No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a fighter squadron during the Second World War.
| No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
 Members of No. 322 Squadron with a Spitfire. Part of the 3W squadron code can be seen, as well as the Royal Netherlands Air Force insignia by the cockpit. | |
| 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(s) | Dutch: Niet praten maar doen ("Actions, not words" or "Don't prattle, act") |
| Mascot(s) | 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 – Jul 1944 (Code taken over from No. 167 Squadron) 3W (Jul 1944 – Oct 1945) |
Formed with Dutch personnel already flying with the RAF, during the war it formed part of the Air Defence of Great Britain and formed part of the defences against V-1 flying bombs. In the last year of the war, it moved to the continent. After the war, it was disbanded as an RAF unit, but the 322e Jachtvliegtuig Afdeling of the Netherlands armed forces was formed from the squadron.
History
editNo. 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 June 1944, when it was changed to 3W. It served at RAF West Malling and other stations during the Second World War.
From 20 June to 9 August 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 Rudy Burgwal was the most outstanding pilot on these 'anti-diver' patrols, claiming five of the missiles in one 90 minute flight on 8 July 1944.[4] The total for the squadron was 108.5 destroyed.
On 7 October 1945, the squadron disbanded at Wunstorf in Germany as part of the RAF. In recognition of the squadron's wartime record, the squadron was reestablished at Twente Airbase on 27 September 1946 as the 322e Jachtvliegtuig Afdeling (Fighter Division) of the Royal Netherlands Army.
The Dutch No. 322 Squadron RNLAF is officially considered as the continuation of No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron, keeping its motto and mascot "Polly Grey", the parrot.
Aircraft operated
edit| 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 |
Commanding officers
edit| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| June 1943 | August 1943 | S/Ldr. Archibald Cathcart Stewart, DFC |
| 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 |
Squadron bases
edit| 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)[5] |
See also
editReferences
editNotes
edit- ^ Archived Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rawlings 1976, p. 405.
- ^ Rafweb Retrieved 10 July 2007
- ^ Rawlings 1976, p. 404.
- ^ "Wunstorf Air Base - Wikimapia". wikimapia.org.
Bibliography
edit- Appeldorn, Filip. 40 Jaar 322 Squadron, 1943–1983 (in Dutch). Klu 322, 1983.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Kock, W.J.E. 25 Jaar 322 (in Dutch). Klu 322, 1968.
- Oxspring, Group Captain R.W. DFC. Spitfire Command. London: William Kimber, 1984 (republished by Cerberus Publishing in 2000 and 2005, ISBN 1-84145-033-2).
- Rawlings, John. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1969 (second edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Sorgedrager, Bart and W.H. Lutgert. 322 Squadron, Sporen van zijn Verleden, Lijnen in zijn Geschiedenis (in Dutch). Ministerie van Defensie, 1993.
- Van der Stok, Bob. Oorlogsvlieger van Oranje (in Dutch). Bussum, the Netherlands: Uitgeverij De Haan, 1980 (reprinted 1983). ISBN 90-228-3652-5.
- Translated as War Pilot of Orange. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Pub Co, 1987. ISBN 0-933126-89-1.
External links
editIn Dutch