RNoAF Patch Royal Norwegian Air Force 132 Air Wing F 16 Afganistan

RNoAF Patch Royal Norwegian Air Force 132 Air Wing Luftving Luftforsvaret F 16 Ops RNoAF Bodo Main Air Base 2006 Kabul Afghanistan

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RNoAF 132 Air Wing Patch Royal Norwegian Air Force Luftving Luftforsvaret F 16

 

Badge Gold hand winged from the wrist facing left holding white sword all around a Viking circular shield

Motto Klar til strid Norwegian Ready for the battle

Name

History

WWII

North Weald Norwegian Wing 1942

331 Norwegian Squadron formed on 21 July 1941 was reassigned to 11 Group of Fighter Command and relocated to RAF North Weald in May 1942 tasked with fighter air defence of the South East of England.

A second Norwegian volunteer pilot Squadron 332 Norwegian Squadron achieved operational status on 21 March 1942 and relocated to RAF North Weald in June 1942 joining 331 Norwegian Squadron under 11 Group of Fighter Command. The two Norwegian Squadrons became known as North Weald Norwegian Wing. 331 Norwegian Squadron received Spitfire Mk IXb fighter aircraft in March 1942 retiring its last Sptitfire Mk Vb in August 1942.

North Weald Norwegian Wings 331 and 332 Norwegian Squadrons provided fighter cover for Operation Jubilee the Commando raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942 and was tasked with fighter and escort operations over France and the Low Countries. 331 Norwegian Squadron reequipped with Spitfire Mk IXe fighter aircraft in October 1942.

132 Norwegian Airfield 1943

331 Norwegian Squadron and 332 Norwegian Squadron were moved from Fighter Command to the newly formed 2nd Tactical Air Force 2nd TAF on 1 November 1943 to prepare for the Invasion of Europe. Due to the planned use of temporary field airstrips for fighter Squadrons following the Invasion an air wing 132 Norwegian Airfield was activated at North Weald on 1 November 1943 under 2nd TAF with both 331 Norwegian Squadron and 332 Norwegian Squadron assigned. 132 Norwegian Airfield was assigned the British manned 66 Squadron in March 1944 in addition to the two Norwegian Squadrons.

331 Norwegian Squadron reequipped with Spitfire Mk IX LF fighter aircraft in March 1944. 132 Norwegian Airfield with its Squadrons relocated to RAF Bognor on the Channel coast in April 1944 for attacks against German targets on the French Channel coast in preparation for the invasion.

132 Norwegian Wing 1944

132 Norwegian Airfield was redesignated 132 Norwegian Wing on 12 May 1944 and moved to RAF Tangmere at the beginning of June for Invasion operations. 132 Norwegian Wings Squadrons provided fighter cover and ground attack for the landings on D Day and the consolidation following. 331 Squadron reequipped with Spitfire Mk IXb fighter aircraft in July 1944. 132 Norwegian Wing was assigned 127 Squadron on 23 July 1944 which operated with a number of Norwegian pilots.. The Wing relocated to RAF Funtingdon on 6 August 1944 and moved to RAF Ford on 13 August 1944.

The Wing moved to its first forward operating airfield Villons les Buissons B 16 in Cean Normandy France on 20 August 1944. 132 Norwegian Wing moved up through France behind ground troops providing ground attack fighter bomber cover locating to Camp Neuseville B 33 on 6 September 1944 and Lille Wambrechies B 57 on 11 September providing fighter cover for Operation Market Garden 17 September 1944 and the push into the Netherlands. The Wing moved into Belgium operating from Grimbergen B 60 from 6 October 1944.

132 Norwegian Wing 331 Norwegian Squadron and 332 Norwegian Squadron moved into the Netherlands relocating to Hoogerheide B 79 on 22 December 1944. 132 Norwegian Wing was assigned 322 Netherlands Squadron manned by Dutch volunteers on 3 January 1945.The Wing moved to Schijndel B 85 on 18 February 1945 and provided fighter air cover for Operation Plunder the crossing of the Rhine at Wesel which commenced on 23 March 1945.

The Wing moved to its final forward operating airfield at Lonneker West B 106 Twente Enschede on 18 April 1945 where 349 Belgian Squadron manned by Belgian volunteers and 485 Squadron RNZAF manned by New Zealand volunteers were assigned.

132 Norwegian Wing with 331 Norwegian Squadron and 332 Norwegian Squadron were relieved on 30 April 1945 relocating to RAF North Weald to prepare for the invasion of Norway. 331 Norwegian Squadron and 332 Norwegian Squadron aircraft and equipment was left at Lonneker West B 106 and Squadron crews were transported back to the UK. 66 Squadron and 127 Squadron were disbanded on 30 April 1945. 322 Netherlands Squadron and 349 Belgian Squadron were reassigned to 131 Polish Wing on 30 April 1945. 485 Squadron RNZAF was reassigned to 145 French Wing.

132 Wing with 331 and 332 Norwegian Squadrons relocated to RAF Dyce Scotland on 22 April 1945 to be closer to Norway. 331 Norwegian Squadron upgraded to Spitfire Mk IXe fighter aircraft. The Squadron moved to Gardermoen Airfield on 22 May 1945 following the German surrender and established a detachment at Stavanger.

132 Norwegian Wing with 331 Norwegian Squadron and 332 Norwegian Squadron were handed to the newly formed Royal Norwegian Air Force on 21 November 1945 as the RAF withdrew from Norway.  331 Norwegian Squadron and 332 Norwegian Squadron were disbanded the same day 21 November 1945 with their aircraft put into storage. The wing was disbanded at Kjevik Airfield on 25 November 1945. To honour its achievements during the War the Royal Norwegian Air Force was permitted to retain its RAF Squadron and Wing numbers.

132 Air Wing Luftving Station Group 2002

Due to the increased NATO tasking the RNoAF underwent a major reorganisation including the introduction of a Wing level command structure based on 132 Norwegian Wing formed under the RAF during WWII. 132 Air Wing Luftving Station Group was activated at Bodo Main Air Base in August 2002 to control RNoAF units based at Bodo Main Air Station. The wing was assigned the RNoAF F 16AM MLU and F 16 BM MLU Fighting Falcon Squadrons 331 Skv 332 Skv and 334 Skv  together with the 330 Skv Squadron Search and Rescue Sea King Mk 43B Detachment at Station Group Banak and the Bodo Main AS base services including Base Operations Group Aircraft Maintenance Group Air Logistics Base Base Defence Squadron and the Ground Based Air Defence GBAD Battalion equipped with Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System NASAMS and NASAMS 2 batteries.

132 Luftving was assigned to the Luftkommando Nord Norge Northern Air Command. RNoAF Air Commands were reduced from four to two on 15 January 1963 with Luftkommando Nord Norge retained and Luftkommando Trøndelag Trondelag Air Command Luftkommando Østlandet Eastern Air Command and Luftkommando Vestlandet Western Air Command disbanded and a new Luftkommando Sor Norge Southern Air Command activated. Air Stations were reallocated to the two Air Commands with Luftkommando Nord Norge retained responsibilty for Andoya AS Bardufoss AS Bodo MAS and Banak AS and was assigned Rygge AS from Luftkommando Østlandet. Luftkommando Sor Norge Southern Air Command took over Orland AS and Værnes AS from Luftkommando Trøndelag Trondelag Air Command Gardermoen AS from Luftkommando Østlandet Eastern Air Command Sola AS from Luftkommando Vestlandet western Air Command on 15 January 1963.

RNoAF established Wings at all its Air Stations using number series running from 131 with 131 Air Wing at Sørreisa 133 Air Wing at Andøya Air Station 134 Air Wing at Sola Air Station 135 Air Wing at Gardermoen Air Station 137 Air Wing at Rygge Air Station and 139 Air Wing at Bardufoss Air Station.

RNoAF activated the Forsvarets Logistikk Organisasjon FLO Armed Forces Logistic Organisation in 2002 to deal with procurement distribution and control of supply maintenance transport warehouse terminal and workshop operation services for the Wings.

132 Air Wing Station Group was tasked to maintain its assigned units for combat readiness and to provide two F 16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from its Squadrons on 24 hour Quick Reaction Alert QRA readiness for air defence interception of the northern NATO flank. The Wing provided support for E-3A AWACS of the NATO Early Warning and Control Force NAEW&CF Forward Operating Location detachment. With its facilities and the vast airspace and ranges surrounding it Orland Main AS hosts various exercises throughout the year including the NATO Air Meet the Nordic Air Meet and Fighter Weapon Instructor Training FWIT.

The Wings 331 Skv Squadron and 332 Skv Squadron F 16 Fighting Falcon MLU upgrade allowed ground attack tasking to be undertaken in addition to Air Defence. The Wings Squadrons deployed F 16 Fighting Falcon aircraft on Operation Enduring Freedom from Manas AB Kyrgyzstan in 2002 and 2003 and ISAF Operations from Kabul AB Afghanistan in 2006.

RNoAF pooled all F 16 Fighting Falcon aircraft into the Forsvarets Logistikk Organisasjon FLO Armed Forces Logistic Organisation in 2006. F 16 aircraft were assigned to Squadrons according to need. Ground Based Air Defence GBAD Battalion reequipped with Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System 2 NASAM 2 systems in 2007.

The Wings Squadrons again deployed F 16 Fighting Falcon aircraft Air Policing Baltic States from Siauliai AB Lithuania in 2007 2008. The Wing deployed six F 16s from 331 and 332 Squadron to Souda Air Base Crete in March 2011 for Operation Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector the air war to aid the uprising against the Gaddafi Regime in Libya. By the end of the campaign in July 2011 the RNoAF F 16 aircraft had undertaken 596 missions and dropped over 550 bombs including the bombing of Muammar Gaddafis headquarters.

With the introduction of the F 35A Lightning II RNoAF decided to close Bodo Main Air Station and move fighter operations to Ørland Main Air Station which was upgraded and modernised. RNoAF began to deploy pilots in November 2015 to USAF 62 Fighter Squadron of 56 Fighter Wing to train on two RNoAF F 35 aircraft at Luke AFB Arizona USA. As with previously purchased aircraft the Royal Norwegian Air Force F 35A aircraft were finished all over in a Norwegian specified high gloss light grey scheme and included drag chutes to assist with landing in icy conditions and to reduce landing distance on short airfields.332 SKV was disbanded on 31 July 2015 pending reactivation to operate the F 35A Lightning aircraft while 331 Skv remained responsible for fighter air defence operations with its F 16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.

132 Luftving Air Wing 2017

132 Air Wing Station Group was redesignated 132 Luftving Air Wing in 2016. 332 Squadron was reactivated assigned to 138 Luftving at Orland Main Air Station under Luftkommando Sor Norge Southern Air Command on 1 August 2017 equipped with F 35 Lightning II fighter aircraft as the first RNoAF Squadron operating the F 35. The Squadron was tasked as the F 35 Operational Training Unit OTU and to establish an F 35 Testing Trening og Taktikk Skvadron Testing Training and Tactics Squadron and an air defence QRA.

In line with the planning for the transition to the F 35A aircraft 132 Luftving took over responsibility of Orland Main Air Station under Luftkommando Sor Norge Southern Air Command on the inactivation of 138 Luftving and 338 Skv on 1 April 2019. 338 Skvs F 16AM Fighting Falcon aircraft were transferred to 331 Skv which remained at Bodo Main AS which became RNoAF last F 16 Squadron. 132 Luftvings took responsibility for the 330 Skv Squadron Search and Rescue Sea King Mk 43B Detachment at Orland Main AS and remained in control of the 330 Skv Detachment at Station Group Banak Bodo. At the same time 332 Skv was reassigned from 138 Luftving to 132 Luftving. 132 Air Wing was assigned the Testing Trening og Taktikk Skvadron Testing Training and Tactics Squadron and took responsibility for the base services including Base Operations Group Aircraft Maintenance Group Air Logistics Base Base Defence Squadron and the Ground Based Air Defence GBAD Battalion equipped with Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System NASAMS and NASAMS 2 batteries. The Wings Air Defence Battalion upgraded to NASAMS III missile system in April 2019.

332 Skv Squadron was achieved First Operational Capability IOC with fifteen F 35A Lightning IIs on 6 November 2019. 132 Air Wings 332 Skv deployed four F 35A Lightning II aircraft and support crews for RNoAF first F 35 overseas operation to Iceland Air Policing and Surveillance at Keflavik AB Iceland on 21 February 2020. 132 Air Wing deployed four 332 Skv F 35A Lightning II aircraft and crews to Keflavik AB Iceland from 22 February to 5 March 2021 for the second RNoAF F 35A Iceland Air Policing and Surveillance mission.

331 Skv disbanded at Bodo Main AS on 6 January 2022 on the retirement of its last F 16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. 332 Skv took over fighter air defence with an F 35A QRA Detachment at Harstad Narvik Evenes Airport to replace the 331 Skv F 16 QRA at Bodo Main AS. 332 Skv again deployed four F 35A Lightning II aircraft and support crews for Iceland Air Policing and Surveillance at Keflavik AB Iceland from 19 January until 9 February 2023. 332 Skv undertook Exercise Arctic Challenge 2023 with 132 Luftving Orland Main Air Station hosting USAF 493 Fighter Squadron equipped with F 35 aircraft on 29 May to 9 June 2023. The large force exercise included Nordic defence scenarios over Norway Finland and Sweden and involved 150 aircraft from fourteen NATO air forces. In addition to small airfield operations 332 Skv began exercises with the Finnish Air Force to land and hot pit refuel their F 35A fighters in September 2023.

331 Skvadron reactivated at Orland Main Air Station on 1 August 2023 under RNoAF 132 Air Wing Luftving equipped with F 35A Lightning II fighter aircraft. In addition to small airfield operations 332 Skv began exercises with the Finnish Air Force to land and hot pit refuel their F 35A fighters in September 2023. 331 SKV deployed for its first F 35 NATO assignment for Iceland Air Policing and Surveillance at Keflavik AB Iceland on 15 January 2024.

This RNoAF 132 Air Wing Patch Royal Norwegian Air Force patch dates from 2006.