Tom from Cornwall wrote: ↑02 Aug 2020, 20:42
Hi Rob,
Thanks, that's interesting. I hadn't realised there was such a mixed bag of aircraft on Ceylon. I'd only thought that there were the Blenheims, Hurricanes and Catalinas of RAF and RCAF, and a few Fulmars and Swordfish of FAA.
My info, but not all of which is confirmed, is as follows:
-On 27 December 1941 there were 4 Vildebeest III at China Bay. Three moved to Ratmalana circa 11 March. I think they were probably still there on 5 April but I'm not sure. They appear to have been used primarily for inshore anti-submarine patrols.
-On 27 December 1941 there were 4 Seals at China Bay. There were still two on 26 March. (I don't know what happened to the other two.) On 7 April a Seal hit a stationary Swordfish on take off. Two pilots of 261 Sqn, WO John Griffin and F/S Tom Quinn (both aboard the Seal), and 273 Sqn’s MO, F/L J.C. Anstie, were killed. I image that left just one Seal but I'm not sure.
-On 26 March 273 Sqn reportedly had 9 Swordfish, 3 Albacore, the 2 Seals mentioned above, and 16 Fulmars. 788 NAS was to take over the Swordfish, Albacores and Seals. The six Swordfish lost on 5 April were presumably all from this group of nine. A separate source (a signal from Arbuthnot) says that there were only two Albacores on 27 March. They were "fleet replacements", i.e., they were being held to be issued to aircraft carriers to replace losses.
-Exeter's Walrus arrived at Colombo from Java circa 4 March aboard the auxiliary anti-submarine vessel Bulan but I have no further info on this aircraft.
-Glasgow's Walrus crashed near China Bay on 5 April. Glasgow was at Colombo 6-14 March, sailing for the Atlantic on the latter date. I would guess that it may have left its Walrus behind if it was unservicable or if it was needed for eventual transfer to another ship.
So apart from the aircraft you mention there was just a handful of a few other types.
Incidentally, four of the Catalinas were Dutch: Y-55, Y-56, Y-57 and Y-64. Y-55 and Y-57 were out of service during Operation C (they were probably at Bangalore for overhaul by HAL) but Y-56 was operational throughout early April and Y-64 was operational from 6 April onward.