Supermarine Spitfire. European Users, part twelve. The Spitfire in Norwegian hands.

 

There were two Norwegian squadron serving with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War 2. Those were Nos. 331 & 332.

• No.331 (Norwegian) Squadron: This unit was initially equipped with the Hawker Hurricane at its formation on 21st July 1941 but it did not last long until they were switched by the Spitfire Mk. II in November 1941. They were assigned to the aerial defence of Scotland until May 1942 when they were rebased to southern England. 
  On 6th May they conducted their first sweep over France and the squadron was assigned to offensive duties for the remainder of the war, working alongside with the other Norwegian squadron of the RAF, No. 332. 
  In August this unit took part in the aerial support for the raid Dieppe raid. 
  On 31st March 1944 they were assigned to 2nd Tactical Air Force, which now was operating in the fighter-bomber role and, in August 1944 they were rebased to Normandy to support the breakthrough operations towards inland France. This squadron followed the Allied advanced east and operated from several bases in Low Countries from October onwards. They provided aerial cover for the Allies as they advanced into Germany from 1945 until the end of the war in Europe. 
  In late April 1945 the squadron went back to the United Kingdom and shortly after the war, they were rebased in Norway where, in November 1945 the whole squadron was transferred to the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
• No. 332 (Norwegian) Squadron: This unit operated the Spitfire since its inception in January 1942. It was formed at RAF Catterick (northern England) and became operational in March 1942. In June they were rebased to south of England where they performed various fighter sweeps over occupied France. 
  Based at North Weald, together with No. 331 they formed a RAF Wing which provided aerial support for the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. 
  Together with No. 331 it was assigned to the 2nd Tactical Air Force (albeit it's not clear if No. 332 was assigned sooner or later than No. 331 as sources claim that No. 332 was assigned in late 1943). With the 2nd Tactical Air Force, this squadron's role was changed to the fighter-bomber one to provide aerial cover for Operation Overlord (the Normandy Landings in June 1944). In mid-August 1944, together with No. 331 they were rebased to Normandy to provide aerial support for the Allied forces in their advance into France and later in the advance of Allied forces into the Netherlands.
  In late April 1945 the squadron was moved to Scotland and after the war, in September 1945 they were sent to Norway where on 21st September, they were transferred to the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

As both RAF's Norwegian squadrons were allowed to retain their equipment, they formed the bulk of Norway's post-war fighter force, divided into two squadrons- 331 & 332 Skvadron (Norwegian for 'Squadron') and they were kept until 1951 in service with 331 Skvadron and 1952 in service with 332 Skvadron . The Mk. IX were only replaced by the jet-powered Republic F-84G Thunderjet. 
In 1949, the Royal Norwegian Air Force acquired more than 30 Spitfire Mk. IX plus three Spitfire PR. XI, which was a reconnaissance variant of the Mk. IX. The PR.XI formed a special photo-reconnaissance flight which employed the PR.XI until March 1954 when the unit was renamed to 717 Fotorekognoseringsving and were re-equipped with the Republic RF-84E (the recon variant of the F-84E).
A total of 68 Spitfires flew with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and received the registration codes A-AB to A-AZ, A-BA to AB-Z and A-CA to A-CW.

The three PR. XIs were initially designated A-ZA to A-ZZ but their designations soon changed to A-ZA, A-ZB and A-ZC.

Sources:
1st AJ Press- Monografie Lotnicze 40 - Supermarine Spitfire 3
2nd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._331_Squadron_RNoAF

3rd http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/331_wwII.html

4th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._332_Squadron_RNoAF

5th http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/332_wwII.html

6th https://www.scramble.nl/planning/orbats/norway/norway-defence-forces-history

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford, part five, various European Users

The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a British twin-engined multi-purpose aircraft which was designed and developed by Airspeed Ltd. With more than 8.500 exemplars manufactured, it saw service with many countries all around the globe. Among them, the following ones:

• Norway: From 1947 until 1953, when they written off, the Royal Norwegian Air Force had a total of 22 Oxfords serving in three squadrons (Nos. 333, 334 and 335). Four aircraft were sold between 1951 to 1953 to the Norwegian airline Wideroe which employed the aircraft for photo-surveying Norwegian territories in a commission for the Norwegian Geographical Society. Eventually only three of them were sold with the fourth one not being registered as sold and was hold by the Royal Norwegian Air Force for spare parts. The aircraft were taken out of service in 1960 and were used at Fornebu, Oslo, as target practice.
• Poland: At least one unit of the Polish Air Force in exile had some Oxfords in their rows. Among them there was the No.16 (Polish) Flying Training School which from July 1941 until December 1946 employed them as trainers at RAF Newton, in Nottinghamshire.
• Portugal: Both Portuguese Army and Navy received six Oxfords in 1943 as part of the Operation Oatmeal (thanks to which the Allied set up bases in the Azores islands). When the Portuguese Air Force was formed in 1952, there were still four of them in active service. 
• Sweden: The Swedish charter airline Transair Sweden AB had three Airspeed Oxford in 1950 as part of their fleet. They were used with the aim of flying newspapers from Stockholm to other parts of Sweden. They served until September 1955 and December 1959.
• Yugoslavia: Five Oxford were obtained from Norway, via H.A. Berg, under the mutual Defence Aid Programme in 1951. They were used by an unknown unit based at Pancevo as twin-engined trainers for the De Havilland Mosquito crews. They were withdrawn from service in 1958.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspeed_Oxford#Operators

2. https://www.wikiwand.com/no/Airspeed_Oxford (translated)

3. https://codenames.info/operation/oatmeal/

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transair_Sweden

5. http://transairsweden.com/aircraft/airspeed/

6. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7160847?descriptiontype=Full&ref=AIR+29/570

7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Newton

8. http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/yugo/af2/types/trainers.htm

To know more about the Oxford in Norway:

1. https://flyblader.com/onewebmedia/Nr%2012%20Oxford.pdf (in Norwegian)

Messerschmitt Bf.108, part three

The Messerschmitt Bf.108 was a German single-engine sports and touring aircraft that was used by many countries all around the globe. Among many users, it was also used by the next ones:

• Brazil: At least one was used by Viaçao Aerea Rio-Grandese (VARIG) airline during the 1930s and was most probably used as a VIP transport.
• Chile: One Bf.108 was purchased directly to Messerschmitt by the Chilean senator Carlos del Campo in the mid-to-late 1930s. After a brief period of using it as his personal transport, he sold it to LAN (Linea Aérea Nacional - National Airline) who operated the aircraft as a VIP transport and was painted with the colours depicted below. With the outbreak of World War 2, as spare parts became a problem, it was sold again to another unknown customer who kept it left to rot in a barn. In the mid 1960s some Chilean air enthusiasts tried to buy the plane but the owner sold it to some North American customer. It was then when the trace of this Bf.108 vanished. According to some people it was sent to the USA where it was repainted and restored to flying condition, while some other claim that it was repainted and shown in a museum. However, the real fate of the aircraft is still a mystery.
• Czechoslovakia: The Czechoslovak Air Force operated some ex-German exemplars after the War. They were renamed as K-70 and served with the Transport Squadron based at Prague's Kbely airbase.
• Japan: The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service bought some few Bf.108 for testing purposes. They were assigned to the Army Aviation Experimental Centre in Japan, where they were tested during the 1930s. After testing they decided to not order them and they were passed on to Manchukuo, their main puppet state in Asia.
• Manchukuo: From 1936 until 1940 the Manchukuo National Airways (MKKK) (which in spite of its name was a paramilitary organisation) used some Bf.108 ceded from Japan for light transport and reconnaissance duties. 
• Norway: It seems that some few ex-German machines were used by the Royal Norwegian Air Force during the post-war period. As we couldn't find graphical evidence, the colours should be considered speculative.
• Poland: The Polish Central Staff for the Aviation League operated some ex-German Bf.108 during the post-war period. It was also used by the Polish Internal Security Corps which was the Polish counterpart of the Soviet NKVD.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_108

2. http://www.warbirdalley.com/bf108.htm

3. Wydawnictwo Militaria 149 - Messerschmitt Bf-108 Taifun

4. https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=347