No. 331 (Norway) Squadron Spitfire Mk. IX, FN-?, June 1944

[Lucky13]

Username: Lucky13
First name: Jan
Category: 3
Scale: 1:48
Manufacturer: ICM
Model Type: Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX
Details: No. 331 Squadron (Norway) as possible flown by the Swede Tage V. Ståhlenberg.....
Decals: Aftermarket....

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Tage Ståhlenberg was born on 7 July 1920 in the north of Sweden.
He served as a volunteer in the RAF and trained at the Norwegian training camp “Little Norway” at Ontario, Canada.
Later he served in 331 (Norwegian) Squadron and flew 127 missions.
During the war he parachuted twice.
Not much is known about his service in the RAF.
He moved back to Sweden and Örebro in 1947.
Ståhlenberg was killed in an air accident on 31 May 1948 when the SAAB 91 Safir he was piloting crashed west of Skillingaryd.
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History
It was formed as a fighter squadron at RAF Catterick in Yorkshire on 21 July 1941. The squadron personnel were Norwegian with the exception of some of the ground crew and the Commanding Officer. At first it was equipped with fairly war worn Hawker Hurricane Mk 1s which had to be rebuilt after being inherited from the Polish squadron, becoming operational on 15 September. It provided defence for Northern Scotland, moving to Castletown on 21 August and later to RAF Skeabrae. In May 1942 it moved south to RAF North Weald, having re-equipped with Spitfires in November 1941.

331 Squadron (RAF squadron code FN, legend has it that "FN" was an abbreviation for "First Norwegian" or "For Norway") was soon joined by a second Norwegian Squadron 332 Squadron, also flying Spitfires, becoming North Weald Wing.

331 continued to operate as part of the North Weald Wing until November 1943 when the Wing was transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force and became No. 132 Airfield (later No. 132 Wing). It participated in the Allied air umbrella over the landing area in the Dieppe Raid, and later flying fighter sweeps and escort operations over occupied France and the Low Countries.

Following several preparatory operations in connection with the invasion, the squadron participated in the Normandy Landings as fighter bombers and tactical air superiority fighters, moving to Caen, France in August 1944. From September onwards 132 Wing participated in the Liberation of Holland and took part in the crossing of the Rhine (Operation Plunder).

On 24 April 1945, the squadron was transferred to North Weald and later to RAF Dyce in Scotland, where the 331 and 332 converted to Spitfire MK XVI and MK IXe. In the following month the squadrons transferred to Norway. On September 21, 1945, 331 squadron was disbanded as an RAF unit, and passed to the control of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.



Between them during the war, 331 and 332 Squadrons scored 180 confirmed destroyed, 35 probables and more than 100 damaged. Combined losses were 131 aircraft lost with 71 pilots killed.

The squadron badge is a Norwegian Viking sword and a British sword in saltire bound together with a ring symbolising the friendship between Norway and Great Britain.

In honour of the achievements of the RNoAF Squadrons of the WWII The Royal Norwegian Air Force has maintained the RAF squadron names. Thus Norway still has the fighter squadrons 331st and 332nd, now flying F-16 instead of Spitfire MK IX.

Today the Norwegian 331 squadron is based at Bodø Main Air Station.

Aircraft operated during RAF service

1941 Hawker Hurricane I & IIB
1941 Supermarine Spitfire IIA
1942 Supermarine Spitfire VB
1942 Supermarine Spitfire IXB
1945 Supermarine Spitfire IXE

331/332 Spitfire Squadron-

YouTube - Spitfire Squadrons - 331 and 332 squadrons at war

[kgambit]

Good choice Jan.

[Lucky13]

Cheers muka! Bit of Norway and Sweden in it....

[rochie]

hope you start yours before i start mine then i can copy !!!!!!

[Crimea_River]

Looking forwad to this one going together as I have this kit next in line.

[Airframes]

Nice one old chap!

[Wurger]

With all here Jan. But be prepared for using a putty, some sanding etc.... ALso I suggest adding a few set-pins for the fuselage halves.

[Lucky13]

Just noticed my friend, can't see any locating pins anywhere on the kit.....or they're extremely small! Hope to start this weekend fellas....

[Airframes]

Just thought old boy. There should be some info on the Sqaudron in Dan's IL2 'Black Friday' thingy being worked on at the moment. Should be codes, serials etc I would think.

[Lucky13]

Better have a wee looksie then today....cheers old boy!

[B-17engineer]

Sweet

[Lucky13]

What wing does the Mk. IXB have?

[Airframes]

The 'C' wing. There wasn't actually a MkIXB, but pilots etc refered to it as such.

[Junkers88A1]

nice

[Lucky13]

Greetings Gutt! Got anything on the No. 331? Cheers Terry, old boy! Was kinda wondering as the kit comes with different wingtips....