No. 345 Squadron RAF

No. 345 (GC II/2 'Berry') Squadron RAF
Active30 January 1944 – 27 November 1945
Country United Kingdom
Allegiance Free French Forces
Branch Royal Air Force
Nickname(s)GC II/2 'Berry'
Motto(s)Latin: Nil actum credo si quid supersii agendum (I think nothing done if anything remains undone)
Insignia
Identification
symbol		A stork

The No. 345 Squadron RAF was a Free French ground attack fighter squadron given a Royal Air Force squadron number during World War II.

History

The squadron was formed in RAF Ayr, Scotland on 30 January 1944 from GC II/2 Free French airmen who had been based in the Middle East and was equipped with British Spitfire aircraft. It then moved to RAF stations in England including Shoreham, Fairwood Common and Biggin Hill.

For Operation Overlord (the Allied invasion of Normandy) it was equipped with the Spitfire V LF operating from RAF Shoreham as part of Air Defence of Great Britain, though under the operational control of RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF).[1]

With 2nd TAF it followed the allied advance from the Normandy beachheads across Europe and by November 1945 was based at Friedrichshafen, Germany. It was under RAF control until 27 November 1945 when it transferred to French control.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 345 Squadron RAF
From To Aircraft Variant
Mar 1944 Sep 1944 Supermarine Spitfire VB
Sep 1944 Apr 1945 Supermarine Spitfire HF IX
Apr 1945 Nov 1945 Supermarine Spitfire XVI

[2]

References

  1. ^ Ken Delve, D-Day: The Air Battle, London: Arms & Armour Press, 1994, ISBN 1-85409-227-8, p. 137.
  2. ^ C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
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