
Formed 15 Oct 1941 at RAF Valley as an Air-Sea Rescue unit with Walrus and Lysander fixed wing aircraft, it was disbanded at Harrowbeer, north of Plymouth on 15 Feb 1945. It reformed on 1 Mar 1953 at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, to become the first RAF SARÂ squadron to use the helicopter, with the Sycamore HR.13 in Apr 1953. It was also one of the few RAF units to use the Hiller HTE-2 (between Feb 1954 and May 1955), most being in Royal Navy service. In Jul 1954 the Sycamore HR.14 was introduced and this served until the unit was finally disbanded.
Squadron strength had built to 15 Sycamore in 6 Flights by 1957, including F Flt, which formed at Aldergrove on 15 Jul 1957 with 3 Sycamore. Following a unit re-organisation, F Flt became B Flt in Jun 1958. B Flt left Aldergrove on 4 Apr 1959.
In Mar 1959, the Whirlwind HAR.4 arrived, followed by some Whirlwind HAR.2s in Aug 1959. On 1 Sep 1959, the unit disappeared, being renumbered as 228 Squadron.
Squadron strength had built to 15 Sycamore in 6 Flights by 1957, including F Flt, which formed at Aldergrove on 15 Jul 1957 with 3 Sycamore. Following a unit re-organisation, F Flt became B Flt in Jun 1958. B Flt left Aldergrove on 4 Apr 1959.
In Mar 1959, the Whirlwind HAR.4 arrived, followed by some Whirlwind HAR.2s in Aug 1959. On 1 Sep 1959, the unit disappeared, being renumbered as 228 Squadron.

Locations | |
Years | Location | ICAO/FAA |
1957/59 | Aldergrove | EGAA |
1957/59 | RAF Leconfield![]() | EGXV |
1957/59 | Acklington![]() | |
1957/58 | RMB Chivenor | EGDC |
1955/59 | RAF Leuchars | EGQL |
1955/59 | Norwich Airport | EGSH |
1954/57 | Thornaby![]() | |
1954/57 | North Coates | EGG59 |
1953/54 | RAF Linton-on-Ouse | EGXU |
Models | Login to Edit | |
Years | Models | |
1959 | Whirlwind Whirlwind HAR.2 | |
1959 | Whirlwind Whirlwind HAR.4 | |
1954/59 | Type 171 Sycamore Sycamore 4 | |
1953/55 | Type 171 Sycamore Sycamore 3 | |
275 Squadron List of helicopters | Help Us | |
C/N | Version | Built | In this Org | In other Org | |||
13066 ![]() | Sycamore 3 | 1953 | XD196 : w/o 13 Jan 1954 near RAF Linton-on-Ouse, while with 275 Sq ![]() | ||||
13067 ![]() | Sycamore 3 | 1953 | XD197 : w/o 17 Nov 1955 after it rolled over, following autorotation practice land+ ![]() | ||||
13144 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1952 | XE306 : w/o 28 Jul 1954, Overturned after power loss in low hover, while with 275 + ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |||
![]() | 13198 | Sycamore 4 | 1952 | XE317 : Feb 1955, 275 Sq B Flt detached to RAF North Coates ![]() : present at 1958 Aldergrove Air Show ![]() : 275 Sq B Flt by Apr 1959, when unit departed Aldergrove. ![]() | - G-AMWO : Reg G-AMWO ntu ? To RAF as XE317 ![]() - XE317 : pres Newark Air Museum in CFS c/s coded S-N - photo - www.airport-data.co+ ![]() : between May 1978 and Jul 1997, XE317 had been repainted from the RAF train+ ![]() : Pres at Firbeck, Yorkshire present jul97 photo www.airport-data.com/aircra+ ![]() : under restoration at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, Doncaster by ![]() : pictured at Aeroventure, Doncaster in 275 Sq SAR markings ![]() | ||
13225 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1954 | XF265 : w/o 10 Jul 1956 while operating with 275 Sq from RAF Leuchars, ditched and+ ![]() | ||||
13246 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XG501 : HR.14 dd 9 Mar 1955. While operating with 275 Sq from RAF Leuchars, ditch+ ![]() | ||||
13247 | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XG502 : 275 Sq F Flt Jul 1957 ![]() | ![]() ![]() : to Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop by May 1983, still Mar 1990. ![]() | |||
13267 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XG505 : 25 Jun 1956 ditched in sea off North Coates after engine failure, while wi+ ![]() | ||||
13203 | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XG506 : 275 Sq; 118 Sq; 225 Sq; 118 Sq; 72 Sq; Metropolitan Communications Sq; HD+ ![]() | ||||
13239 ![]() | Type 171 Sycamore | 1955 | XG508 : del RAF Jul 1955; to 275 Sq ![]() : present at 1958 Aldergrove Air Show ![]() | ||||
13269 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XG509 : HR.14 built at Filton, del RAF Jul 1955;
275 Sq; 228 Sq from Sep 1959 ![]() : 275 Sq B Flt by Apr 1959, when unit departed Aldergrove. ![]() | ||||
13368 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XG514 : Jan 1956 transferred from 275 Sq A Flt to B Flt at RAF North Coates, to as+ ![]() : 275 Sq F Flt by Feb 1958 ![]() | ||||
13384 | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XG544 : Built at Filton, dd 14 Dec 1956; 275 Sq Feb 1957; 72 Sq Oct 1961 ![]() | - XG544 : Flew into Barton Pines on 11 Aug 1972 as one of founding exhibits at the T+ ![]() : to Tremar by , still 1994. Sold c Nov 2000. ![]() : If you think you saw this flying in the 1990s, it will very likely have be+ ![]() | |||
13385 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XG545 : w/o 16 Jul 1957, ditched into the North Sea 0.5nm off Happisburgh followin+ ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |||
13240 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XJ363 : w/o 20 May 1957 after forced landing following engine malfunction, while w+ ![]() | ||||
13242 | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ380 : dd RAF as HR.14 on 22 Oct 1956;275 Sq; 228 Sq; CFS / S-M; Administratively+ ![]() | ![]() ![]() : to Boscombe Down Aviation Collection Jun 2007. Restoration began Jan 2008. ![]() | |||
wa 46 ![]() | har.4 | 1955 | XJ430 : 275 Sq A Flt by Sep 1959 ![]() | ||||
13404 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ895 : 275 Sq; 284 Sq from Sep 1959; El Adem Stn Flt; 103 Sq; 1564 Flt; CFS / S-J ![]() | ||||
13409 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ915 : HR.14 built at Weston-super-Mare, del RAF Nov 1956; 275 Sq; CFS ![]() : 275 Sq F Flt by Aug 1957 ![]() | ||||
13410 | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ916 : HR.14 built at Weston-super-Mare, del RAF Nov 1956;
275 Sq; Khormaksar SAR+ ![]() | ||||
13412 | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ917 : XJ917 participated in both the static and flying displays at the 'Battle + ![]() | ![]() ![]() - XJ917 : Bristol Aero Collection (Banwell) arrived 30 Apr 1993; Kemble 2000 to May + ![]() | |||
![]() | 13413 | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ918 : 275 Sq; A&AEE ![]() | |||
13414 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1957 | XJ919 : 275 Sq F Flt by Aug 1957 ![]() : 275 Sq; 225 Sq; A&AEE ![]() | ||||
13441 | Sycamore 4 | 1957 | XL823 : 275 Sq B Flt by Apr 1959, when unit departed Aldergrove. ![]() | ||||
13460 ![]() | Sycamore 4 | 1957 | XL826 : 275 Sq by Jan 1959, CFS(H)/A-S Ternhill by 1963. w/o 28 Feb 1966 Ternhill,+ ![]() |