No. 310 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 310 Squadron RAF was a Czechoslovakian-manned
fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force
during the Second World War (1940
).
It was first formed on 10 July 1940 at RAF Duxford, equipped with Hawker Hurricane I
fighters and was the first RAF squadron to be raised crewed by foreign nationals, in this case escaped Czechoslovakian pilots. Led by Squadron Leader
Douglas Blackwood
and using experienced pilots the squadron was operational in only a month and as part of 12 Group became involved in the Battle of Britain
as part of the Duxford 'Big Wing'. 37.5 victories were claimed during the battle.
From 1941, the squadron began offensive operations flying sweeps over the English Channel
and providing bomber escorts. It re-equipped with the Hurricane II in March 1941
. In July 1941
the squadron moved to RAF Dyce, Scotland
, to rest and then re-equip with the Supermarine Spitfire IIa and Vb
on October 1941.
The squadron returned to defensive operations in December 1941 in Cornwall in the west of England
. Another three-month rest period was required in June 1943 when the squadron moved back to Scotland
.
In 1944, the squadron re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire IX
and became a fighter-bomber unit with 134 Wing, flying ground attack duties during the Normandy landings. The squadron then spent the rest of the war flying armed reconnaissance missions along the Dutch and Belgian coasts.
Final score was 52.5 claims with 4 V-1's shot down.
On 7 August 1945 the squadron moved to Hildesheim
and then a few days later to Prague
to form part of the new Czechoslovak air force. It officially disbanded as an RAF squadron on 15 February 1946.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force
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...
during the Second World War (1940
1940 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1940:- Events :* The worlds first high-performance, purpose-built night fighter, the British Bristol Beaufighter, enters combat.* The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation absorbs the Hall Aluminum Aircraft Corporation....
).
It was first formed on 10 July 1940 at RAF Duxford, equipped with Hawker Hurricane I
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
fighters and was the first RAF squadron to be raised crewed by foreign nationals, in this case escaped Czechoslovakian pilots. Led by Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Douglas Blackwood
Douglas Blackwood
George Douglas Morant Blackwood, was a British publisher and a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II.-Early life:...
and using experienced pilots the squadron was operational in only a month and as part of 12 Group became involved in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
as part of the Duxford 'Big Wing'. 37.5 victories were claimed during the battle.
From 1941, the squadron began offensive operations flying sweeps over the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
and providing bomber escorts. It re-equipped with the Hurricane II in March 1941
1941 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1941:- Events :* Jackie Cochran became the first woman to fly a bomber across the Atlantic Ocean.* During the spring and summer, the Imperial Japanese Navys air arm conducts Operation 102, its second major bombing campaign against Chungking.* By early...
. In July 1941
1941 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1941:- Events :* Jackie Cochran became the first woman to fly a bomber across the Atlantic Ocean.* During the spring and summer, the Imperial Japanese Navys air arm conducts Operation 102, its second major bombing campaign against Chungking.* By early...
the squadron moved to RAF Dyce, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, to rest and then re-equip with the Supermarine Spitfire IIa and Vb
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...
on October 1941.
The squadron returned to defensive operations in December 1941 in Cornwall in the west of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Another three-month rest period was required in June 1943 when the squadron moved back to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
In 1944, the squadron re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire IX
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...
and became a fighter-bomber unit with 134 Wing, flying ground attack duties during the Normandy landings. The squadron then spent the rest of the war flying armed reconnaissance missions along the Dutch and Belgian coasts.
Final score was 52.5 claims with 4 V-1's shot down.
On 7 August 1945 the squadron moved to Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
and then a few days later to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
to form part of the new Czechoslovak air force. It officially disbanded as an RAF squadron on 15 February 1946.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1940 | March 1941 | Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
I | |
| March 1941 | December 1941 | Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
IIa | |
| June 1941 | November 1941 | Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
IIb | |
| October 1941 | December 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire 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... |
IIa | |
| November 1941 | March 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire 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... |
Vb | |
| July 1942 | June 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire 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... |
Vc | |
| July 1943 | September 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire 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... |
VI | |
| September 1943 | March 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire 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... |
Vc | |
| January 1944 | July 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire 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... |
LF.IX | |
| July 1944 | September 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire 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... |
Vb | |
| August 1944 | February 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire 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... |
LF.IX | |