No. 322 Squadron RNLAF | |
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Active | 12 June 1943 – 7 October 1945 27 September 1946 – October 1949 1951 – 1962 April 1964 – present |
Country | Netherlands |
Branch | Royal Netherlands Air Force |
Type | Active |
Role | Swing-role fighter squadron |
Part of | Air Combat Command |
Garrison/HQ | Leeuwarden Air Base |
Motto(s) | Dutch: Niet praten maar doen ("Actions, not words" or "Don't prattle, act") |
Mascot(s) | Polly Grey,[1] the parrot |
Equipment | F-35A Lightning II |
No. 322 Squadron is the oldest operational squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). It currently operates the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II from Leeuwarden Air Base, Friesland.
It was originally founded at RAF Woodvale, United Kingdom, on 12 June 1943 as No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron with Dutch personnel under Royal Air Force control. At the end of the war, 322e Jachtvliegtuig Afdeling of the Royal Netherlands Army was formed from the RAF squadron. Between 1980 and 2021, No. 322 Squadron flew the Fokker F-16A/B Fighting Falcon. It performed, much like the other Dutch F-16 units, a dual 'swing role' task: having both ground support and interceptor duties.