No. 331 Squadron RAF
| 331 (Norwegian) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
Spitfire Vs of No. 331 Squadron, spring 1942.
|
|
| Active | 1941–1945 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Allegiance |
 Norwegian Government in exile
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Role | Fighter squadron |
| Part of | RAF Fighter Command, 2nd Tactical Air Force |
| Motto(s) |
Norwegian: For Norge ("For Norway") |
| Aircraft |
Hawker Hurricane Supermarine Spitfire |
| Battle honours | |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | Two swords in saltire, enfiled by an amulet |
| Squadron Codes | FN (Jul 1941 – Nov 1945) |
| 331 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942 Full control passed to RNoAF on 21 November 1945. Still active. |
| Role | Fighter |
| Garrison/HQ | Bodø Main Air Station |
| Motto(s) |
For Norge (Norwegian: "For Norway") |
| Equipment | F-16 |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
Two swords in saltire, enfiled by an amulet |
No. 331 Squadron RAF was a Second World War squadron of the Royal Air Force. The squadron was primarily manned with Norwegian aircrew. The squadron was part of Fighter Command between 1941 and March 1944 when it joined the 2nd Tactical Air Force until the end of the war. The squadron took part in the Dieppe Raid and the Normandy landings.
It was formed as a fighter squadron at RAF Catterick in Yorkshire on 21 July 1941. The squadron was manned by exiled Norwegians, except for the ground crew and the commanding officer.
It was given the RAF aircraft code prefix "FN", which was often said to be an abbreviation for "First Norwegian" or "For Norway", the latter being the squadron's official motto (in Norwegian For Norge). The squadron badge was a Norwegian Viking sword and a British sword in saltire, bound together with a ring — symbolising the friendship between Norway and Great Britain.
The squadron was initially equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk 1s, inherited from a Polish RAF unit. These had to be rebuilt before 331 Squadron could become operational, on 15 September 1941. It provided defence for northern Scotland, moving to RAF Castletown on 21 August and later to RAF Skaebrae.
On the 4th May 1942, the squadron moved south to RAF North Weald, having re-equipped with Spitfires in November 1941.
331 Squadron was joined by a second Norwegian unit 332 Squadron, also flying Spitfires. Together they were known as North Weald Wing and were part of 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.
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