Fleet Air Arm > Squadrons

700 (Levant) Sqn, ME

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Brooklands:
Hello, Forumites
Newby here:
I am a Volunteer at Brooklands Museum, and am researching the activities of the Sea Rescue Flight
which was based in Egypt during WW2, flying Wellingtons. The SRF operated closely with Walrus aircraft operated, I believe, by 700 (Levant) squadron which was based at Aboukir.
Does anybody have information on the s/no’s of the Walrus’s of 700 Sqn during 1942/43?
I have the ORB’s of the SRF for that period; would the equivalent exist for 700 squadron?
Many tia
Andy Brooklands

PhiloNauticus:
The 'bible' for naval aircraft of this period is  Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1938 to 1945 by Ray Sturtivant and Mick Burrow.   This is a listing of every aircraft, by type and serial number, with a brief outline history.  This can be used in conjunction with another publication – The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm by Theo Balance, Ray Sturtivant and Lee Howard.

Using these books, then I can say that the latter gives the following info on 700 (Levant) Squadron:
“… several independent detachments of 700 Squadron were set up overseas. …  Eight Walrus aircraft detached to Palestine in April (1942) for anti-submarine duties under control of RAF 301 Group; this became known as 700 (Levant) Squadron when it moved to Beirut in May and was re-designated 701 Squadron in October ….”    (Squadrons and Units p 1)
Based Beirut from 11 May 1942; Latakia Det. Jun – Sep 42; became 701 1 Oct 42
Noted that aircraft were uncoded (ie no large ident markings)
Note: For 701 Squadron, info  –
“… reformed by re-designating 700 (Levant) Sqn at Beirut, equipped with six Walrus …. under the control of RAF 201 Group, a detachment joined 235 Wing at Latakia…..    disbanded in August 1943, its aircraft transferred locally to the RAF for air-sea rescue duties” (Squadrons and Units p.5)

From Fleet Air Arm Aircraft, six aircraft can be traced as being 700, then 701 –
All Walrus Mk.II
W3011
W3012
W3013   
W3014
W3016
W3017

I will transcribe the entries from FAA aircaft .... 

Brooklands:
Hello PN
Thank you so much for that information - most useful
Regards
Andy B

PhiloNauticus:
Entries from Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 - 1945 by Sturtivant and Burrow:

W3011      delivered 3.12.41; 700 (Levant) Sqdn 5.42; 701 Sqdn Beirut 10.41 – 12.42; ASR Hal Far; u/c not properly down landing Hal Far; Cat-A, 25.4.43. PD 24.9.43
W3012       delivered 4.12.41; 700 (Levant) Sqdn 6.42; 701 Sqdn Beirut 10.42; 701 Sqdn Hal Far 2.43; ASR Hal Far 3.43.  Rescue 5m of Sicily, fired on by Bf109, floats damaged 20.3.43 (Lt Pursall RN; FLt Withy RAF; Ldg Airman Garret-Reed).  4 Wellington crew rescued between Lampedusa and Pantelaria; landed St Pauls Bay, Malta, 18.4.43 (Lt Pursall RN).    Damaged on t/o 8m E off Zonna Point, Calafrana: Cat B damage (FSGT Hebblewhite).   284 Sqdn RAF, Sicily 7.43. Moved bodily in strong gale at night Cat A; 1.1.45
W3013      delivered 4.12.41; 700 (Levant) Sqn; 701 Sqdn Beirut 10.42 – 5.43; RNARY Nairobi to MU Fayid arr.13.8.43;  103 MU 19.9.43;  294 Sqdn LG.91 (‘K’) 1.2.44;  air test, engine vibration on TO, throttle back, prop blade found to be broken, wing damaged, Idku; Cat Ac 17.10.44 (FO Murdock RAF);   Destroyed floating mine, hit waves on TO, bounced, AbuQir Cat Ac, 1.3.45.  T/W struck submerged object on TO, wing and float damaged, Idku; Cat B 29.5.45; SOC 6.9.45
W3014      delivered 9.12.41.  RNARY Fayid 8.42; 700 (Levant) Sqdn 8.42; 701 Sqdn Beirut 10.42; RNARY Fayid 13.8.43; 161 MU Fayid for RAF 13.8.43; METS Shallufa 2.9.43 …
W3016      delivered 9.12.41. 700 (Levant) Sqdn 8.42; 701 Sqdn Beirut 10.42;  8.43 ASR flight Berka; 294 Sqdn 9.43; 103 MU to 161 MU Fayid 1.44;  MU Kasfareet 2.44; 284 Sqdn Istres 8.44; SOC 6.9.45 to Egyptian Navy as N3016
W3017      delivered 13.12.41. 700 (Levant) Sqdn 9.42; 701 Sqdn Beirut 10.42; RNARY Fayid to 161 MU Fayid 8.43; 135 MU 10.43.  294 Sqdn (‘F’ – ‘O’) 2.44 to 4.46

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