No. 332 Squadron RAF
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| No. 332 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | No. 332 Squadron RAF |
| Caption | Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX similar to aircraft operated by the squadron |
| Dates | 1941–1945 |
| Country | Norway |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Role | Fighter |
| Garrison | RAF Coltishall |
| Notable commanders | Rolf Arne Berg, M. A. B. Sørensen |
| Battles | Battle of Britain (posthumous association), Operation Overlord, Normandy campaign, Operation Market Garden |
| Aircraft fighter | Supermarine Spitfire |
No. 332 Squadron RAF was a fighter squadron formed from Norwegian Armed Forces in exile personnel serving under the Royal Air Force during World War II. Created to incorporate exiled Royal Norwegian Air Force pilots, the squadron operated primarily Supermarine Spitfire fighters and participated in fighter sweeps, convoy protection, and close air support over Western Europe from bases in United Kingdom and on the continent. It developed a distinguished combat record, contributing to air superiority during Operation Overlord and escort missions for Bomber Command and Tactical Air Forces elements.
Formation and Early History
The squadron was established in mid-1941 as part of a policy to integrate exiled Norwegian Army Air Service and Norwegian Navy Air Service personnel into the RAF structure alongside units such as No. 331 Squadron RAF and No. 330 Squadron RNoAF. Pilots drawn from veterans of the Norwegian Campaign and survivors of transit via Scapa Flow and Leith underwent conversion at training units including No. 56 Operational Training Unit and No. 61 OTU before being posted to RAF Catterick and RAF Acklington. Leadership included officers who had served with the Fleet Air Arm and in liaison with the Norwegian Government-in-exile based in London. Early operations focused on defensive patrols over the North Sea and convoy escort for vessels routed between Shetland and Scotland.
World War II Operations
From 1942 onwards the squadron transitioned to offensive fighter operations, joining raids and fighter sweeps over occupied France and the Low Countries. It flew escort missions for formations of Royal Air Force Bomber Command during raids on targets such as Krupp works and coastal installations, cooperating with squadrons from No. 11 Group RAF and elements of Second Tactical Air Force. During the preparations for Operation Overlord the squadron participated in counter-air missions, interdiction against V-weapon launch infrastructure, and escort duties for transport aircraft supporting Operation Neptune. Following the D-Day landings, pilots provided close air support for the Allied invasion of Normandy and conducted armed reconnaissance in support of 21st Army Group advances. The unit later supported operations during the Battle of the Falaise Pocket and provided air cover during the Rhine crossing in association with Airborne forces participating in Operation Market Garden and subsequent Allied advance into Germany.
Aircraft and Equipment
Initially equipped with various marks of the Supermarine Spitfire, the squadron operated Mk V and later Mk IX fighters adapted for differing roles including high-altitude escort and low-level ground attack. Aircraft were fitted with modifications such as clipped wings for improved roll rate during Channel operations and underwing racks for 60 lb rockets and drop tanks to extend range for missions over the continent. Maintenance and logistics were coordinated through RAF depots including No. 43 Maintenance Unit and support from carrier and shore-based facilities associated with RAF Manston and RAF Coltishall. The squadron also benefited from navigational aids like Gee and identification procedures coordinated with Chain Home early-warning networks.
Personnel and Leadership
Crews consisted largely of Norwegian officers, non-commissioned pilots, and groundcrew who had escaped occupation via routes through Sweden and Iceland, and who frequently had prior service with units such as the Norwegian Merchant Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service. Commanding officers included Norwegian leaders who liaised with figures in the Norwegian government-in-exile and coordinated morale initiatives with representatives from Norwegian resistance networks. Notable aces and pilots served alongside allied airmen from United Kingdom, Canada, and Poland, creating multinational flight and squadron leaders who exchanged tactics developed in engagements with Luftwaffe fighter units including Jagdgeschwader 26 and Jagdgeschwader 2.
Postwar Service and Disbandment
Following the end of major hostilities in Europe the squadron was reduced in operational tempo as personnel returned to Norway to rebuild national air capabilities under the auspices of the Royal Norwegian Air Force reconstitution. Aircraft and equipment were either returned to RAF inventory or transferred to peacetime services; some airframes were preserved in collections commemorating wartime service. The squadron was formally disbanded in the immediate postwar period as part of RAF drawdown and repatriation arrangements coordinated between Air Ministry authorities and the Norwegian Ministry of Defence.
Legacy and Commemoration
The squadron's legacy is preserved through memorials in Oslo, exhibitions at institutions such as the Imperial War Museum and the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum, and through associations of veterans who participated in commemorations linked to events like VE Day anniversaries and D-Day remembrance ceremonies in Normandy. Aircraft nose art, squadron insignia, and wartime records are held in archives including the National Archives (UK) and private collections, while former members have been recognized with decorations from both Norway and United Kingdom such as the Order of St. Olav and the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom). The squadron is commemorated in cultural works referencing Norwegian resistance and Allied air operations and remains a subject in studies of exile forces and multinational cooperation during World War II.