Wilhelm Mohr

Wilhelm Mohr. On World War II
nons. This was done before the squadron was ordered south to North
Weald.
332 Squadron in Yorkshire
332 (N) Squadron at Catterick began using Spitfire II and then, like
331, changed to Spitfire VB. The squadron did mostly convoy protection
and occasional air defence interceptions, partly operating out of
West Hartlepool. Here the first success and the first loss were registered
before the squadron joined 331 at North Weald on 19 June.
Once the Battle of Britain August-October 1940 and the Blitz September
1940 – May 1941 were over, Fighter Command turned to
offensive strategy, in cooperation with Bomber Command which so far
had represented the offensive part of RAF operations. Soon the US 8
Air Force joined in with its day operations. Germany and the Luftwaffe
were not to be given peace at any time.
In general the task of the air offensive was to cause damage to the
German war potential; in particular to cause losses to the Luftwaffe and
tie up its forces in Western Europe thus relieving the Eastern Front
now that Germany had attacked USSR. Simultaneously it was to cause
damage to the industries of France, Belgium and Holland that worked
for Germany and to the communications in these countries that supported
the German war effort.
These Allied offensive operations were considered a most welcome
and important encouragement to the people of Britain after the ordeals
of the German attacks.
Bombers attacking targets on the Continent and Germany proper
needed protection. An invasion of the Continent would require theatre
air superiority.
The Norwegian Wing in Fighter Command.
In the following section the two squadrons – the «Norwegian Wing»
or just «The Norwegians» as they were often called within the Royal
Air Force – are dealt with as an entity.
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