Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

For the purpose of the RSL Virtual War Memorial, No. 251 Squadron (RAF)  is included as one of the RAF Squadrons in which Australians served fought and died during WW II.

During WW2 the Empire Air Training Scheme supplied tens of thousands of aircrew for the Royal Air Force (RAF) air war in Europe, and later in other theatres of war. While a number of so-called Article XV national squadrons were created in Fighter, Bomber and Coastal Commands of the RAF, the majority of Australian aircrew were posted, along with their Commonwealth colleagues, to RAF Squadrons (and also to RCAF and RNZAF units) as individual crew members,where they would 'crew up' often with a very multi-national aircrew comprised of men from all over the Commownwealth. Ground staff were similarly assigned.

No. 251 Squadron (Ex RAF MoD site)

No 251 Squadron was originally formed in August 1918 from the former Royal Naval Air Station at Hornsea, Yorkshire Nos.504, 505, 506 and 510 Flights operated from Atwick, Greenland Top and Owthorne with D.H.6s and carried out coastal anti-submarine patrols for the remainder of the war being disbanded on 30 June 1919.

On 1 August 1944, No.1407 Flight at Reykjavik was renumbered 251 Squadron for air-sea rescue duties and meteorlogical flights aorund Iceland as part of Coastal Command. Its Lockheed Venturas were complemented by Lockheed Hudsons, including two fitted with airbourne lifeboats, while a few Avro Ansons were used for local communications flying.

Lockheed Hudsons replaced the very similar Venturas, which in March 1945 began to be replaced with B17 Flying Fortresses but the Hudsons were not replaced until August when Vickers Warwicks (a maritime versoion of the twin engined Wellington bomber) were received to supplement the Fortresses. The squadron continued to operate from Iceland until it was disbanded on 30 October 1945.