No. 310 Squadron — Czechoslovak

Formed at RAF Duxford on 10 July 1940, No. 310 Squadron was the first RAF squadron manned entirely by foreign nationals — pilots who had escaped Czechoslovakia after the German occupation, many having already fought in the Battle of France. Flying Hurricanes as part of 12 Group’s Duxford Wing, the squadron was declared operational within six weeks and claimed 37½ aircraft destroyed during the Battle of Britain. Offensive sweeps over occupied Europe followed through 1941 and 1942 as the squadron re-equipped with Spitfires. By 1944, flying Spitfire IXs with 84 Group’s 134 Wing within the Allied Expeditionary Air Force, the squadron flew ground-attack and armed-reconnaissance missions in support of the Normandy campaign. Its final wartime tally reached 52½ air-to-air claims, including four V-1 flying bombs. In August 1945 the squadron flew home to Ruzyně Airport, Prague, and was formally disbanded as an RAF unit on 15 February 1946.