Czech Pilot of
No.310 Squadron
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No.310 Squadron was a Czechoslovakian fighter squadron that fought in the Battle of Britain, the offensive sweeps over France and joined Second Tactical Air Force to support the Normandy landings.
The squadron was formed at the sector station of Duxford on 10 July 1940, and remained based there until the summer of 1941. During the Battle of Britain it formed part of Douglas Bader's 'Duxford Wing', a controversial grouping of initially three and later more squadrons that operated together.
From February to October 1941 the squadron took part in the fighter sweeps over France that were part of the RAF's policy of 'leaning over the Channel'. A period of defensive duties followed, first in Scotland, and then in Cornwall from December 1941 until May 1942.
From May 1942 until June 1943 the squadron returned to the offensive, flying a mix of fighter sweeps and bomber escort missions. In June 1943 it moved back to Scotland to help defend the Navy's key base at Scapa Flow. A number of high altitude Spitfire VIs were used during this period alongside the squadron's standard aircraft.
In September 1943 the squadron moved back south and joined Second Tactical Air Force, where it served as a fighter-bomber unit. It helped support the D-Day landings, but unlike many similar units didn't move to the continent. Instead the squadron moved to East Anglia and Kent, from where it flew armed reconnaissance missions.
In August 1945 the squadron flew to Czechoslovakia, and for the rest of 1945 was based at Prague. The squadron ceased to be an RAF unit on 15 February 1946.
Aircraft
June 1940-May 1941: Hawker Hurricane I
March-December 1941: Hawker Hurricane IIA
October-December 1941: Supermarine Spitfire IIA
November 1941-February 1944: Supermarine Spitfire VB and VC
July-September 1943: Supermarine Spitfire VI
January-July 1944: Supermarine Spitfire IX
July-August 1944: Supermarine Spitfire VB and VC
August 1944-February 1946: Supermarine Spitfire IX
Location
July 1940-June 1941: Duxford
June-July 1941: Martlesham
July-December 1941: Dyce
December 1941-February 1942: Perranporth
February 1942: Predannack
February-March 1942: Perranporth
March 1942: Warmwell
March-May 1942: Perranporth
May-August 1942: Exeter
August 1942: Redhill
August 1942-June 1943: Exeter
June-July 1943: Castletown
July-September 1943: Sumburgh
September 1943-February 1944: Ibsley
February 1944: Mendlesham
February 1944: Hutton Cranswick
February-March 1944: Mendlesham
March-April 1944: Southend
April-June 1944: Appledram
June 1944: Tangmere
June 1944: B.10 Plumetot
June-July 1944: Tangmere
July 1944: Lympne
July-August 1944: Digby
August-December 1944: North Weald
December 1944-February 1945: Bradwell Bay
February-August 1945: Manston
August 1945: R.16 Hildesheim
August 1945-February 1946: Prague
Squadron Codes: NN
Duty
1940-1943: Fighter squadron
1943-1945: Fighter-bomber squadron
Part of
6 June 1944: No.134 Wing; No.84 Group; Allied Expeditionary Air Force
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