No. 352 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
fighter-bomber 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. The squadron was also known as First NOVJ Squadron.
History
Formed at BeninaBenina
Benina is a Basic People's Congress administrative division of Benghazi, Libya.It contains the Benina International Airport....
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
on 22 April 1944, this squadron was the first Yugoslav-manned fighter unit to be formed in the Mediterranean. Equipped with Hurricanes
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...
initially, it received 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...
s in June and in August moved to Italy to join the No.281 Wing. The squadron provided escort for fighter-bomber squadrons and engaged in ground attack missions for the rest of the war, using the island of Vis as an advanced base until 1 January 1945, when the squadron's air echelon became permanently based there.
The squadron was organized by the war formation prescribed for RAF mobile fighter squadrons, having two flights with 8 Supermarine Spitfires per flight. Flying and technical staff composed of personnel from the Royal Yugoslav Air Force moved to NOVJ, and staff from the First Air Base NOVJ.
The squadron carried out its first operational mission on the 18th August, 1944.
The first squadron commander was Captain Mileta Protić, Political commissar
Political commissar
The political commissar is the supervisory political officer responsible for the political education and organisation, and loyalty to the government of the military...
was Franjo Kluz
Franjo Kluz
Franjo Kluz was a Yugoslav pilot from Bosnia and a People's Hero of Yugoslavia. He is best known as one of the founders of the Partisan air force, serving as an officer in the RAF-trained 352 SqnSqn....
, commander of "A" flight was Captain Ratko Jovanović, and commander of "B" flight was Captain Arkadije Popov. Sadly, all three of these men had been killed by the end of the year: a suitable indicator of the intensity of the fighting in the ground-support operations at the time. Protić and Popov are commemmorated on the CWGC memorial in Malta, and Jovanovic in the CWGC cemetary at Belgrade.
Hinko Šoić took over as Squadron Commander and the new Flight commanders were, respectively, Branko Kraus and Đuro Ivanšević. Ivanšević survived the war and became the Regimental Commander of the short-lived 1st Fighter Regiment, the amalgamation of the two RAF-trained squadrons.
During the war, 27 pilots became casualties, of whom 10 were killed, including the Squadron Commander and both Flight Commanders, and Franjo Kluz
Franjo Kluz
Franjo Kluz was a Yugoslav pilot from Bosnia and a People's Hero of Yugoslavia. He is best known as one of the founders of the Partisan air force, serving as an officer in the RAF-trained 352 SqnSqn....
, first partisan pilot and national hero of Yugoslavia.
Through the nine months of the war, No. 352 Squadron RAF carried out 367 combat operations with 1210 take offs. These tasks include supporting troops in Yugoslavia, fighter protection and reconnaissance. The squadron used Canne, Vis
Vis
- Geography :* Vis , a Croatian island in the Adriatic sea* Vis , town and municipality on the island of Vis* Vis, Bulgaria, a village in Ivaylovgrad municipality, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria* Vis , in south-central France- Initialisms :...
and Zemunik airbases.
Headquarters remained in Italy until it was moved to the Yugoslav mainland to join its air echelon in April 1945 and the squadron disbanded from the RAF on 16 May 1945. On 18 May 1945, together with No. 351 Squadron
No. 351 Squadron RAF
No. 351 Squadron RAF was a Yugoslav-manned fighter-bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. The squadron was also known as Second NOVJ Squadron.-History:...
it formed 1st Fighter Regiment
1st Fighter Regiment
The 1st Fighter Regiment was an aviation regiment established in 1945 as part of the SFR Yugoslav Air Force. The regiment was stationed at Zadar Airport until it was disbanded in same year.-History:...
of SFR Yugoslav Air Force
SFR Yugoslav Air Force
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force , was the air force of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Formed in 1945, it was preceded by the Yugoslav Royal Air Force which was disbanded in 1941, following the German occupation of Yugoslavia...
.
Aircraft operated
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|From! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|To
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Variant
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| April 1944
| June 1944
| 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...
| IIC
|
|-----
| June 1944
| August 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
|
|-----
| June 1944
| June 1945
| 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
|
|-----
| ? 1944
| June 1945
| 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...
| IX
|
Personnel
Mileta Protić: CO: 22.04.44 -19.12.44. +.died.Hinko Šoić: CO: 19.12.44.
Ratko Jovanović: OC.A' Flt.: -04.10.44. +.died.
Branko Kraus: OC.A' Flt.: 04.10.44.
Arkadije Popov: OC.B' Flt.: -16.10.44. +.died.
Đuro Ivanšević: OC.B' Flt.: 16.10.44.
(Djuro
Djurö
Djurö is an island and a locality situated in Värmdö Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 958 inhabitants in 2005.- Djurö, Vänern:Djurö is also the name of another island, located in Sweden's largest lake, Vänern. It is the largest island of the Djurö Archipelago, which forms Djurö National...
is an equally correct convention).
352 Squadron, Air Training Corps
352 Squadron is now part of the Air Training CorpsAir Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
and is home to Burnley Air Cadets which is part of Cumbria and North Lancashire wing. . The 352 Burnley Squadron of the Air Training Corps, based in Colne Road, marked the occasion, there 70th anniversary, with a service and parade at St Cuthbert’s Church. The Mayor and Mayoress of Burnley were at the celebration along with Burnley and Padiham MP Gordon Birtwistle.
Staff and OC:
Flight lieutenant Chris Ashworth (Officer Commanding),
Flying Officer Alan Stewart,
Adult SGT Carol Paton,
C.I Ashworth,
C.I Mangham,
C.I Balderson,
C.I Makin,
C.I Brigden,
C.I Bethwaite,
Lance corporal Lee Hargreves (R.A.F Regiment).
SNCO:
FLSGT Brigden,
FLSGT Gregson,
SGT Walsh,
SGT Spencer,
SGT Catlow.
JNCO:
CPL Yates,
CPL Wolfenden,
CPL Waring,
CPL Collinge,
CPL Saltou,
CPL Stanworth.
If you would like to fly, shoot and go on camps this squadron is just for you. If you live in the Burnley or Padiham area and you want to join call 01282 432360!!! Join and have the experience of a life time!!! it is just off Colne road heading to Thompson park just before the bridge and after Bank Hall Care Home.