No. 331 Squadron RAF
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| 331 Squadron (under RAF control) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942 - 1945 |
| Role | Fighter |
| Garrison/HQ | (see below) |
| Motto | For Norge (Norwegian: "For Norway") |
| Equipment | Spitfire |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
Two swords in saltire, enfiled by an amulet |
No. 331 Squadron RAF was formed as a fighter squadron at RAF Catterick in Yorkshire on 21 July 1941. The squadron personnel were Norwegian with the exception of some of the ground crew and the Commanding Officer. At first it was equipped with fairly war worn Hawker Hurricane Mk 1s, becoming operational on 15 September. It provided defence for Northern Scotland, moving to Castletown on 21 August and later to Skeabrae, until May 1942 when it moved South to North Weald, having re-equipped with Spitfires in November 1941.
331 Squadron (RAF code FN, legend has it that it "FN" was an abbreviation for "First Norwegian" or "For Norway") was soon joined by a second Norwegian Squadron 332 Squadron, also flying Spitfires, becoming North Weald Wing.
331 continued to operate as part of the North Weald Wing until November 1943 when the Wing was transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force and became No 132 Airfield (later No 132 Wing). It participated in the Allied air umbrella over the landing area in the Dieppe Raid, and later flying fighter sweeps and escort operations over occupied France and the low countries.
Following several preparatory operations in connection with the invasion, the squadron paricipated in the Normandy Landings as fighter bombers and tactical air superiority fighters, moving to Caen, France in August 1944. From September onwards 132 Wing participated in the Liberation of Holland and took part in the crossing of the Rhine (Operation Plunder).
On 24 April 1945, the squadron was transferred to North Weald and later to Dyce in Scotland, where the 331 and 332 converted to Spitfire MK XVI and MK IXe. In the following month the squadrons transferred to Norway. On September 21, 1945, 331 squadron was disbanded as an RAF unit, and passed to the control of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
During the war between them, 331 and 332 Squadrons scored 180 confirmed destroyed, 35 probables and more than 100 damaged. Combined losses were 131 aircraft lost with 71 pilots killed.
| 331 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942 Full control passed to RNoAF on 21 November 1945. Still active. |
| Role | Fighter |
| Garrison/HQ | Bodø Main Air Station |
| Motto | For Norge (Norwegian: "For Norway") |
| Equipment | F-16 |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
Two swords in saltire, enfiled by an amulet |
The squadron badge is a Norwegian Viking sword and a British sword in saltire bound togeather with a ring symbolising the friendship between Norway and Great Britain.
In honour of the achievements of the RNoAF Squadrons of the WWII The Royal Nowegian Air Force has maintained the RAF squadron names. Thus Norway still has the fighter squadrons 331st and 332nd, now flying F-16 instead of Spitfire MK IX.
Today the Norwegian 331 squadron is based at Bodø Main Air Station.
