No. 329 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 329 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force
fighter
squadron founded upon the personnel and traditions of the French 1/2 fighter squadron Storks
(Escadron de Chasse 1/2 Cigognes), having markings “5A” 1944-1945.
. The squadron distinguished itself during the Battle of France in 1940 but was disbanded in August 1940, after the fall of France. It was re-formed in July 1941, flying Dewoitine D.520
aircraft. In May 1942, its transfer to North Africa was begun. In November 1942, Operation Torch opened and gave the squadron and other French forces in North Africa, the opportunity to join the Free French Forces
. At the end of 1943, it was embarked in HMS King George V, arriving in Ayr, Scotland in January 1944. Once assembled there, on 5 January, the former escadron became 329 Squadron RAF.
After assembling at Ayr, it moved to Perranporth, in Cornwall, UK, to begin equipping with Spitfire Vs
. By March, these had been replaced by mark IXs. Becoming operational on 1 March, by which time the mark Vs had been withdrawn. The squadron joined No. 415 Wing Free French units of 2nd Tactical Air Force on 14 April and provided cover for the D Day landings in Normandy in the following June. At this stage, its commanding officer was Lieutenant-colonel (Wing commander) Fleurquin. In August, it moved to Sommervieu, near Bayeux in Normandy, under the command of Capitaine (Flight lieutenant) Ozanne. As a squadron of a tactical wing, it specialized in ground attack of troop movements, road and river supply convoys and V-weapon
launch sites. However, the job included air to air combat and after it had moved forward into the Low Countries in September, it met its first jet-propelled opposition in December, 1944. In March 1945, No. 329 returned to the UK. It was stationed at Turnhouse
. In May 1945, it was moved to the West of England but fifteen of its aircraft participated in the Victory fly-past
in Paris on 14th July
1945. It was disbanded in the UK, at Fairwood Common
on 17 November 1945.
On the fifteenth, it moved to Friedrichshafen
via Le Bourget
as escadron de chasse 01.002 "Cigognes"
or EC 1/2 in the short form of the title, a unit of the newly reconstituted 2nd Fighter Wing (2ème escadre de chasse) of the French Air Force
(Armée de l’Air)
Profiles of the squadron's aircraft, with its markings may be seen on the RAF web site. This shows all the squadron's aircraft with cannon as would suit a ground attack rôle.
The Mk IX was essentially a Mk V with a more powerful engine (Merlin 61) and the low-level versions had clipped wings. Likewise, the Mk XVI had a more powerful engine still (Packard Merlin 266: 1,705 hp).
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
squadron founded upon the personnel and traditions of the French 1/2 fighter squadron Storks
1/2 fighter squadron Storks
The 1/2 fighter squadron "Storks" is a French Air Force fighter squadron, currently stationed in 102 Dijon-Longvic Airbase...
(Escadron de Chasse 1/2 Cigognes), having markings “5A” 1944-1945.
RAF service
During the period of the Second World War, a large number of the squadrons of RAF were manned by personnel from countries which had been overwhelmed by German military expansionism. This French Air Force unit was an amalgamation of the two flights SPA 3 and SPA 103, which had been two of the more illustrious units of the Great WarWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The squadron distinguished itself during the Battle of France in 1940 but was disbanded in August 1940, after the fall of France. It was re-formed in July 1941, flying Dewoitine D.520
Dewoitine D.520
The Dewoitine D.520 was a French fighter aircraft that entered service in early 1940, shortly after the opening of World War II. Unlike the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, which was at that time the Armée de l'Airs most numerous fighter, the Dewoitine D.520 came close to being a match for the latest...
aircraft. In May 1942, its transfer to North Africa was begun. In November 1942, Operation Torch opened and gave the squadron and other French forces in North Africa, the opportunity to join the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
. At the end of 1943, it was embarked in HMS King George V, arriving in Ayr, Scotland in January 1944. Once assembled there, on 5 January, the former escadron became 329 Squadron RAF.
After assembling at Ayr, it moved to Perranporth, in Cornwall, UK, to begin equipping with Spitfire Vs
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
. By March, these had been replaced by mark IXs. Becoming operational on 1 March, by which time the mark Vs had been withdrawn. The squadron joined No. 415 Wing Free French units of 2nd Tactical Air Force on 14 April and provided cover for the D Day landings in Normandy in the following June. At this stage, its commanding officer was Lieutenant-colonel (Wing commander) Fleurquin. In August, it moved to Sommervieu, near Bayeux in Normandy, under the command of Capitaine (Flight lieutenant) Ozanne. As a squadron of a tactical wing, it specialized in ground attack of troop movements, road and river supply convoys and V-weapon
Vergeltungswaffe
V-weapons also, known in the original German as Vergeltungswaffen , were a particular set of long range artillery weapons designed for strategic bombing during World War II, particularly terror bombing and/or aerial bombing of cities. They comprised the V-1 flying bomb, the V-2 rocket and the V-3...
launch sites. However, the job included air to air combat and after it had moved forward into the Low Countries in September, it met its first jet-propelled opposition in December, 1944. In March 1945, No. 329 returned to the UK. It was stationed at Turnhouse
Turnhouse
Turnhouse is a suburb in the west of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.The area is east of Edinburgh International Airport, and Turnhouse is also the name for the former Royal Air Force base, now closed, which dates back to the First World War and was the origin of the current civilian airport...
. In May 1945, it was moved to the West of England but fifteen of its aircraft participated in the Victory fly-past
Bastille Day Military Parade
The Bastille Day Military Parade is a French military parade that has been held on the morning of 14 July each year in Paris since 1880, almost without exception....
in Paris on 14th July
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
1945. It was disbanded in the UK, at Fairwood Common
RAF Fairwood Common
RAF Fairwood Common was a World War II aerodrome located at Fairwood Common on the Gower Peninsula to the west of Swansea. It is now the location of Swansea Airport.-History:...
on 17 November 1945.
On the fifteenth, it moved to Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen
This article is about a German town. For the Danish town, see Frederikshavn, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Friedrichshafen is a university city on the northern side of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, near the borders with Switzerland and Austria.It is the district capital of the...
via Le Bourget
Le Bourget
Le Bourget is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.A very small part of Le Bourget airport lies on the territory of the commune of Le Bourget, which nonetheless gave its name to the airport. Most of the airport lies on the territory of the...
as escadron de chasse 01.002 "Cigognes"
1/2 fighter squadron Storks
The 1/2 fighter squadron "Storks" is a French Air Force fighter squadron, currently stationed in 102 Dijon-Longvic Airbase...
or EC 1/2 in the short form of the title, a unit of the newly reconstituted 2nd Fighter Wing (2ème escadre de chasse) of the French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
(Armée de l’Air)
Aircraft
- February 1944 to March 1944 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk. VB.
- February 1944 to March 1944 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk. VC.
- February 1944 to March 1945 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX
- April 1945 to November 1945 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX
- February 1945 to April 1945 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVI
Profiles of the squadron's aircraft, with its markings may be seen on the RAF web site. This shows all the squadron's aircraft with cannon as would suit a ground attack rôle.
Armament
The Mk VA mounted eight 0.303 machine guns. Mk VB had two 20mm canon and four 0.303" machine guns. The Mk VC had a universal wing capable of mounting eight 0.303" machine guns or two 20 mm canon and four machine guns. As well as these options, the VC could carry two 250 lb (113 kg) bombs. In addition, all three had a centre-line rack for carrying either a 500 lb (227 kg) bomb or an external fuel tank. Each was fitted with a Merlin 45 engine: 1,440 horsepower).The Mk IX was essentially a Mk V with a more powerful engine (Merlin 61) and the low-level versions had clipped wings. Likewise, the Mk XVI had a more powerful engine still (Packard Merlin 266: 1,705 hp).