Hello all, i’m trying to find out which Catalina Squadron was based at, or had aircraft on detachment to, Banana Island, Sierra Leone in August 1943. I was given a series of photographs of a Catalina (described only as ‘F’) running up and taking off. In the final image of the series, the aircraft is just getting airborne, the annotation stating “airborne at Banana, 6 naval officers from HMS Swale on board”. A ship, which I assume is HMS Swale, is in the foreground. Apologies for the poor image, its the best I can do without a scanner.
Googling revealed that “Banana” is in fact Banana Island, Seirra Leone (this ties in with the movements of HMS Swale). The colour scheme for the aircraft appears to be grey/ green. HMS Swale had an eventful career,sinking U640 on May 17th 1943, a few months before these images were taken, and U302 on April 6th 1944.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Dean
By: Eye on the Sky - 24th April 2008 at 11:40
Many thanks, interesting stuff!
Dean
By: super sioux - 22nd April 2008 at 20:30
Banana Island!
According to ‘COASTAL, SUPPORT and SPECIAL SQUADRONS of the RAF and their aircraft’ by JOHN D.R. RAWLINGS. 270 Squadron did serve at Banana Island sending a detachment to Banana Island sometime between the dates of July 1943 and June 1945. From the end of 1943 it began to receive the Sunderland Mk3, the last Catalina leaving in May 1944!
Some Catalina 1B’s were FP152, A; FP161, B; FP173, J; FP192, E; FP224, C; FP229, Y; FP253, Q; FP304, D.
By: Eye on the Sky - 22nd April 2008 at 16:51
Fantastic, many thanks for your help. Do the squadron records survive? It would be great to find out the identity of the machine and the exploits of its crew.
Thanks again,
Dean
By: David Legg - 22nd April 2008 at 16:43
Jui was the RAF flying boat base on the coast of Sierra Leone in WW2 and Catalinas were operated from there by 270 Squadron from 11/1942 to July 1943, 490 (NZ) Squadron from June 1943 to May 1944 and by 265 Squadron on occasional detachment from Diego Suarez between 4/1943 and 5/1945. Given the dates you quote, 490 Squadron may be the best bet.
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April 22, 2008 at 1:09 pm