RAF Foreign Legions in WWII
The occupied countries of europe continued the fight from Britain
The Airforces of Czechoslovakia, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France, Greece and Poland all carried the war on long after their nations fell under occupation.
During the six year struggle that was World War II the British Royal Air Force (RAF) carried 408 combat squadrons on its rolls. At least 43 of these were comprised of exiled soldiers of fortune from occupied countries. These men without a home flew under the British jack but carried with them a concept bigger than themselves. They flew for the freedom of their homes.
Poland was the largest contributor to the RAF's "Foreign Legions". Being one of the first countries overrun by the Germans, it had the dubious distinction of forming "free polish" squadrons in Britain as early as 1940. These squadrons can arguably be called the deciding factor in the Battle of Britain plugging an open gap in the air defenses with trained veteran combat pilots, some of whom were already aces. By the end of the war a total of 14 Polish squadrons found a home in the RAF. Nine of these were fighters (302-303, 308-309, and 315-318) and four were of bombers (300-301, 304-305). A squadron of Mosquito attack planes (#307) was also formed in 1941. Initially the Polish airmen were compelled to wear British uniforms and fly British flags. However this was changed with the influx of more of the warriors from the east and they were allowed their own national flags and insignia on British uniforms. Although subordinate to British command, the Polish units were directly subordinate to a Polish inspector, who in turn reported to the Polish government in exile. More than forty aces came from these units, the most famous of which was Eugeniusz Horbaczewski with 17 victories with 315 "Deblinski" Squadron flying P51 Mustangs. In 1944 an agreement was reached and the Polish Forces in Britain went under Polish command, without RAF officers. After the war their equipment was returned to the British and because their country was under Soviet occupation and most of exiles did not return home.
During WWII, RAF squadrons 310-315 were all Czech units and flew with small Czech roundel beside their regular RAF markings. On 10 July 1940, the first Czech fighter squadron 310 was quickly established at Duxford. It became operational on 17 August and its Hurricanes fought in the Battle of Britain. In 1944, the three Czech fighter squadrons - now all operating Spitfires - were assembled into a Czech Wing, No 132 Wing, and they operated together almost all the time until the end of the war, distinguishing themselves in flying over the beaches at Normandy during D Day. At least 16 of the nearly one hundred Czech pilots became aces with the highest scores going to Karel Kuttelwascher with 18 "kills" and Josef Frantisek with 17 (all during the Battle of Britain)
Two Belgian fighter squadrons # 349 formed in 1941 and #350 formed in 1943 served with the RAF as did the fliers from neighboring Holland who formed two coastal bomber squadrons and a fighter squadron (320, 321 and 322)
The French contingent was considerable. After the Armistice that officially removed France from the war in 1940, 12 entire French squadrons were formed. Most of these were formed late in the war- often from civilian French pilots living overseas in areas outside of German occupied France. These units composed Seven squadrons of fighters (326-329, 340, 341, and 345) flying Hurricanes and later Spitfires. Four bomber squadrons were formed (342, 344, 346, and 347) as was a flying boat squadron (#343). After June 1944 these units were typically transferred to the Armee de l'Air and back to French control in a liberated country.
After the fall of sparsely populated Norway a total of five Norwegian helmed squadrons joined the RAF. These included two flying boat units (330 and 333) two spitfire squadrons (331 and 332) and one of Mosquito attack planes (#334) which proved particularly abusive to German units. Ten Norwegian aces emerged including Svein Heglund with 15 kills. Flying with the Norwegian 331 squadron were also three Danish Spitfires with a fuselage painted with that countries national flag. Denmark's only known ace Kaj Birksted with ten confirmed and ten probable kills flew one of them and ended the war as an RAF Wing Commander.
When Greece was overrun by the Axis in April 1941, the Royal Hellenic Air Force evacuated to North Africa and joined the RAF almost immediately to continue its fight. These exiled Greeks formed two fighter squadrons (335 & 336) and fought side by side under their British allies until VE day.
These men, the first United Nations air force, were key to the liberation of their homelands, and their sacrifice in the darkest of hours is an inspiration.
