Exeter Airport was opened to traffic on 31st May 1937.
The airport had always been intended for use by the military in the event of war, and on 3rd September 1939 the airport was taken over by the Air Ministry. At the end of November 1940 the still secret, Westland Whirlwind's of 263 Squadron arrived.
The large numbers of Czechs arriving in this country made it possible to form no less than four complete RAF squadrons. The fourth and last Czech squadron was No 313, a fighter unit equipped with Spitfires which formed at Catterick on 10 May 1941. The squadron was declared operational the following month and was transferred Fighter Command 10 Group,
By June 1942, 312 Czech Squadron was based at RAF Exeter.
The Czechoslovak Spitfire Wing at Exeter during 1942 312 , 310 and 313 Squadron.
Exeter was also used as the base for sending agents over to France; a curtained limousine would arrive at the far edge of the airfield where the passengers were transferred to a waiting Lysander, which then took off and headed for occupied France. The Lysanders based at two, secret locations, would commence their missions from RAF airfields such as Exeter.
Thanks to the Czech film company for this rare colour footage.

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