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The No. 345 Squadron RAF was a Free French ground attack fighter squadron given a Royal Air Force squadron number during World War II.
| No. 345 (GC II/2 'Berry') Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 30 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 |
History
editThe 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
edit| 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 |
References
edit- ^ Ken Delve, D-Day: The Air Battle, London: Arms & Armour Press, 1994, ISBN 1-85409-227-8, p. 137.
- ^ C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
External links
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