Q&A ยท 4:22:08-4:22:59

How thirty Short Seafords translate into squadrons

The production total reflects frontline strength plus the supporting aircraft needed to sustain it.

Question

How many Coastal Command squadrons were intended to operate the planned thirty Short Seaford flying boats?

Short answer

Two squadrons of twelve aircraft, with the remaining six allocated to training and maintenance flights.

Notes

An order of thirty Short Seafords would support two squadrons of twelve aircraft. That leaves six airframes beyond the squadron allocation. A training flight and maintenance flight account for the remainder in this calculation. The production total therefore includes aircraft supporting the squadrons as well as those assigned to them.