No. 315 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

No.315 'Deblinski' Squadron was a fighter squadron that performed a mix of offensive and defensive duties, serving with Second Tactical Air Force, in the anti V-1 campaign and briefly provided long range bomber escorts.

The squadron was formed at Acklington on 21 January 1941 as a Hurricane-equipped fighter squadron. In March it moved to Speke, where it became operational and proved fighter cover over Merseyside.

In July 1941 the squadron moved south to Northolt, where it converted to the Spitfire. The new aircraft were used for offensive sweeps over northern France, before early in 1942 the squadron returned to Lancashire.

After a five month break in the north the squadron returned south in September 1942, and flew offensive sweeps until June 1943. It was then rested in the north, before joining 2nd Tactical Air Force in November 1943.

The squadron remained with 2nd Tactical Air Force until July 1944. During that period it converted to the Mustang, and supported the D-Day landings. In July it was one of a number of Mustang squadrons withdrawn from 2nd Tactical Air Force to take part in the campaign against the V-1 flying bombs.

In October 1944 the squadron moved to East Anglia, where it spent one month using its Mustangs as long range fighter escorts for Bomber Command's renewed daylight bombing campaign.

In November the squadron was moved to Peterhead, in the north of Scotland. For the next two months it was used to fly patrols off the Norwegian coast, protecting Coastal Command's Strike Wings against German fighter attack.

In January 1945 the squadron moved back south, once again to East Anglia. From then until the end of the war it flew offensive fighter sweeps over Holland. The squadron remained in Fighter Command during 1946, before being disbanded on 14 January 1947.

Location
January-March 1941: Acklington
March-July 1941: Speke
July 1941-April 1942: Northolt
April-September 1942: Woodvale
September 1942-June 1943: Northolt
June-July 1943: Hutton Cranswick
July-November 1943: Ballyhalbert
November 1943-March 1944: Heston
March 1944: Llanbedr
March-April 1944: Heston
April-June 1944: Coolham
June 1944: Holmsley South
June-July 1944: Ford
July-October 1944: Brenzett
October 1944: Andrews Field
October-November 1944: Coltishall
November 1944-January 1945: Peterhead
January-August 1945: Andrews Field
August-November 1945: Coltishall
November-December 1945: Fairwood Common
December 1945-January 1947: Coltishall

Duty
March-July 1941: Defensive duties, Merseyside
July 1941-April 1942: Offensive sweeps
April-September 1942: Defensive duties, Lancashire
September 1942-June 1943: Offensive sweeps
June-November 1943: Defensive duties
November 1943-July 1944: 2nd Tactical Air Force
July-October 1944: Anti V-1 campaign
October-November 1944: Long range bomber escort
November 1944-January 1945: Fighter escort for Coastal Command, Scotland
January 1945 onwards: Fighter sweeps over the Netherlands

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (4 November 2011), No. 315 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/315_wwII.html