Formation Formed on 1 June 1940 at
RAF Pembroke Dock, after flying from the
Netherlands in eight
Fokker T.VIIIW twin-engined patrol seaplanes, as part of
Coastal Command. The squadron flew coastal and
anti-submarine patrols in the Fokkers until they became unserviceable due to lack of spares and were re-equipped with
Ansons in August 1940 and supplemented in October with
Hudsons. Due to insufficient personnel, the squadron absorbed
No. 321 (Netherlands) Squadron on 18 January 1941.
To Bomber Command The squadron moved to
RAF Leuchars on 1 October 1941, re-equipped with Hudson IIIs, flying patrols and anti-shipping attacks in the
North Sea. Detachments were located at
RAF Silloth and
RAF Carew Cheriton until 24 April 1942 when the squadron moved to
RAF Bircham Newton. The squadron was reassigned to
Bomber Command and loaned to
No.2 Group on 15 March 1943. The squadron was re-equipped with
Mitchells during spring 1943 and moved to
RAF Methwold.
In the 2nd Tactical Air Force On 30 March 1943, the squadron moved to
RAF Attlebridge, then was reassigned to
Second Tactical Air Force on 1 June with the squadron attacking enemy communications targets and airfields. The squadron relocated to
RAF Lasham on 30 August and to
RAF Dunsfold on 18 February 1944. From these airfields the squadron participated in many "
Ramrod" and "
Noball" operations and bombing attacks on construction works, railway yards, fuel dumps and
V-1 flying bomb sites in the North of France, in advance of
Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 (D-Day). After D-Day the bombing of tactical targets continued and changed from France to the Dutch coast of
Zeeland, and in September 1944 the squadron was involved in bombing German troops in the surroundings of
Arnhem during
Operation Market Garden, the
attempt by airborne troops to take the bridge. In September the squadron started bombing targets in Germany along the
Rhine for the advancing allied troops. In October 1944 the squadron was transferred to
Melsbroek (B.58), in Belgium. From there the bombing of bridges and airfields in the east of the Netherlands and Germany continued. During 1943 and 1944 the squadron took heavy losses. On 30 April 1945 the squadron moved to
Advanced Landing Ground B.110 at
Achmer, Lower Saxony in Germany.
Back home The squadron was passed to the control of the
Dutch Naval Aviation Service (
Marine Luchtvaart Dienst) on 2 August 1945, keeping the same squadron number
No. 320 Squadron MLD. The squadron was disbanded in 2005, due to budget cuts. ==Aircraft operated==