No. 244 Squadron RAF was a

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 ...

Squadron formed as an anti–submarine unit in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and a bomber and anti-submarine unit in the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

History

Formation and World War I

No. 244 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 25 July 1918 as part of the reorganization of 255 Squadron and operated DH.6s from Bangor,

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

on anti-submarine patrols and disbanded on 22 January 1919.

Reformation in World War II

'S' Squadron was reformed at

RAF Habbaniya ) , location = Habbaniya , country = Iraq , image = Habbaniya airfield, circa 1941.jpg , alt = A black and white image of some hangars, tentage and hard standings in a desert , ...

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...

on 21 August 1939 by re-designating the Communication Flight, Iraq & Persia. When 'S' squadron moved to

RAF Shaibah 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 ...

on 1 November 1940 it was redesignated No. 244 Squadron RAF. It was equipped with Vincents and was involved in quelling the Iraqi uprising in May 1941. It re-equipped in April 1942 with Blenheims for anti-submarine patrols and in May 1942 moved to RAF Sharjah in

Sharjah Sharjah (; ar, ٱلشَّارقَة ', Gulf Arabic: ''aš-Šārja'') is the third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi, forming part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. Sharjah is the capital ...

. Whilst based at RAF Sharjah there were detachment to airfields at

Jask Jask ( fa, جاسک, Balochi: جاشک also Romanized as Jāsk; also Bandar-e Jask ( fa, بَندَرِ جاسک), ( Balochi: بندن ءِ جاشک) also Romanized as Bandar-e Jāsk) is a city and capital of Jask County, Hormozgan Province, I ...

Ras al Hadd Raʾs al-Ḥadd ( ar, رَأْس ٱلْحَدّ) is a village in Ash Sharqiyah district in Oman. It is on a point at the entrance to the Gulf of Oman. The region is served by Ras al Hadd Airport. Geography Al Hajar Mountains are located to th ...

and

Masirah Masirah Island ( ar, جَزِيْرَة مَصِيْرَة, Jazīrat Maṣīrah), also referred to as Mazeira Island or ''Wilāyat Maṣīrah'' ( ar, وِلَايَة مَصِيْرَة), is an island off the east coast of mainland Oman in the ...

. Wellingtons were delivered in February 1944 and the squadron moved to

RAF Masirah RAFO Masirah is a military airport located on the island of Masirah in Oman. Facilities The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runway According to the International Civil Aviation Organ ...

Masirah Island Masirah Island ( ar, جَزِيْرَة مَصِيْرَة, Jazīrat Maṣīrah), also referred to as Mazeira Island or ''Wilāyat Maṣīrah'' ( ar, وِلَايَة مَصِيْرَة), is an island off the east coast of mainland Oman in the ...

where it continued anti-submarine patrols. The Squadron was disbanded there on 1 May 1945.Jefford (2001) p. 79

Aircraft operated

References

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

RAF Habbaniya Association

244 Squadron history on the official RAF website
{{DEFAULTSORT:No. 244 Squadron Raf

244 __NOTOC__ Year 244 (Roman numerals, CCXLIV) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Tiberius Pollenius Armenius Peregrinus, Arm ...

Aircraft squadrons of the Royal Air Force in World War II Military units and formations established in 1918 1918 establishments in the United Kingdom Military units and formations in Aden in World War II Military units and formations disestablished in 1945