No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force

No.191 Squadron was formed on 6th November 1917 at Marham as a training unit for night fighter pilots. It disbanded on January 1919.
The squadron reformed at Korangi Creek, India, on 17th May 1943 as a Catalina equipped General Reconnaissance unit. Initially it provided anti-submarine coverage of the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf, operating detachments from advanced bases in order to extend this coverage.
In November 1944 the squadron moved to Redhill's Lake, near Madras to increase coverage of the Sea of Bengal. In April 1945 it relocated to Koggala in Ceylon. However, lack of enemy maritime activity in the area led to it being disbanded on 15th June 1945.
Bases used by 191 Squadron:
Formed Korangi Creek on 17th May 1943

Detachment to Bahrein on 9th July 1943 – 23rd December 1943
Detachments as required to Bangalore, Cochin, Trombay, Koggala, Redhills Lake and Addu Atoll.
Relocated to Redhills Lake 18th November 1944

Detachment to Korangi Creek on 6th March 1945 – 1st June 1945.
Relocated to Koggala, Ceylon 27th April 1945.

Disbanded 15th June 1945.

Operational Summary

14th May 1943 Catalina delivered for new Squadron

17th May 1943 New flying boat squadron formed

21st May 1943 First operation for new squadron

29th May 1943 Aircraft rigger killed

6th June 1943 C.O. arrives to take up appointment

9th June 1943 Missing aircrew found

11th June 1943 Survivors rescued

15th June 1943 New seaplane base

9th July 1943 Detachment to Bahrein

6th September 1943 Detachment to Bangalore

3rd October 1943 Catalina crashed into the sea on take-off

30th November 1943 Missing USAAF bomber not found

4th December 1943 New base investigated

7th December 1943 New base investigated

15th December 1943 Return to Korangi Creek

16th December 1943 Detachment to Tronbay

23rd December 1943 Convoy escort

25th December 1943 Anti-submarine patrol

16th January 1944 Air sea search

23rd January 1944 Anti-submarine patrols

29th January 1944 75 survivors of a sinking located

26th March 1944 Prisoners abandoned and picked up

31st March 1944 Summary of operations

5th April 1944 Air sea search fails to find missing sailors

11th May 1944 New Catalinas on delivery

7th September 1944 Flying boat crews return to UK

18th September 1944 New base in Madras examined

26th September 1944 Seaplane base unsuitable

30th September 1944 Summary of Operations

15th October 1944 Conversion training

25th October 1944 Aircraft sunk at moorings

10th November 1944 Train across India

14th November 1944 Squadron relocation delayed

18th November 1944 Train journey across India

30th November 1944 Settled into new base

31st January 1945 Operational Summary

28th February 1945 Operational summary

6th March 1945 Unidentified submarine

31st March 1945 AVM Visits squadron

24th April 1945 Liberator crew picked up from the sea

27th April 1945 Air sea search

30th April 1945 Operations summary

31st May 1945 Observation flights over Japanese territory

15th June 1945 Seaplane squadron disbanded

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No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force
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No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with
No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

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Want to know more about No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

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The Wartime Memories Project - No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Forceduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

Those known to have served with
No. 191 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.