No. 331 Squadron — Norwegian

Formed at RAF Catterick on 21 July 1941, No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron was manned by airmen who had escaped the German occupation of Norway. Initial patrols over northern Scotland were flown on Hurricanes before a re-equipment with Spitfires and a move south to RAF North Weald in May 1942, where the squadron paired with No. 332 Squadron to form the North Weald Wing. The unit flew its first offensive sweep over France on 6 May 1942 and took part in the Dieppe operation that August. Flying Spitfire IXs from late 1942, it became the highest-scoring squadron in No. 11 Group during 1943. In early 1944 the squadron transferred to No. 84 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, supporting the Normandy landings and the subsequent advance into north-west Europe. The squadron was disbanded as an RAF unit on 22 May 1945 and absorbed into the reconstituted Royal Norwegian Air Force.