The squadron was formed at RAF Catterick[1] on 10 May 1941.[2] It was the last RAF squadron to be formed mostly of escaped Czechoslovak pilots. Its first commander was the British Squadron Leader Gordon Sinclair.[3] On 29 July, Czechoslovak fighter pilot Josef Jaške was appointed as joint commander of the squadron.[4] The plan was for responsibility to be transferred gradually from Sinclair to Jaške.
A 313 squadron pilot with a rigger, fitter and his Spitfire at RAF Hornchurch in April 1942
On 15 December 1941 Sqn Ldr Karel Mrázek succeeded Jaške as commanding officer[4] and the squadron moved to RAF Hornchurch[6] in Essex. On 8 June 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Church Stanton[6] in Somerset and on 26 June Sqn Ldr Jaroslav Himr succeeded Mrázek as commanding officer.[4]
On 1 February 1944 Sqn Ldr Václav Bergman succeeded Fajtl as commanding officer.[4] Also in February the squadron was re-equipped with the Spitfire IX.[5] This model was fitted with 190-gallon "slipper" tanks to extend its range, enabling the squadron to escort bombers on raids deep into Germany.[8] On 20 February the squadron moved to RAF Mendlesham[7] in Suffolk. On 14 March it moved again, to RAF Rochford[7] in Essex.
Ground crew changing the engine oil of a Spitfire LF My IX at RAF Appledram
On 3 April 1944 the squadron moved to RAF Appledram[9] in West Sussex. On 22 May Sqn Ldr Alois Hochmál succeeded Bergman as commanding officer.[4] From 29 June the squadron spent a few days at RAF Tangmere,[9] also in West Sussex. On 4 July it spent a week at RAF Lympne[9] in Kent.
On 11 July 1944 the squadron moved to RAF Skeabrae[9] on Orkney in Scotland. The squadron briefly flew the Spitfire VII in July and August 1944.[5]
On 3 October 1944 the squadron moved to RAF North Weald[9] in Essex. Also in October it reverted to the Spitfire IX, which it continued to operate until the end of its history as an RAF unit.[5] On 1 September 1944 Sqn Ldr Karel Kasal succeeded Hochmál as commanding officer, and on 15 November Sqn Ldr Otmar Kučera succeeded Kasal.[1] On 29 December the squadron moved to RAF Bradwell Bay,[9] also in Essex.
Farewell parade of Czechoslovak squadrons at RAF Manston, Kent, on 3 August 1945. Air Marshal John Slessor, with walking stick, inspects some of the men. Air Marshal Karel Janoušek can be seen behind him.
From 27 February to 8 May 1945 the squadron was based at RAF Manston[9] in Kent. On 3 August members of all of the RAF's Czechoslovak squadrons held a farewell parade at RAF Manston. Air Marshal John Slessor inspected the parade, accompanied by A/M Karel Janoušek. On 24 August 313 Squadron moved to Ruzyně Airport in Prague. It became a squadron of the new Czechoslovak Air Force, and on 15 February 1946 was officially disbanded as an RAF squadron.[2][5]
Aircraft operatededit
A Spitfire Mk Vb in a sandbagged revetment at RAF Hornchurch in 1942 or 1943 as its pilot runs up its engine
Halley, James J (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Hurt, Zdeněk (2004). In Focus: Czechs in the RAF. Walton-on-Thames: Red Kite. ISBN0-9538061-9-7.
Jackson, Robert (2003). Spitfire The History of Britain's Most Famous World War II Fighter. Bath: Parragon. p. 89. ISBN0-75258-770-6.
Jefford, Wg Cdr CG (2001) [1998]. RAF Squadrons, A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (second ed.). Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. ISBN978-1-84037-141-3.
Lewis, Peter (1968) [1959]. Squadron Histories, RFC, RNAS and RAF, Since 1912. London: Putnam. p. 96. SBN 370-00022-6.
Liškutín, Miroslav A (1988). Challenge in the Air: a Spitfire pilot remembers. London: William Kimber. ISBN0718306910.
Rawlings, John DR (1976) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (new ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN0-354-01028-X.
van Eyck, Manuel F (1993). Zemřeli jsme pro Anglii (in Czech). Translated by František Fajtl. prologue by František Fajtl. Prague: Naše vojsko. ISBN80-206-0321-2.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF.
"No. 313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF". RAF Fighter Command 1939 – 1945. RAF Commands. 2013. – movement and equipment history
"No 313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation.
Darlington, Roger. "Czechoslovaks in the RAF".
May 02, 2024
czechoslovak, squadron, squadron, czechoslovak, manned, fighter, squadron, royal, force, second, world, badge, squadron, rafactive10, 1941, february, 1946countryunited, kingdomallegianceczechoslovakiabranch, royal, forcenickname, czechoslovakmotto, czech, jede. No 313 Squadron RAF was a Czechoslovak manned fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force in the Second World War No 313 Czechoslovak Squadron RAFBadge of 313 Squadron RAFActive10 May 1941 15 February 1946CountryUnited KingdomAllegianceCzechoslovakiaBranch Royal Air ForceNickname s CzechoslovakMotto s Czech Jeden jestrab mnoho vran rozhani One hawk chases away many crows InsigniaSquadron BadgeA hawk volant wings elevated and addorsedSquadron CodesRY May 1941 February 1946 Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft operated 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory editThe squadron was formed at RAF Catterick 1 on 10 May 1941 2 It was the last RAF squadron to be formed mostly of escaped Czechoslovak pilots Its first commander was the British Squadron Leader Gordon Sinclair 3 On 29 July Czechoslovak fighter pilot Josef Jaske was appointed as joint commander of the squadron 4 The plan was for responsibility to be transferred gradually from Sinclair to Jaske The squadron was equipped initially with Supermarine Spitfire I fighters On 30 June 1941 it moved to RAF Leconfield 1 in the East Riding of Yorkshire In August the squadron was re equipped with the Spitfire IIA 5 and on 25 August it moved to RAF Portreath 1 in Cornwall In October the squadron was re equipped with the Spitfire VB C 5 nbsp A 313 squadron pilot with a rigger fitter and his Spitfire at RAF Hornchurch in April 1942 On 15 December 1941 Sqn Ldr Karel Mrazek succeeded Jaske as commanding officer 4 and the squadron moved to RAF Hornchurch 6 in Essex On 8 June 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Church Stanton 6 in Somerset and on 26 June Sqn Ldr Jaroslav Himr succeeded Mrazek as commanding officer 4 In 1943 the squadron moved to Scotland firstly on 28 June to RAF Sumburgh A in Shetland and shortly thereafter to RAF Peterhead B 6 in Aberdeenshire The squadron briefly flew the Spitfire VI in June and July 1943 5 On 20 July it moved to RAF Hawkinge 6 in Kent On 18 September it moved to RAF Ibsley 7 in Hampshire and on 24 September Sqn Ldr Frantisek Fajtl succeeded Himr as commanding officer 4 On 1 February 1944 Sqn Ldr Vaclav Bergman succeeded Fajtl as commanding officer 4 Also in February the squadron was re equipped with the Spitfire IX 5 This model was fitted with 190 gallon slipper tanks to extend its range enabling the squadron to escort bombers on raids deep into Germany 8 On 20 February the squadron moved to RAF Mendlesham 7 in Suffolk On 14 March it moved again to RAF Rochford 7 in Essex nbsp Ground crew changing the engine oil of a Spitfire LF My IX at RAF Appledram On 3 April 1944 the squadron moved to RAF Appledram 9 in West Sussex On 22 May Sqn Ldr Alois Hochmal succeeded Bergman as commanding officer 4 From 29 June the squadron spent a few days at RAF Tangmere 9 also in West Sussex On 4 July it spent a week at RAF Lympne 9 in Kent On 11 July 1944 the squadron moved to RAF Skeabrae 9 on Orkney in Scotland The squadron briefly flew the Spitfire VII in July and August 1944 5 On 3 October 1944 the squadron moved to RAF North Weald 9 in Essex Also in October it reverted to the Spitfire IX which it continued to operate until the end of its history as an RAF unit 5 On 1 September 1944 Sqn Ldr Karel Kasal succeeded Hochmal as commanding officer and on 15 November Sqn Ldr Otmar Kucera succeeded Kasal 1 On 29 December the squadron moved to RAF Bradwell Bay 9 also in Essex nbsp Farewell parade of Czechoslovak squadrons at RAF Manston Kent on 3 August 1945 Air Marshal John Slessor with walking stick inspects some of the men Air Marshal Karel Janousek can be seen behind him From 27 February to 8 May 1945 the squadron was based at RAF Manston 9 in Kent On 3 August members of all of the RAF s Czechoslovak squadrons held a farewell parade at RAF Manston Air Marshal John Slessor inspected the parade accompanied by A M Karel Janousek On 24 August 313 Squadron moved to Ruzyne Airport in Prague It became a squadron of the new Czechoslovak Air Force and on 15 February 1946 was officially disbanded as an RAF squadron 2 5 Aircraft operated edit nbsp A Spitfire Mk Vb in a sandbagged revetment at RAF Hornchurch in 1942 or 1943 as its pilot runs up its engine Aircraft used 5 From To Aircraft Variant Notes May 1941 August 1941 Supermarine Spitfire I August 1941 November 1941 Supermarine Spitfire IIa October 1941 February 1944 Supermarine Spitfire Vb c June 1943 July 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VI February 1944 July 1944 Supermarine Spitfire LF IX July 1944 August 1944 Supermarine Spitfire VII July 1944 October 1944 Supermarine Spitfire Vb c October 1944 February 1946 Supermarine Spitfire LF IXReferences edit nbsp 313 Squadron pilot Arnost Mrtvy who was shot down and killed over Belgium on 19 April 1944 Notes edit a b c d van Eyck 1993 p 21 a b Lewis 1968 p 96 Squadron Commanding Officers Nos 300 361 Squadrons Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation a b c d e f van Eyck 1993 p 20 a b c d e f g h Jackson 2003 p 89 a b c d van Eyck 1993 p 22 a b c van Eyck 1993 p 24 Miroslav Liskutin RAF s Czech fighter pilot Chichester Observer Johnston Press 7 July 2017 Retrieved 3 October 2017 a b c d e f g van Eyck 1993 p 25 Bibliography edit Halley James J 1988 The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1918 1988 Tonbridge Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Hurt Zdenek 2004 In Focus Czechs in the RAF Walton on Thames Red Kite ISBN 0 9538061 9 7 Jackson Robert 2003 Spitfire The History of Britain s Most Famous World War II Fighter Bath Parragon p 89 ISBN 0 75258 770 6 Jefford Wg Cdr CG 2001 1998 RAF Squadrons A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 second ed Shrewsbury Airlife Publishing ISBN 978 1 84037 141 3 Lewis Peter 1968 1959 Squadron Histories RFC RNAS and RAF Since 1912 London Putnam p 96 SBN 370 00022 6 Liskutin Miroslav A 1988 Challenge in the Air a Spitfire pilot remembers London William Kimber ISBN 0718306910 Rawlings John DR 1976 1969 Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft new ed London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd ISBN 0 354 01028 X van Eyck Manuel F 1993 Zemreli jsme pro Anglii in Czech Translated by Frantisek Fajtl prologue by Frantisek Fajtl Prague Nase vojsko ISBN 80 206 0321 2 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 313 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF 313 Squadron History RAF Formations Ministry of Defence No 313 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF RAF Fighter Command 1939 1945 RAF Commands 2013 movement and equipment history No 313 Czechoslovak Squadron Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation Darlington Roger Czechoslovaks in the RAF Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 313 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF amp oldid 1214879527, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
