was under the control of No 231 Group. On 4 April, along with the base ship Henzada, it sailed to the forward area, arriving at Ramree Island on 30 April. It returned to India at Chittagong on 20 May 1945 before going to Akyab on 23 November and disbanded on 30 April 1946.
No 230 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 2 August 1944 under the control of No 225 Group at Vizagapatam, moving to Calcutta in February 1945 and then to Akyab on 1 March. In May it moved to Rangoon, joining No 231 Group and disbanded on 30 June 1946.
No 231 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 January 1944 under the control of No 225 Group at Madras, moving to Calcutta on 13 March 1945 under No 231 Group. In May, along with the base ship Hatiala, it sailed to the forward area, arriving at Ramree Island on 26 April. On 20 May it moved to Kyaukpyu and in November moved to Penang, coming under the control of AHQ Malaya but by 14 November it was in Chittagong, where it disbanded on 30 June 1946.
No 232 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on in April 1944 under the control of No 225 Group at Cochin, moving to Trombay in December and disbanded on 15 October 1945 in No 222 Group.
No 233 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 January 1944 at Trombay and disbanded on 15 June 1945.
No 234 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 11 March 1944 under the control of No 225 Group at Trombay, moving to Korangi Creek on 24 May 1944 and disbanded on 1 June 1946 in No 1 (Indian) Group.
No 235 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 9 October 1943 under the control of No 222 Group at China Bay/Trincomalee, moving to Galle on 12 October 1945 and disbanded on 30 April 1946.
No 236 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 19 June 1944 under the control of No 222 Group at Kayts (HQ at Kankesunterai) and disbanded on 15 October 1945.
No 237 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 21 May 1944 under the control of No 222 Group at Koggala (Galle) and disbanded on 15 October 1945.
No 238 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on in May 1944 under the control of No 225 Group at Cochin, moing to Madras on 13 March 1945. On 16 June it moved to Ramree Island but in August was at Chittagong in No 222 Group and disbanded on 15 October 1945.
No 239 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on in July 1944 under the control of at China Bay, moving to Chittagong on 19 November, Teknaf on 22 December, Akyab on 7 February 1945 and then to Kyaukpyu on 20 May. In August 1945 it moved to Chittagong in No 222 Group and disbanded on 15 October 1945.
No 240 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on in October 1944 under the control of at Vizagapatam. By October 1945 it was operating a detachment at Bally and disbanded in No 222 Group on 15 October 1945.
No 241 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 15 May 1944 under the control of No 223/225 Group at Jiwani, moving to Trombay on 8 May 1945, absorbing No 242 ASRU on 14 November, before moving to Iwakuni in March 1946, where it disbanded on in November 1947.
No 242 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 30 May 1944 under the control of No 225 Group at Trombay and disbanded into No 241 ASRU on 14 November 1945.
No 243 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 October 1942 under the control of No 222 Group at Colombo, moving to China Bay in November, Kayts on 19 May 1945, Madras on 15 June and then returned to Colombo in September. On 14 November it arrived in Singapore, where it disbanded on 30 June 1946.
No 244 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was to have been formed on 1 June 1943 under the control of AHQ East Africa for operations in the Indian Ocean but its formation was cancelled
No 245 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was to have been formed on 1 June 1943 under the control of AHQ East Africa for operations in the Indian Ocean but its formation was cancelled
No 246 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was to have been formed on 1 June 1943 under the control of AHQ East Africa for operations in the Indian Ocean but its formation was cancelled
No 247 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was to have been formed on 1 June 1943 under the control of AHQ East Africa for operations in the Indian Ocean but it doesn't seem to have become operational and disbanded in October 1943.
No 248 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This probably formed somewhere in the Middle East on an unknown date at an unknown location and disbanded on in October 1943.
No 249 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 September 1943 at Takoradi and disbanded on 7 August 1945.
No 250 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 September 1943 at Harbour Island, Nassau and disbanded on 10 October 1945.
No 251 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 17 January 1943 at Algiers/Bone, operating detachments at Bougie and Elmas at various times and disbanded on 15 January 1946.
No 252 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 7 February 1943 at Algiers, with a detachment at Bougie. It moved to Bougie on 1 June 1943 then moved on to Philippevile on 18 June, leaving a detachment at Bougie. Returning to Bone on 21 January 1944, it was in Western Italy by March and Naples by 15 April before going to Ischia on 7 August. In June 1945 it came under the control of AHQ Greece when it moved to Piraeus, with a detachment at Heraklion on Crete and disbanded on 30 November 1945.
No 253 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 18 June 1943 at Malta but moved to Italy by 5 November. It arrived at Brindisi on 10 December and was in Bari by the end of the year. On 30 July 1944 it moved to Manfredonia to at least 15 July 1945 and disbanded into RAF Naples on 1 June 1946.
No 254 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 4 June 1943 at Bizerte until at least 30 September. It had moved to Paermo by November and by 5 November was at Ajaccio. By March 1944 it had moved to Algiers and on 17 September was at St Tropez under No 87 Group, where it presumably disbanded on 15 October 1945.
No 255 Air-Sea Rescue Unit
This was formed on 1 September 1944 under the control of No 175 Wing, No 231 Group at Calcutta, moving to Khulna on 7 February 1945. From May it was operating a detachment at Bairsol with control being transferred to No 222 Group by July and then to No 228 Group on 25 November, it disbanded on 1 July 1946.
Kalafrana Rescue Flight
This had formed by September 1941 at Kalafrana but its fate is unknown.
Marine Craft Base, Palermo
This was formed on 10 October 1943 at Palermo and became a detachment of the Marine Craft Base at Maison Blanche on 21 January 1944.
Marine Craft Base
This was formed on 21 January 1944 at Maison Blanche, absorbing the Marine Craft Base at Palermo as a detachment and setting up another at Bone. It moved to Bone on 21 April, retaining the detachment at Palermo and then to Rome on 15 July. Returning to Bone on 24 July it became a detachment of the Marine Craft Repair Base at Naples on 10 September 1945.
No 1100 Marine Craft Base Unit
This was formed on 1 April 1945 at Kirkudbright, moving to Buckie by 1 January 1946 but was probably at Alness by the time it was redesignated No 1100 MCU on 1 July 1946.
No 1101 Marine Craft Base Unit
This was formed on 1 April 1945 at Fowey and was redesignated No 1101 MCU on 1 July 1946.
No 1102 Marine Craft Base Unit
This was formed on in December 1945 at Gosport and was redesignated No 1102 MCU on 1 July 1946.
No 1103 Marine Craft Base Unit
This was formed on in December 1945 at Felixstowe and was redesignated No 1103 MCU on 1 July 1946.
No 1104 Marine Craft Base Unit
This was formed from No 21 ASR MCU on 10 February 1946 at Bridlington and was redesignated No 1104 MCU on 1 July 1946.
No 1105 Marine Craft Base Unit
This was formed on 10 February 1946 at Porthcawl and was redesignated No 1105 MCU on 1 July 1946.
No 1106 Marine Craft Base Unit
This was formed on 15 June 1946 at Ramsey and was redesignated No 1106 MCU on 1 July 1946.
Marine Craft Repair Base, Naples
This was formed on 10 September 1945 at Naples, with detachments at Ischia (No 1), Brindisi (No2) and Bone (No 3) and disbanded in February 1946.
Marine Craft Repair Unit
This was formed on an unknown date at Bally and was redesignated No 377 MU on 4 December 1944.
Marine Craft Repair Unit
This was formed on 1 October 1943 at Bone as a detachment of No 144 MU and disbanded on 31 December 1945.
Marine Craft Repair Unit
This was formed on an unknown date at Colombo, coming under the control of No 192 (Maintenance) Wing on 9 August 1944 and was redesignated No 376 MU on 4 December 1944.
Marine Craft Rescue Section
This was formed on 25 August 1941 under the control of No 201 Group at Port Said but its fate is unknown.
Marine Craft Section, Aden
This was formed on 1 November 1942 at Khormaksar and was redesignated Marine Craft Unit, Aden on 1 October 1943.
Marine Craft Section, Alexandria
This was formed on by December 1941 at Alexandria to at least February 1942, after which its fate is unknown.
Marine Craft Section, BAFF
A formation date for this unit has not found but it operated in France and disbanded at Uxbridge on 24 June 1940.
Marine Craft Section (Ferry Pool), Calshot
This was formed on by December 1942 at Calshot to at least 15 December 1947, after which its fate is unknown.
Marine Craft Section, Habbaniya
This was formed in 1944 at Habbaniya and disbanded on 15 July 1944.
Marine Craft Section, Heliopolis
This was formed on 2 January 1942 at Heliopolis to at least 28 February 1942, after which its fate is unknown.
Marine Craft Section, Mombasa
This was formed in No 207 Group on 20 February 1942 at Mombasa and disbanded on 31 January 1941.
Marine Craft Section, Seletar
This was formed on 21 November 1945 at Seleter and was redesignated No 1124 MCU on 1 August 1961.
Marine Craft Unit, Aden
This was formed from Mariner Craft Section, Aden on 1 October 1943 at Khormaksar and was redesignated No 1152 MCU on 1 June 1951.
Marine Craft Unit, Alexandria
This was formed on 15 September 1942 at Alexandria and disbanded on 22 November 1945.
Marine Craft Unit, Fanara
This was formed on 1 January 1947 at Fanara and disbanded on 1 June 1948.
Marine Craft Unit, Malta
This was formed on 1 January 1946 at Marsaxlokk and was redesignated Marine Craft Section, Malta attached to No 137 MU until being redesignated No 1151 MCU on 1 June 1951.
Marine Craft Unit, Suez
This was formed on 1 January 1943 at Port Said and disbanded on 30 September 1947.
No 1100 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from No 1100 MCBU on 1 July 1946 at Alness and disbanded on 1 April 1986.
No 1101 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from No 1101 MCBU on 1 July 1946 at Fowey and disbanded on 31 May 1958.
No 1102 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from No 1102 MCBU on 1 July 1946 at Gosport, moving to Calshot on 8 August 1949 then to Falmouth on 11 October 1952, where it disbanded on 1 January 1975.
No 1103 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from No 1103 MCBU on 1 July 1946 at Felixstowe and disbanded on 31 May 1959.
No 1104 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from No 1104 MCBU on 1 July 1946 at Bridlington and disbanded on 31 October 1958.
It reformed on 1 June 1959 at Bridlington and disbanded on 31 December 1980.
No 1105 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from No 1105 MCBU on 1 July 1946 at Porthcawl and disbanded on 23 March 1959.
No 1105 Marine Craft Unit
It reformed on 2 March 1965 at Portrush and disbanded on 1 April 1971.
No 1106 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from No 1106 MCBU on 1 July 1946 at Ramsey and disbanded on 1 April 1948.
It reformed on 15 August 1951 at Drummore and disbanded on 29 February 1960.
No 1107 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from No 28 ASR MCU on 1 July 1946 at Newhaven and disbanded on 31 October 1972.
No 1108 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 1 September 1946 at Amble, moving to Blyth on 1 April 1953 and disbanded on 31 May 1958.
No 1109 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 25 September 1946 at Boston and disbanded on 31 May 1958.
No 1110 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 1 November 1946 at Immingham and disbanded on 10 February 1958.
No 1111 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 25 September 1946 at Lyme Regis and disbanded on 29 September 1962.
No 1112 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 26 November 1947 at Thorney Island and disbanded on 11 April 1949.
It reformed on 1 August 1951 at Tayport and disbanded on 31 July 1958.
No 1113 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 1 July 1954 at Holyhead and disbanded on 1 April 1986.
No 1114 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 27 July 1955 at Ramsey and disbanded on 17 February 1964.
No 1115 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 1 March 1957 at Pembroke Dock and disbanded on 30 November 1958.
No 1124 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from the Marine Craft Section, Seletar on 1 August 1961 at Seletar and disbanded on 21 December 1970.
No 1125 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 22 October 1955 at Glugor, moving to Panang in September 1968 and disbanded on 1 March 1970.
It reformed from the Marine Craft Section, Gan on 1 May 1970 at Gan and disbanded on 29 March 1976.
No 1151 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed from the MCU, Malta on 1 June 1951 at Marsaxlokk/Safi and disbanded on 30 November 1978.
No 1152 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 1 June 1951 at Khormaksar and disbanded into RAF Khormaksar on 15 July 1955.
No 1153 Marine Craft Unit
This was formed on 1 September 1951 at Fanara, moving to Xeros, Cyprus on 1 May 1955 then to Limassol on 15 August 1956, where it disbanded on 31 March 1976.
Search and Rescue Flight, Khormaksar
This was formed from the SAR element of the Station Flight on 13 June 1958 at Khormaksar and disbanded on 1 July 1967.
Search and Rescue Flight, Muharraq
This was formed in May 1969 at Muharraq and disbanded on 31 May 1971.
Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed on 13 August 1941 under the control of No 201 Group at Kabrit, moving to Burg El Arab on 15 September 1941. Further moved followed to El Adem on 10 January 1942, Gambut on 31 January, LG16 on 4 February, LG40 on 26 March, LG 'Y' on 1 July, LG 'X' on 11 July, LG39 on 29 November and then to Berka III on 29 March 1943, where it was redesignated No 294 Squadron 29 April 1943.
2nd TAF Air Sea Rescue Flight
This was formed in February 1955 at Sylt and disbanded on in September 1961.
HSL locations in Coastal Command
This page was last updated on 15/04/24
