No. 322 Squadron RAF

No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron RAF
Active	12 June 1943 - 7 October 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	Dutch government in exile
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Inactive
Role	Fighter Squadron
Motto	Dutch: Niet praten maar doen ("Actions, not words" or "Don't prattle, act")
Mascot	Polly Grey[1], the parrot
Equipment	Spitfire
Commanders
Notable commanders	Bram van der Stok
Insignia
Squadron Badge	Perched on a Branch, a Parrot
Squadron Codes	VL Jun 1943 - Oct 1944 (Code taken over from No. 167 Squadron) 3W (Oct 1944 - Oct 1945)

No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a Fighter Squadron during the Second World War

History

Members of 322 Squadron with a Spitfire. Part of the 3W squadron code can be seen, as well as the Royal Netherlands Air Force insignia by the cockpit

No. 322 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed from the Dutch personnel^[2] of No. 167 Squadron RAF on 12 June 1943 at RAF Woodvale. The squadron retained the code-letter combination VL which had been used previously by No. 167 Squadron until late 1944 or early 1945, when it was changed to 3W. It served at RAF West Malling and other stations during the Second World War.

From the 20th of June to the 21st of July 1944, and equipped with Spitfire Mk XIVs, the squadron was tasked with intercepting the V-1 Flying Bomb "doodlebug" missiles launched from the Dutch and French coasts towards London.^[3]. Flying Officer Brugwal was the most outstanding pilot on these 'anti-diver' patrols, claiming five of the missiles in one day (the 8th of July)^[4]. Total for the squadron was 108.5 destroyed.

On 7 October 1945 the squadron disbanded at Wunstorf in Germany as part of the RAF, but the Squadron number was afterwards revived for a unit of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) in recognition of the squadron's wartime record.^[5]

Aircraft operated

From	To	Aircraft	Version
June 1943	March 1944	Supermarine Spitfire	Vb, Vc
March 1944	August 1944	Supermarine Spitfire	XIV
August 1944	November 1944	Supermarine Spitfire	IXb
November 1944	October 1945	Supermarine Spitfire	XVIe

Commanding officers

From	To	Name
June 1943	August 1943	S/Ldr. A.C. Stewart
September 1943	September 1944	Maj. K.C. Kuhlmann, DFC
September 1944	November 1944	S/Ldr. L.C.M. van Eendenburg
November 1944	March 1945	S/Ldr. H.F. O'Neill, DFC
March 1945	October 1945	S/Ldr. Bram "Bob" van der Stok

Squadron bases

From	To	Base
12 June 1943	15 November 1943	RAF Woodvale
15 November 1943	30 November 1943	RAF Llanbedr
30 November 1943	31 December 1943	RAF Woodvale
31 December 1943	25 February 1944	RAF Hawkinge
25 February 1944	1 March 1944	RAF Ayr
1 March 1944	9 March 1944	RAF Hawkinge
9 March 1944	23 April 1944	RAF Acklington
23 April 1944	20 June 1944	RAF Hartford Bridge
20 June 1944	21 July 1944	RAF West Malling
21 July 1944	10 October 1944	RAF Deanland
10 October 1944	1 November 1944	RAF Fairwood Common
1 November 1944	3 January 1945	RAF Biggin Hill
3 January 1945	21 February 1945	RAF Woensdrecht (B.79)
21 February 1945	18 April 1945	RAF Schijndel (B.85)
18 April 1945	30 April 1945	RAF Twente (B.106)
30 April 1945	2 July 1945	RAF Varrelbusch (B.113)
2 July 1945	7 October 1945	RAF Wunstorf (B.116)[6]

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• Royal Netherlands Air Force

References

Notes

1. ^ http://www.defensie.nl/luchtmacht/cultureel/luchtmachtgeschiedenis/periode_1940-1945/polly_grey
2. ^ Rawlings 1976, p. 405.
3. ^ Rafweb Retrieved 10 July 2007
4. ^ Rawlings 1976, p. 404.
5. ^ Halley 1980, p. 289.
6. ^ http://wikimapia.org/2374029/Wunstorf_Air_Base present day air photograph of Wunstorf Air Base

Bibliography

• Appeldorn, Filip. 40 Jaar 322 Squadron, 1943-1983 (in Dutch). Klu 322, 1983.
• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
• Kock, W.J.E. 25 Jaar 322 (in Dutch). Klu 322, 1968.
• Oxspring, Group Captain R.W. DFC. Spitfire Command. London: William Kimber, 1984 (republished by Cerberus Publishing in 2000 and 2005, ISBN 1-84145-033-2).
• Rawlings, John. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1969 (second edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• Sorgedrager, Bart and W.H. Lutgert. 322 Squadron, Sporen van zijn Verleden, Lijnen in zijn Geschiedenis (in Dutch). Ministerie van Defensie, 1993.
• Van der Stok, Bob. Oorlogsvlieger van Oranje (in Dutch). Bussum, the Netherlands: Uitgeverij De Haan, 1980 (reprinted 1983). ISBN 90-2283-652-5.
  • Translated as War Pilot of Orange. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Pub Co, 1987. ISBN 0-93312-689-1.

External links

• Rafweb
• Page on 322 Squadron in English
• Air War Portal
• No. 322 (Dutch) RAF Squadron

In Dutch

• unofficial 322nd squadron website (in Dutch)
• Dutch Airforce page about 322 Squadron
• Another Dutch Airforce page about 322 Squadron
• Aviation Group Leeuwarden

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