| No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 12 June 1943 - 7 October 1945 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | Dutch government in exile |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Inactive |
| Role | Fighter Squadron |
| Motto | Dutch: Niet praten maar doen ("Actions, not words" or "Don't prattle, act") |
| Mascot | Polly Grey[1], the parrot |
| Equipment | Spitfire |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Bram van der Stok |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | Perched on a Branch, a Parrot |
| Squadron Codes | VL Jun 1943 - Oct 1944 (Code taken over from No. 167 Squadron) 3W (Oct 1944 - Oct 1945) |
No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a Fighter Squadron during the Second World War
Contents |
No. 322 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed from the Dutch personnel[2] of No. 167 Squadron RAF on 12 June 1943 at RAF Woodvale. The squadron retained the code-letter combination VL which had been used previously by No. 167 Squadron until late 1944 or early 1945, when it was changed to 3W. It served at RAF West Malling and other stations during the Second World War.
From the 20th of June to the 21st of July 1944, and equipped with Spitfire Mk XIVs, the squadron was tasked with intercepting the V-1 Flying Bomb "doodlebug" missiles launched from the Dutch and French coasts towards London.[3]. Flying Officer Brugwal was the most outstanding pilot on these 'anti-diver' patrols, claiming five of the missiles in one day (the 8th of July)[4]. Total for the squadron was 108.5 destroyed.
On 7 October 1945 the squadron disbanded at Wunstorf in Germany as part of the RAF, but the Squadron number was afterwards revived for a unit of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) in recognition of the squadron's wartime record.[5]
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1943 | March 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Vb, Vc |
| March 1944 | August 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | XIV |
| August 1944 | November 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | IXb |
| November 1944 | October 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | XVIe |
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| June 1943 | August 1943 | S/Ldr. A.C. Stewart |
| September 1943 | September 1944 | Maj. K.C. Kuhlmann, DFC |
| September 1944 | November 1944 | S/Ldr. L.C.M. van Eendenburg |
| November 1944 | March 1945 | S/Ldr. H.F. O'Neill, DFC |
| March 1945 | October 1945 | S/Ldr. Bram "Bob" van der Stok |
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 12 June 1943 | 15 November 1943 | RAF Woodvale |
| 15 November 1943 | 30 November 1943 | RAF Llanbedr |
| 30 November 1943 | 31 December 1943 | RAF Woodvale |
| 31 December 1943 | 25 February 1944 | RAF Hawkinge |
| 25 February 1944 | 1 March 1944 | RAF Ayr |
| 1 March 1944 | 9 March 1944 | RAF Hawkinge |
| 9 March 1944 | 23 April 1944 | RAF Acklington |
| 23 April 1944 | 20 June 1944 | RAF Hartford Bridge |
| 20 June 1944 | 21 July 1944 | RAF West Malling |
| 21 July 1944 | 10 October 1944 | RAF Deanland |
| 10 October 1944 | 1 November 1944 | RAF Fairwood Common |
| 1 November 1944 | 3 January 1945 | RAF Biggin Hill |
| 3 January 1945 | 21 February 1945 | RAF Woensdrecht (B.79) |
| 21 February 1945 | 18 April 1945 | RAF Schijndel (B.85) |
| 18 April 1945 | 30 April 1945 | RAF Twente (B.106) |
| 30 April 1945 | 2 July 1945 | RAF Varrelbusch (B.113) |
| 2 July 1945 | 7 October 1945 | RAF Wunstorf (B.116)[6] |
In Dutch
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