Supermarine Spitfire. European Users, part two. Czechoslovakia, part one.

 

Many of the Czechoslovak squadrons in exile employed the Supermarine Spitfire in any of its variants. The following Czechoslovak-manned unit were:

• No.310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron: In October 1941 this squadron was re-equipped with the Spitfire Mk.II and operated in Wales from December 1941 until April 1942. In May it was moved to Exeter and, during the months of July to September 1943 the squadron operated the Spitfire Mk.VI, before switching back to the Spitfire Mk.V which had adopted back in November 1941. 
  During January 1944 the squadron got the Spitfire Mk.IX in charge, changing from a pure fighter unit to a fighter-bomber one and took part in the north-western European campaign during 1944. 
  Shortly after the end of the war in Europe, on 31st August 1945, the squadron was rebased to Prague-Ruzyne, where it was transferred to the newly reformed Czechoslovak Air Force on 15th February 1946.
• No.312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron: This unit transitioned from the Hawker Hurricane to the Spitfire Mk.II in October 1941 and to the Mk.V in December 1941. After taking part in various aerial campaigns defending the aerial space of England during 1942, when it provided aerial support for the raid on Dieppe, and 1943, the squadron switched to the Spitfire Mk.IX in January 1944 to take part in the preparations for Operation Overlord. The squadron was part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force and, as such, operated from British Air Bases located in England until the end of the war. 
  On 24th August 1945 they were rebased to Prague-Ruzyne and, on 15th February 1946 they were transferred to the Czechoslovak Air Force.
• No.313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron: This formation was equipped with the Spitfire Mk.I from the its inception in May 1941. They were assigned to the defence of south-western England and, in October 1941 they switched to the better Spitfire Mk.V. 
  They flew the Spitfire Mk.VI for a brief period of time, from June to July 1943, operating from south-eastern England. 
  Just like the other Czechoslovak squadrons, they were re-equipped with the Mk.IX in February 1944, type which operated until July, when they flew the Mk.VII, before switching back to the Mk.IX in October 1944. During this time they operated from British airfields in south-east England.
  On 24th August 1945 they flew to Prague-Ruzyne, where they were transferred to the Czechoslovak Air Force on 15th February 1946.

The Spitfire was also operated at wing level by the No.134 (Czechoslovak) Fighter Wing, which was the parent unit comprising all the above mentioned fighter squadrons.

Sources:

1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._310_(Czechoslovak)_Squadron_RAF

2nd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._312_(Czechoslovak)_Squadron_RAF

3rd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._313_(Czechoslovak)_Squadron_RAF

4th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._134_Wing_RAF