Also known as "Druga eskadrila NOVJ" (2nd Squadron of People's Liberating Army of Yugoslavia), the No. 351 (Y) Squadron RAF was formed on 1 July 1944 at Benina in Libya as third unit within RAF manned with flight and ground personnel of Yugoslav nationality. The other two units were Yugoslav "B" Flight of No. 94 Sqn RAF and No. 352 (Y) Sqn RAF both equipped with Spitfires.
Upon its formation No. 351 (Y) Sqn was equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk IICs in the fighter-bomber role. In September the squadron was re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk IV(RP)s and moved to Cannae, Italy, where it joined No. 281 Wing RAF as part of Balkan Air Force (BAF).
According to the agreement between Allies and leader of Yugoslav Partisans Josip Broz Tito, Yugoslav manned Squadrons within RAF were to be used only over Yugoslav territory in support of NOVJ operations against Axis forces. The squadron used an forward operating base on the island of Vis and from February 1945 was also able to make use of forward bases on the Yugoslav coast.
Squadron was organized by the war formation prescribed for mobile fighter squadron RAF, with two flights of 8 Hawker Hurricanes each. Flying and technical personnel consisted of airmen from the former Royal Yugoslav Air Force who joined NOVJ and staff from the First Air Base NOVJ. The first combat operation of the squadron was on 23 October 1944.
The first squadron commander was Captain Aleksandar Cenić, the commander of "A" flight was Lieutenant Stanislav Vouk and the commander of "B" flight was Captain Francis Jež. During the war the squadron lost 23 aircraft with 4 pilots killed in action, among them the squadron commander.
Over the course of nine months of the war, No. 351 (Y) Squadron RAF carried out 226 combat operations with 971 take offs. These tasks included supporting troops in Yugoslavia, fighter protection and reconnaissance. Cannae, Vis and Zemunik airfields were used.
On 5 April 1945 the whole squadron moved to what had been their forward base in Yugoslavia, airfield Prkos, from where it continued to operate until it was disbanded from RAF on 16 May 1945. On 18 May 1945 "Prvi vazduhoplovni lovački puk JA" (1st Fighter Regiment of Yugoslav Air Force) was formed from former No. 351 and No. 352 RAF Squadrons.
Aircraft variant used by No. 351 Squadron:
Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC: July 1944 - September 1944
Hawker Hurricane Mk IV(RP): September 1944 - June 1945
Pictures
Unfortunately I wasn't able to find picture of this particular Hurricane which model I wish to build or any Yugoslav Mk IIC for that matter. So, here are few pictures of Hurricane Mk IV(RP)s serving with No 351 (Y) Sqn found on various websites on the internet. Last surviving Hurricane Mk IV(RP) of No. 351 (Y) Sqn is now displayed at Aeronautical Museum in Belgrade. The photo of this Hurricane was taken during my last visit there in 2007.