No. 268 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 268 Squadron RAF was a Second World War Royal Air Force
squadron that operated the North American Mustang
on missions over occupied Europe and in support of the D-Day landings.
operating the Short 184 and Short 320 torpedo carrying floatplanes. It operated patrols in the mediterranean until the end of the First World War and was disbanded on the 11 October 1919.
On the 30 November 1940 the squadron reformed at RAF Bury St.Edmunds with the Westland Lysander
. It first flew anti-invasion sorties along the English coastline but the primary role was tactical reconnaissance. The squadron deployed to RAF Penshurst from 4 to 8 August 1941. It started operations with the Curtiss Tomahawk
in October 1941 but these were replaced in April 1942 with the more capable North American Mustang
. It converted to the Hawker Typhoon
in July 1944 and continued to support the D-Day landings with tactical reconnaissance sorties. However, these proved unsuitable, and were replaced by Mustang MkII aircraft by Nov 1944. A further change in aircraft was effected in Sept 1945 when the Mustangs were replaced by Spitfire XIV
. The squadron acquired Spitfire IXs from 16 Squadron
only to be disbanded on 19 September 1945 when it was re-numbered to 16 Squadron.
Shortly afterwards on 26 October 1945 the former 487 Squadron was re-numbered as 268 Squadron. Based at Cambrai/Epinoy it was equipped with the twin-engined de Havilland Mosquito FB6
for use in the light bomber role before being finally dibanded on 31 March 1946.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
squadron that operated the North American Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
on missions over occupied Europe and in support of the D-Day landings.
History
The squadron was formed in August 1918 at Kalafrana, Malta from No. 433 and 434 Flights of the Royal Naval Air ServiceRoyal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
operating the Short 184 and Short 320 torpedo carrying floatplanes. It operated patrols in the mediterranean until the end of the First World War and was disbanded on the 11 October 1919.
On the 30 November 1940 the squadron reformed at RAF Bury St.Edmunds with the Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
. It first flew anti-invasion sorties along the English coastline but the primary role was tactical reconnaissance. The squadron deployed to RAF Penshurst from 4 to 8 August 1941. It started operations with the Curtiss Tomahawk
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
in October 1941 but these were replaced in April 1942 with the more capable North American Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
. It converted to the Hawker Typhoon
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
in July 1944 and continued to support the D-Day landings with tactical reconnaissance sorties. However, these proved unsuitable, and were replaced by Mustang MkII aircraft by Nov 1944. A further change in aircraft was effected in Sept 1945 when the Mustangs were replaced by Spitfire XIV
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
. The squadron acquired Spitfire IXs from 16 Squadron
No. 16 Squadron RAF
No. 16 Squadron is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force. It formed in 1915 at Saint-Omer to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance and was disbanded in 1919 with the end of the First World War...
only to be disbanded on 19 September 1945 when it was re-numbered to 16 Squadron.
Shortly afterwards on 26 October 1945 the former 487 Squadron was re-numbered as 268 Squadron. Based at Cambrai/Epinoy it was equipped with the twin-engined de Havilland Mosquito FB6
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
for use in the light bomber role before being finally dibanded on 31 March 1946.
Aircraft operated
| Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918-1919 | Short 184 | Single-engined torpedo seaplane | |
| 1918-1919 | Short 320 | Single-engined torpedo seaplane | |
| 1940-1942 | Westland Lysander Westland Lysander The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War... |
II and then III | Single-engined liaison |
| 1941-1942 | Curtiss Tomahawk Curtiss P-40 The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational... |
IIA | Single-engined fighter |
| 1942-1944 | North American Mustang P-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts... |
I then IA | Single-engined fighter |
| 1944 | Hawker Typhoon Hawker Typhoon The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied... |
FR IB | Single-engined fighter |
| 1944-1945 | North American Mustang | II | |
| 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
XIVe and XIX | Single-engined fighter |
| 1945-1946 | de Havilland Mosquito De Havilland Mosquito The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"... |
VI | Twin-engined light bomber |