No. 345 Squadron RAF

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 Squadron RAF
Active30 January 1944 – 27 November 1945
Country United Kingdom
Allegiance Free French Forces
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s)Latin: Nil actum credo si quid supersii agendum (I think nothing done if anything remains undone)
Insignia
Identification
symbol		A stork

History

The squadron was formed in 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
FromToAircraftVariant
Mar 1944Sep 1944Supermarine SpitfireVB
Sep 1944Apr 1945Supermarine SpitfireHF IX
Apr 1945Nov 1945Supermarine SpitfireXVI

[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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