No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron


No. 316 "City of Warsaw" Polish Fighter Squadron was a Polish fighter squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom in 1941. It was one of several Polish fighter squadrons fighting alongside the Royal Air Force during World War II.

History

No 316 Squadron was formed at Pembrey on 15 February 1941 as a Polish fighter unit equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk.Is. It was engaged in defensive duties over south-west England until it re-equipped with Hurricanes Mk.IIs and began sweeps over northern France. It later re-equipped with the Spitfire and then Mustang aircraft.

Commanding officers

Squadron bases

Aircraft operated

FromToAircraftVersion
Feb 1941Aug 1941Hawker HurricaneMk.I
Jun 1941Nov 1941Hawker HurricaneMks.IIa, IIb
Oct 1941Nov 1941Supermarine SpitfireMk.IIa
Oct 1941Jul 1943Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vb
Mar 1943Sep 1943Supermarine SpitfireMk.IXc
Sep 1943Apr 1944Supermarine SpitfireLF.Vb
Apr 1944Dec 1946North American MustangMk.III