Allied Air Force

864 AIRCRAFTS

 

In the sky over Dieppe occured the biggest air battle , after the battle of England, by the number of aircraft involved inside Royal Air Force as well as the duration as it lasted only one morning. This force is composed by 72 squadrons of 12 aircrafts each whose pilots and aircrews belong to different nationalities (England, Canada, Belgium, Norway, Poland, CzechoSlovakia, Australia, New Zealand, United States and France, represented by Squadron 340, Free French namaed « Ile de France » led by Squadron-Leader (commandant) Duperier with a strength of 22 pilots, the other 27 French pilots being shared with several other squadrons. The Free French squadron was equipped with Supermarine « Spitfire  Mk V » and Mk IX.

These 72 squadrons were equipped as follows :

  • 45 fighter squadrons with « Spitfire Mk V »
  • 6 fighter squadrons with  Hawker « Hurricane II C »
  • 2 fighter squadrons  with Hawker « Hurricane II B »
  • 2 fighter squadrons with  « Spitfire IX »
  • 3 fighter squadrons with the first model  Hawker « Typhoon I »
  • 4 fighter squadrons with the first model P 51 « Mustang »
  • 9 bomber squadrons and smoke screen layers with « Blenheim IV »
  • As well as « Beaufighter »
  • 1 Air Seau Rescue squadron with « Walrus » and « Defiant »

SEVERAL CORPS WERE ATTACHED TO THESE MAIN UNITS

  • Royal Artillery of Canada
  • Canadian Royal Engineers
  • Royal Signals
  • The Calgary Highlanders
  • The Toronto Scottish Regiment
  • Royal Canadian Intendancy
  • Royal Canadian Service Corps
  • Royal Canadian Health Service
  • Royal Canadian Military Stores
  • Canadian Provost Marshal Service
  • Canadian Intelligence Service Corp