RAF No 330 (Norwegian) Squadron

RAF No 330 (Norwegian) Squadron

Motto: Trygg havet (Guarding the seas)

Squadron numbers in the 300 series were allocated to units manned by personnel who had escaped from occupied Europe. This page shows details of the squadrons manned by Norwegian, Greek, Belgian and Jugoslav personnel.

Formed at Reykjavik on 25 April 1941 from Norwegian personnel, who had managed to escape from Norway and then undergone training in Canada. They initially flew with RAF Sunderland crews but in May the aircraft ordered by the Norwegian government arrived in the form of Northrop N-3PB seaplanes.

Anti-submarine operations began on 23 June and from July a detachment was operated from Akureyi. In June 1942, some Catalinas were received and the squadron continued to operate both types until December 1943 when the squadron moved to Oban in Scotland, where the following month, both types were replaced by Sunderlands.

Sunderland operations began on 20 April from Oban and these consisted of the standard range of anti-submarine patrols and convoy escort duties. The following month a detachment was sent to Sullom Voe and in July 1943 the squadron moved there in order to cover Russian convoys and the Norwegian coast. The squadron finally returned to Norway (Stavanger)in May 1945 and on 21 November it was transferred to the control of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

Squadron Codes used: -

KE Allocated Apr - Sep 1939
GS May 1941 - Mar 1943
WH 1944 - Nov 1945

Bibliography

• 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: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
• Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.