Second World War
The squadron re-equipped with Short Sunderland monoplanes in June 1939, passing its Londons to 204 Squadron. In September 1939, following the start of the Second World War, the squadron began flying convoy escort missions and anti-submarine patrols over the Western approaches. The squadron moved to Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands in April 1940, carrying out patrols off the coast of Norway as a result of the German invasion of Norway.
In April 1941 the squadron moved to Reykjavík, Iceland, flying patrols over the North Atlantic for five months. In August the squadron's Sunderlands flew to Gibraltar, where they were based for two weeks before moving on to Bathurst (now Banjul), The Gambia to counter the activity of German submarines in the busy shipping lanes off West Africa. It remained at Bathurst until 30 June 1945, when it disbanded. The squadron lost 19 Sunderlands during the Second World War. No Axis submarines were sunk by the squadron, although it did claim at least one German Junkers Ju 88 shot down.
Read more about this topic: No. 204 Squadron RAF
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