|
|
Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books
No.411 Squadron (RCAF) was a Canadian Spitfire squadron that served with Fighter Command then the Second Tactical Air Force, and spent most of its time carrying out offensive sweeps, either over occupied Europe or during the campaign in North-Western Europe in 1944-45.
The squadron was formed at Digby on 16 June 1941, and was equipped with the Spitfire I. Over the rest of its existence it would use six different versions of the Spitfire.
The squadron became operational on 1 September 1941 and flew its first sweep over France on 20 September. It moved to southern England in November 1941, and carried out bomber escort missions and fighter sweeps over France over the winter of 1941-42.
In April 1942 the squadron moved back to Digby and spent the next four months on defensive duties, recovering from the effect of the winter.
In August 1942 the squadron moved back south to take part in the failed attack on Dieppe. It then spent the next two months taking part in the sweeps.
From October 1942-March 1943 the squadron returned to its defensive duties.
In March 1943 the squadron moved back south and began a period of ground attack and escort missions.
The squadron joined the Second Tactical Air Force when it was first formed. It converted to the Spitfire IX in October 1943, and in April 1944 began to fly fighter-bomber missions. It targeted German communications, V-1 sites and supplies bases.
The squadron was used to provide fighter cover for the D-Day Landings. It then moved to France, and advanced east with the Allied Armies, reaching the Low Countries in September.
It spent the last few months of the war carrying out sweeps over German, hitting transport targets. This also sometimes brought it into contact with German fighters, including on 27 December 1944 when the newly equipped III./JG 54 lost six Fw 190D pilots in an clash with the squadron.
The squadron joined the occupation forces after the war, before being disbanded on 21 March 1946.
Aircraft
June-August 1941: Supermarine Spitfire I
July-October 1941: Supermarine Spitfire IIA
October 1941-October 1943: Supermarine Spitfire VB
October 1943-May 1945: Supermarine Spitfire IX
May-June 1945: Supermarine Spitfire XVI
June 1945-March 1946: Supermarine Spitfire XIV
Squadron Codes: DB
1941-: Fighter Command
-6 June 1944-: No.126 (RCAF) Wing, No.83 Group, Second Tactical Air Force
Duty
16 June-22 November 1941: Digby
22 November-7 March 1942: Hornchurch
5-22 February 1942: Detachment to Fairlop
7 March-1 April 1942: Southend
1 April-16 August 1942: Digby
16-21 August 1942: West Malling
21 August 1942-1 March 1942: Digby
1-5 March 1942: Kidlington
5-12 March 1942: Fowlmere
12-22 March 1943: Digby
22 March-7 April 1943: Kenley
7 April-1 May 1943: Redhill
1-9 May 1943: Friston
9 May-6 August 1943: Redhill
6 August-13 October 1943: Staplehurst
13 October 1943-15 April 1944: Biggin Hill
15-17 April 1944: Tangmere
17-22 April 1944: Fairwood Common
22 April-18 June 1944: Tangmere
18 June-8 August 1944: B.4 Beny-sur-Mer
8 August-1 September 1944: B.18 Cristot
1-2 September 1944: B.24 St. Andre de l'Eure
2-3 September 1944: B.26 Illiers l'Eveque
3-21 September 1944: B.44 Poix
21 September-4 October 1944: B.56 Le Culot
4-13 October 1944: B.84 Rips
13-28 October 1944: Warmwell
28 October-6 December 1944: B.80 Volkel
6 December 1944-12 April 1945: B.88 Heesch
12-15 April 1945: B.108 Rheine
15 April-21 May 1945: B.116 Wunstorf
21 May-5 June 1945: Warmwell
5-7 June 1945: B.152 Fassberg
7 June-19 November 1945: B.174 Uterson
19 November-4 December 1945: B.170 Sylt
4 December 1945-21 March 1946: B.174 Utersen