Norwegian 331 squadron by knupps
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Made new textures to Bazze`s spitfire to show the markings of FN-T, from the Norwegian 331 squadron.
History
It was formed as a fighter squadron at RAF Catterick in Yorkshire on 21 July 1941. The squadron personnel were Norwegian with the exception of some of the ground crew and the Commanding Officer. At first it was equipped with fairly war worn Hawker Hurricane Mk 1s which had to be rebuilt after being inherited from the Polish squadron, becoming operational on 15 September. It provided defence for Northern Scotland, moving to Castletown on 21 August and later to RAF Skeabrae. In May 1942 it moved south to RAF North Weald, having re-equipped with Spitfires in November 1941.
331 Squadron (RAF squadron code FN, legend has it that "FN" was an abbreviation for "First Norwegian" or "For Norway") was soon joined by a second Norwegian Squadron 332 Squadron, also flying Spitfires, becoming North Weald Wing.
331 continued to operate as part of the North Weald Wing until November 1943 when the Wing was transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force and became No. 132 Airfield (later No. 132 Wing). It participated in the Allied air umbrella over the landing area in the Dieppe Raid, and later flying fighter sweeps and escort operations over occupied France and the Low Countries.
Following several preparatory operations in connection with the invasion, the squadron participated in the Normandy Landings as fighter bombers and tactical air superiority fighters, moving to Caen, France in August 1944. From September onwards 132 Wing participated in the Liberation of Holland and took part in the crossing of the Rhine (Operation Plunder).
On 24 April 1945, the squadron was transferred to North Weald and later to RAF Dyce in Scotland, where the 331 and 332 converted to Spitfire MK XVI and MK IXe. In the following month the squadrons transferred to Norway. On September 21, 1945, 331 squadron was disbanded as an RAF unit, and passed to the control of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
Between them during the war, 331 and 332 Squadrons scored 180 confirmed destroyed, 35 probables and more than 100 damaged. Combined losses were 131 aircraft lost with 71 pilots killed.

Comments (11)
Great modeling and render wonderful history
This is an superb modeling, congratulations!
Awesome work
Beautifully done Knut. Yes, Isnt it fun to make texture?
Wonderful model and great history !
Nice texture and great history.
many Information about this one - looks excellent
Great work... Good History as well, my friend.. I knew there was a very strong influence at North Weald as a base for Norwegian Squadrons as there was reunion there recently.. Some old pilots from WW2 were flown back over from Norway escorted by two F-16's! Hurricanes and Spits were there as well... Good one! Rob
Hey, looks great. The grey/green scheme is my favorite spit scheme. One thing that would drive me nuts, however, is the wrong-way turning prop. Would Bazze be open to reversing that, you think? The flaps should also be almost perpendicular to the bottom of the wing, or full up, it had no intermediate settings. After all the nitpicking, however, that is still a very tempting model.
Wow! Love the story, excellent work.
Nice texture job, a great history too...thanks Knut.