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{{Short description|Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit|
|unit_name= No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF
|image=IWM-CH-1157-FOKKER-T-VIIIW.jpg
|image_size=250px
|caption=A [[Fokker T.VIII]] of No. 320 Squadron begins a patrol after taking off from [[RAF Pembroke Dock|Pembroke Dock]], Wales
|dates= 1 June 1940 – 2 August 1945
|country= {{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]]
|allegiance= {{flagicon|NED}} [[Dutch government in exile]]
|branch= [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|23px]] [[Royal Air Force]]
|type= Inactive
|role=
|size=
|command_structure= [[RAF Coastal Command]] [[RAF Bomber Command]] [[RAF Second Tactical Air Force]]
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|garrison_label= Base
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=Netherlands
|patron=
|motto=[[Latin]]: ''Animo libre dirigimur'' ("We are guided by the mind of liberty") [[Dutch language|Dutch]]: ("Wij worden geleid door een vrije geest")
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|commander1=
|commander1_label=
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|commander3=
|commander3_label=
|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol= In front of a fountain an orange tree fracted and eradicated.<ref>Rawlings 1982, p. 200.</ref> The orange tree refers to the squadron's connection with the Netherlands and the fountain to its operations over the sea.<ref>Moyes 1976, p. 228.</ref>
|identification_symbol_label= Squadron Badge
|identification_symbol_2= '''SP''' (allocated June 1939 – Sep 1939) '''TD''' (Jun 1940 – Oct 1940) '''NO''' (Oct 1940 – Aug 1945)
|identification_symbol_2_label= Squadron Codes
}}
'''No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF''' was a unit of the [[Royal Air Force]] during [[World War II]] formed from the personnel of the [[Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service]].

==History==

===Formation===
Formed on 1 June 1940 at [[RAF Pembroke Dock]], after flying from the [[Netherlands]] in eight [[Fokker T.VIII|Fokker T.VIIIW]] twin-engined patrol seaplanes, as part of [[RAF Coastal Command|Coastal Command]]. The squadron flew coastal and [[anti-submarine]] patrols in the Fokkers until they became unserviceable due to lack of spares and were re-equipped with [[Avro Anson|Ansons]] in August 1940 and supplemented in October with [[Lockheed Hudson|Hudsons]]. Due to insufficient personnel, the squadron absorbed [[No. 321 Squadron RAF|No. 321 (Netherlands) Squadron]] on 18 January 1941.

===To Bomber Command===
The squadron moved to [[RAF Leuchars]] on 1 October 1941, re-equipped with Hudson IIIs, flying patrols and anti-shipping attacks in the North Sea. Detachments were located at [[RAF Silloth]] and [[RAF Carew Cheriton]] until 24 April 1942 when the squadron moved to [[RAF Bircham Newton]]. The squadron was reassigned to [[RAF Bomber Command|Bomber Command]] and loaned to [[No. 2 Group RAF|No.2 Group]] on 15 March 1943. The squadron was re-equipped with [[B-25 Mitchell|Mitchells]] during spring 1943 and moved to [[RAF Methwold]].

===In the 2nd Tactical Air Force===
[[File:Belgian RAF Mitchell crew WWii IWM CL 3734.jpg|thumb|left|{{center|Belgian aircrew of a 320 Squadron [[B-25 Mitchell|Mitchell bomber]] at [[Melsbroek Air Base|B58/Melsbroek]], Belgium}}]]
On 30 March 1943, the squadron moved to [[RAF Attlebridge]], then was reassigned to [[RAF Second Tactical Air Force|Second Tactical Air Force]] on 1 June with the squadron attacking enemy communications targets and airfields. The squadron relocated to [[RAF Lasham]] on 30 August and to [[RAF Dunsfold]] on 18 February 1944.
From these airfields the squadron participated in many "[[Glossary of RAF code names#ramrod|Ramrod]]" and "[[Glossary of RAF code names#noball|Noball]]" operations and bombing attacks on construction works, railway yards, fuel dumps and [[V-1 flying bomb]] sites in the North of France, in advance of [[Normandy landings]] on 6 June 1944 (D-Day).

After D-Day the bombing of tactical targets continued and changed from France to the Dutch coast of [[Zeeland]], and in September 1944 the squadron was involved in bombing German troops in the surroundings of Arnhem during the [[Battle of Arnhem|attempt by airborne troops to take the bridge]]. In September the squadron started bombing targets in Germany along the [[Rhine]] for the advancing allied troops. In October 1944 the squadron was transferred to [[Melsbroek Air Base|Melsbroek (B.58)]], in Belgium. From there the bombing of bridges and airfields in the east of the Netherlands and Germany continued. During 1943 and 1944 the squadron took heavy losses. On 30 April 1945 the squadron moved to [[Advanced Landing Ground]] B.110 at [[Achmer airport|Achmer]], Lower Saxony in Germany.
{{clear left}}

===Back home===
The squadron was passed to the control of the [[Dutch Naval Aviation Service]] ('''Marine Luchtvaart Dienst''') on 2 August 1945, keeping the same squadron number [[No. 320 Squadron MLD]]. The squadron was disbanded in 2005, due to budget cuts.

==Aircraft operated==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Aircraft operated by 320 Squadron<ref name="Rawlings1982p201">Rawlings 1982, p. 201.</ref><ref>Halley 1988, p. 367.</ref><ref>Jefford 2001, p. 88.</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;"|From
! style="text-align: left;"|To
! style="text-align: left;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left;"|Version
|-
| Jun 1940
| Oct 1940
| [[Fokker T.VIII]]
| TVIIIW/G
|-
| Aug 1940
| Jul 1941
| [[Avro Anson]]
| Mk.I
|-
| Oct 1940
| Oct 1942
| [[Lockheed Hudson]]
| Mk.I
|-
| Mar 1941
| Sep 1941
| Lockheed Hudson
| Mk.II
|-
| Jul 1941
| Sep 1942
| Lockheed Hudson
| Mk.III
|-
| Jan 1942
| May 1942
| Lockheed Hudson
| Mk.V
|-
| Aug 1942
| Mar 1943
| Lockheed Hudson
| Mk.VI
|-
| Mar 1943
| Aug 1945
| [[B-25 Mitchell|North American Mitchell]]
| Mk.II
|-
| Feb 1945
| Aug 1945
| North American Mitchell
| Mk.III
|}

==Commanding officers==
{{expand list|date=October 2015}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Commanding officers<ref name="Rawlings1982p201"/>
|-
! style="text-align: left;"|From
! style="text-align: left;"|To
! style="text-align: left;"|Name
|-
|July 1940
|June 1941
|Wing Cdr. J.M. van Olm
|-
|June 1941
|June 1942
|Wing Cdr. J.M. van Olm
|-
|June 1942
|Sept. 1943
|Wing Cdr. K.J.A. Meester
|-
|Sept. 1943
|Oct. 1943
|Wing Cdr. E. Bakker
|-
|Oct. 1943
|Dec. 1943
|Sqn. Ldr. J.F. Breedveld
|-
|Dec. 1943
|June 1944
|Wing Cdr. [[Hugo Burgerhout|H.V.B. Burgerhout]]
|-
|June 1944
|Sept. 1944
|Sqn. Ldr. J.N. Mulder
|-
|Sept. 1944
|Dec. 1944
|Wing Cdr. H.V.B. Burgerhout
|-
|Dec. 1944
|April 1946
|Wing Cdr. A.W. Witholt
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Geldhof, Nico. ''De Vliegtuigen van 320 Squadron, 1940 – 1946'' (in Dutch). Maarssen, the Netherlands: Geromy Uitgeverij BV, 2006. {{ISBN|90-6720-397-1}}.
* Geldhof, Nico. ''De Operaties van 320 Squadron, 1940 – 1946'' (in Dutch). Maarssen, the Netherlands: Geromy Uitgeverij BV, 2006. {{ISBN|90-6720-396-3}}.
* Geldhof, Nico. ''"'Alle Hens' van 320 Squadron: 'Regina et patria'"'' (in Dutch). Maarssen, the Netherlands: Geromy Uitgeverij BV, 2007. ISBN
* Halley, James J. ''The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & 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, 2001. {{ISBN|1-84037-141-2}}.
* Kloos, J.P. ''320 Squadron R.A.F., Memorial 1940–1945'' (in Dutch). J.P. Kloos Publisher, 1987 (republished in 1992).
* Moyes, Philip J.R. ''Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft''. London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1964 (2nd edition 1976). {{ISBN|0-354-01027-1}}.
* Rawlings, John D.R. ''Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft''. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. {{ISBN|0-7106-0187-5}}.
* Van der Kop, Hans. ''The Flying Dutchman: An Exciting True Story of War in the Air''. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1985. {{ISBN|0-85059-755-2}}.
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web |author=Evert Brouwer |date=20 September 2016 |title=320 Squadron leeft voort |url=https://magazines.defensie.nl/allehens/2016/08/04_-reunie-320-squadron-kopie |website=Alle Hens |publisher=Defensie.nl |language=Dutch}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF}}
* [http://www.rafcommands.currantbun.com/Coastal/320C.html Squadron bases at RAF Commands]
* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/320squadron.cfm 320 Squadron History at RAF website]
* [http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn%20Markings/SqnMark310-330.htm#320 No. 320 Squadron Aircraft & Markings on Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation]
* [http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn310-347.htm History of No.'s 310–347 Squadrons at Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation]
* [https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/bevrijding-75-jaar/zij-streden-de-strijd/320-dutch-squadron History of 320 Squadron in Dutch]

{{RAF squadrons}}
{{Royal Air Force}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:No. 320 Squadron Raf}}
[[Category:Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons|320]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1940]]
[[Category:Aircraft squadrons of the Royal Air Force in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the Netherlands in World War II]]
[[Category:Netherlands–United Kingdom military relations]]

No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF - Revision history

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