No. 313 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

No.313 Squadron was the third Czechoslovakian fighter squadron to be formed within the RAF. It took part on the offensive sweeps over France, formed part of Second Tactical Air Force and ended the war flying a mix of bomber escort and ground attack missions.

The squadron was formed at Catterick in May 1941 as a Spitfire-equipped fighter squadron. It moved to Cornwall in August, where it became operational, flying a mix of defensive patrols and offensive sweeps over the north-west of France. This continued for the next two years (apart from a four-month long move to the south-east starting in December 1941), before in June 1943 the squadron moved to the north of Scotland for two months.

In August 1943 the squadron moved back south, and began to provide fighter escorts for day bombers operating over France. The squadron joined 2nd Tactical Air Force, and helped to provide air cover for the D-Day landings.

In July 1944 the squadron moved back to the north of Scotland, this time to the Orkneys, where it spend several months providing fighter cover for Scapa Flow.

The squadron moved south to East Anglia in October 1944. Its official role was to provide long range fighter escorts for Bomber Command, which late in 1944 resumed daylight operations after a four year gap, but the squadron also flew a large number of ground attack missions over Holland.

In August 1945 the squadron moved to Czechoslovakia, and on 15 February 1946 it ceased to be an RAF squadron.

Location
May-July 1941: Catterick
July-August 1941: Leconfield
August-November 1941: Portreath
November 1941: Warmwell
November-December 1941: Portreath
December 1941-February 1942: Hornchurch
February-March 1942: Southend
March-April 1942: Hornchurch
April-June 1942: Fairlop
June 1942-June 1943: Churchstanton
June-August 1943: Peterhead
August-September 1943: Hawkinge
September 1943-January 1944: Ibsley
January 1944: Woodvale
January 1944: Ayr
January-February 1944: Ibsley
February-March 1944: Mendlesham
March 1944: Southend
March-April 1944: Mendlesham
April-June 1944: Appledram
June 1944: Tangmere
June 1944: B.10 Plumetot
June-July 1944: Tangmere
July 1944: Lympne
July-October 1944: Skeabrae
October-December 1944: North Weald
December 1944-February 1945: Bradwell Bay
February-August 1945: Manston
August 1945: R.16 Hildesheim
August 1945-Febuary 1947: Praque

Duty
1941-1943: Offensive sweeps and fighter cover
June-August 1943: Defensive duties, Scotland
August 1943-: Bomber escort
1944: Second Tactical Air Force
July-October 1944: Defensive duties, Orkneys
October 1944 onwards: Long range escort/ ground attack

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (3 November 2011), No. 313 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/313_wwII.html