No. 341 Squadron was formed on 15 January 1943[2] at RAF Turnhouse, with personnel from the Free French Air Forces (Forces aériennes françaises libres), in particular the personnel of the Free French Flight (also known as Groupe de Chasse n°1 « Alsace » and before as Première Escadrille de Chasse (E.F.C. 1)), which had been operating in the Western Desert alongside various RAF fighter squadrons such as No. 33 and No. 73 squadron from 1940, and had earned an Ordre de la Libération on 21 June 1941. The unit was equipped with Spitfire VBs, its first commander being Squadron LeaderRené Mouchotte. The squadron moved to RAF Biggin Hill on 21 March 1943 and, re-equipped with Supermarine Spitfire L.F Mk.IXs, began to take part in sweeps over France. The squadron moved to Cornwall on 11 October 1943 for similar operations over Brittany, returning to RAF Merston on 14 April 1944 to join No. 145 Wing. Pierre Clostermann experienced his first aerial combat as a wingman of Sqn Ldr Mouchotte.
After covering the Allied landings in France in June 1944, No. 341 Squadron moved from Tangmere to Sommervieu (B8 airfield) in Normandy on 19 August and arrived in Belgium in September. Armed reconnaissance sweeps over Germany were directed mainly at enemy communications for the rest of the war, apart from a month at Turnhouse during February 1945 to equip with the Spitfire Mark XVI. On 27 November 1945,[3] the squadron gave up its aircraft on transfer to Friedrichshafen and on the following day passed to the control of the Armée de l'Air. On 28 May 1945 the squadron was presented with the Ordre de la Libération (Cross of Liberation).
During the war the Squadron flew 5,469 operations, claiming some 30 aircraft shot down, and losing 21 pilots killed and 6 taken prisoner.
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976). ISBN0-354-01028-X.
External links
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December 28, 2022
squadron, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 2013, l. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources No 341 Squadron RAF news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The No 341 Squadron also known in French as Groupe de Chasse n 3 2 Alsace was a Free French squadron in the RAF during World War II No 341 G C III 2 Alsace Squadron RAFActive15 January 1943 27 November 1945Country United KingdomAllegiance Free French ForcesBranch Royal Air ForcePart ofRAF Fighter CommandNickname s G C III 2 Alsace Motto s FriendshipInsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryOn a hand three crowns of AlsaceThe unit was named Groupe de Chasse Alsace and the three crowns symbolise liberty 1 Squadron codeNL Jan 1943 Nov 1945 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory EditNo 341 Squadron was formed on 15 January 1943 2 at RAF Turnhouse with personnel from the Free French Air Forces Forces aeriennes francaises libres in particular the personnel of the Free French Flight also known as Groupe de Chasse n 1 Alsace and before as Premiere Escadrille de Chasse E F C 1 which had been operating in the Western Desert alongside various RAF fighter squadrons such as No 33 and No 73 squadron from 1940 and had earned an Ordre de la Liberation on 21 June 1941 The unit was equipped with Spitfire VBs its first commander being Squadron Leader Rene Mouchotte The squadron moved to RAF Biggin Hill on 21 March 1943 and re equipped with Supermarine Spitfire L F Mk IXs began to take part in sweeps over France The squadron moved to Cornwall on 11 October 1943 for similar operations over Brittany returning to RAF Merston on 14 April 1944 to join No 145 Wing Pierre Clostermann experienced his first aerial combat as a wingman of Sqn Ldr Mouchotte After covering the Allied landings in France in June 1944 No 341 Squadron moved from Tangmere to Sommervieu B8 airfield in Normandy on 19 August and arrived in Belgium in September Armed reconnaissance sweeps over Germany were directed mainly at enemy communications for the rest of the war apart from a month at Turnhouse during February 1945 to equip with the Spitfire Mark XVI On 27 November 1945 3 the squadron gave up its aircraft on transfer to Friedrichshafen and on the following day passed to the control of the Armee de l Air On 28 May 1945 the squadron was presented with the Ordre de la Liberation Cross of Liberation During the war the Squadron flew 5 469 operations claiming some 30 aircraft shot down and losing 21 pilots killed and 6 taken prisoner See also EditFree French Flight List of RAF squadronsReferences EditNotes Edit Rawlings 1978 p 413 Halley 1988 p 377 Rawlings 1978 p 414 Bibliography Edit Halley James J The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1918 1988 Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd 1988 ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Jefford C G RAF Squadrons a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing 1988 second edition 2001 ISBN 1 85310 053 6 Rawlings John D R Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd 1969 2nd edition 1976 ISBN 0 354 01028 X External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 341 Free French Squadron RAF Squadron histories for nos 310 347 sqn on RAFweb Squadron histories for nos 341 sqn at Royal Air Force website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 341 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1111223044, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
