No. 329 Squadron RAF

No. 329 Squadron RAF (French language: 329 Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres) was a Royal Air Force fighter squadron founded upon the personnel and traditions of the French 1/2 fighter squadron Storks (Escadron de Chasse 1/2 Cigognes), having markings "5A" 1944-1945.

During the period of the Second World War, a large number of the squadrons of RAF were manned by personnel from countries which had been overwhelmed by German military expansionism. This French Air Force unit was an amalgamation of the two flights SPA 3 and SPA 103, which had been two of the more illustrious units of the Great War. The squadron distinguished itself during the Battle of France in 1940 but was disbanded in August 1940, after the fall of France. It was re-formed in July 1941, flying Dewoitine D.520 aircraft. In May 1942, its transfer to North Africa was begun. In November 1942, Operation Torch opened and gave the squadron and other French forces in North Africa, the opportunity to join the Free French Forces. At the end of 1943, it was embarked in HMS King George V, arriving in Ayr, Scotland in January 1944. Once assembled there, on 5 January, the former escadron became 329 Squadron RAF.

After assembling at Ayr, it moved to Perranporth, in Cornwall, UK, to begin equipping with Spitfire Vs. By March, these had been replaced by mark IXs. Becoming operational on 1 March, by which time the mark Vs had been withdrawn. The squadron joined No. 415 Wing Free French units of 2nd Tactical Air Force on 14 April and provided cover for the D Day landings in Normandy in the following June. At this stage, its commanding officer was Lieutenant-colonel (Wing commander) Fleurquin. In August, it moved to Sommervieu, near Bayeux in Normandy, under the command of Capitaine (Flight lieutenant) Ozanne. As a squadron of a tactical wing, it specialized in ground attack of troop movements, road and river supply convoys and V-weapon launch sites. However, the job included air-to-air combat, and after it had moved forward into the Low Countries in September, it met its first jet-propelled opposition in December, 1944. In March 1945, No. 329 returned to the UK. It was stationed at Turnhouse. In May 1945, it was moved to the West of England but fifteen of its aircraft participated in the Victory fly-past in Paris on 14th July 1945. It was disbanded in the UK, at Fairwood Common on 17 November 1945.

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