Description

1943 (May 25) Printed scarcer blue on pinkish Air Mail Letter Card with Blue inlay to Fort Francis, Ontario from Canadian Airman F/O M.H. Maltby, 265 Squadron, RAF, East Africa bearing KUT 20c & 5c tied E.A. / A.P.O. 8 3 (28 May)& self censored with poor violet framed Wings / R.A.F. / CENSOR / ?? Cannot read number (Type R 11) plus red two lined Jusqu’a marking cancelling Air Mail, presumably applied at office of Exchange in the UK…

After Service during WW1 265 Sqn RAF was disbanded in Jan1919. Yet 11 Mar 1943 HM Transport “Lancashire” arrived Mombasa with personnel to reform 265 Sqn RAF without planes so initially the men kicked their heels until 30 Mar when an Advance Party arrived Diego Suarez to prepare for the arrival of Catalina’s on 25 Apr & Diego Suarez remained the Headquarters Base for 265 Sqqn RAF. The area of operation was so large that detachmments were deployed to many places including Tulear (South Madagascar), Pamanza (Mauritius), Aden,Masirah & St. Lucia (South Africa) while from the onset Kipevu (Kenya) was chose as the maintenance Depot. The Squadron was again disbanded 30 Apr 1945