Caption: Spitfires MkVb RAF 331Sqn FNS BL891 FNF AR293 FNE BL681 Catterick England Jun 1942

 Caption: Spitfire LFIX RAF 331Sqn FN PT934 1946

 Caption: Spitfire CLIXe RAF 331Sqn FNZ PL187 at Gardermoen near Oslo

RAF No 331 Norwegian Squadron

RAF No 331 Norwegian Squadron

Motto: For Norge (For Norway)

History:

It was formed as a fighter squadron at RAF Catterick in Yorkshire on 21 July 1941. The squadron was manned by exiled Norwegians, except for the ground crew and the commanding officer.

It was given the RAF aircraft code prefix "FN", which was often said to be an abbreviation for "First Norwegian" or "For Norway", the latter being the squadron's official motto (in Norwegian For Norge). The squadron badge was two Norwegian Viking swords in saltire, bound together with a ring

The squadron was initially equipped with Hawker Hurricane Is, inherited from a Polish RAF unit. These had to be rebuilt before 331 Squadron could become operational, on 15 September 1941. It provided defence for northern Scotland, moving to RAF Castletown on 21 August and later to RAF Skeabrae.

On 4 May 1942, the squadron moved south to RAF North Weald, having re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire IIA in November 1941.

331 Squadron was joined by a second Norwegian unit 332 Squadron, also flying Spitfires. Together they were known as North Weald Wing and were part of the Allied air umbrella over the landing area in the Dieppe Raid, and later flying fighter sweeps and escort operations over occupied France and the Low Countries.

In November 1943, 331 and 332 Squadrons were transferred to the RAF Second Tactical Air Force and became known as No. 132 (Norwegian) Airfield Headquarters within No. 84 Group RAF; later No. 132 (Norwegian) (Fighter) Wing RAF.

Following fighter bomber and tactical air superiority operations, connected to preparations for D-Day and the actual landings in France, the squadron moved to Caen, Normandy, in August 1944. From September onwards, 132 Wing participated in the liberation of the Netherlands and provided air support for the crossing of the Rhine.

On 22 April 1945, the squadron was transferred to RAF Dyce in Scotland, where 331 and 332 Squadrons converted to Spitfire Mark IXe and Mk XVI.

Following the end of the war, the wing flew to Norway and on 22 May 1945, 331 Squadron was officially disbanded as an RAF unit, with control passed to the re-formed Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) on 21 November 1945.

According to the British embassy in Oslo, No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron defended London from 1941 and was the highest scoring fighter squadron in South England during the war. The squadron was given the RAF aircraft code prefix "FN" - or "For Norway".

Between them during the war, 331 and 332 Squadrons scored 180 confirmed destroyed, 35 probables and more than 100 damaged. Combined losses were 131 aircraft lost with 71 pilots killed.

In honour of the achievements of the Second World War squadrons, the RNoAF has maintained RAF squadron names, including a 331st Fighter Squadron, now flying F-35A Lightning IIs and based at Ørland Air Station.

Squadron Codes used: - LD Allocated Apr - Sep 1939; FN Jul 1941 - Nov 1945

All aircraft operated by No. 331 Squadron

Period	Aircraft	Variant
July – August 1941	Hawker Hurricane	I
August – November 1941	Hawker Hurricane	IIB
November 1941 – April 1942	Supermarine Spitfire	IIA
April – October 1942	Supermarine Spitfire	VB
October 1942 – April 1945	Supermarine Spitfire	IXB
April 1945 – November 1945	Supermarine Spitfire	IXE
1952	Republic F-84 Thunderjet
1957	North American F-86 Sabre
1963	Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
1981	General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Late 2023 – present	Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II

Bases used by No. 331 Squadron

Period	Base
July–August 1941	RAF Catterick
August–September 1941	RAF Castletown
September 1941–May 1942	RAF Skeabrae
May–June 1942	RAF North Weald
June–July 1942	RAF Manston
July–August 1942	RAF North Weald
August 1942	RAF Manston
August–September 1942	RAF North Weald
September 1942	RAF Ipswich
September–October 1942	RAF North Weald
October 1942	RAF Manston
October 1942–January 1944	RAF North Weald
January 1944	RAF Llanbedr
January–March 1944	RAF North Weald
March 1944	RAF Southend
March 1944	RAF North Weald
March–June 1944	RAF Bognor
June–August 1944	RAF Tangmere
August 1944	RAF Funtington
August 1944	RAF Ford
August–September 1944	Villons les Buissons (B.16)
September 1944	Camp Neuseville (B.33)
September 1944	Lille / Wambrechies (B.57)
September–October 1944	RAF Fairwood Common
October–December 1944	Grimbergen (B.60)
December 1944–February 1945	Woendrecht (B.79)
February–March 1945	Schijndel (B.85)
March–April 1945	RAF Fairwood Common
April 1945	Schijndel (B.85)
April 1945	Enschede (B.106)
April–May 1945	RAF Dyce
May–November 1945	Gardermoen (detachment at Stavanger)