No. 608 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 608 Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force squadron
of the Royal Air Force
during World War II
. It flew during its existence as a bomber, fighter and reconnaissance unit and was the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the unsuccessful Blackburn Botha
torpedo bomber.
, North Yorkshire
as No. 608 County of York (North Riding) Squadron, on 17 March 1930 as a day bomber squadron within the Auxiliary Air Force. Its initial equipment was the Avro 504 N and Westland Wapiti
, which the squadron flew until they were replaced with Hawker Demon fighters in January 1937, when the squadrons role was changed to that of a fighter squadron. In May 1937 the name of the squadron was changed to No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron. Shortly before the second world war broke out, on 20 March 1939, the squadrons role was changed yet again, now into that of a general reconnaissance unit flying under RAF Coastal Command
and they were re-equipped for that role with Avro Anson
s.
So the squadron started its role in World War II
flying the Anson and in June 1940 began to re-equip with the Blackburn Botha
torpedo bomber. These were found to be unsatisfactory however and by December 1940 the squadron only had its old Ansons on strength. These soldiered on till February 1941, when Bristol Blenheim
Mk.IVs arrived, soon to be replaced with Lockheed Hudson
s, which the squadron flew from bases in Scotland, North Africa and Italy until 31 July 1944, when it was disbanded for the first time at Pomigliano, Italy.
, Norfolk
as a Mosquito
squadron in No 8 (Pathfinder) Group
s Light Night Striking Force. It continued to fly in this role, carrying out night attacks on Germany, until disbanding on 28 August 1945 at Downham Market.
. It had however no operational aircraft before being redesignated as a night fighter unit in July 1947, when it received Mosquito NF.30
s. These were flown until the squadron changed role yet again, this time to that of a day fighter squadron, receiving Spitfire F.22
s in May 1948. From December 1949 these were gradually replaced with de Havilland Vampire
s, which the squadron flew until, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, it was disbanded on 10 March 1957.
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Royal Air Force
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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It flew during its existence as a bomber, fighter and reconnaissance unit and was the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the unsuccessful Blackburn Botha
Blackburn Botha
-See also:-External links:*...
torpedo bomber.
Formation and early years: Wapitis and Demons
No. 608 Squadron was formed at Thornaby-on-TeesThornaby-on-Tees
Thornaby-on-Tees is a town and civil parish within the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is on the south bank of the River Tees, three miles southeast of Stockton-on-Tees, and four miles southwest of Middlesbrough town centre and has a...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
as No. 608 County of York (North Riding) Squadron, on 17 March 1930 as a day bomber squadron within the Auxiliary Air Force. Its initial equipment was the Avro 504 N and Westland Wapiti
Westland Wapiti
The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service....
, which the squadron flew until they were replaced with Hawker Demon fighters in January 1937, when the squadrons role was changed to that of a fighter squadron. In May 1937 the name of the squadron was changed to No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron. Shortly before the second world war broke out, on 20 March 1939, the squadrons role was changed yet again, now into that of a general reconnaissance unit flying under RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force . Founded in 1936, it was the RAF's premier maritime arm, after the Royal Navy's secondment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937. Naval aviation was neglected in the inter-war period, 1919–1939, and as a consequence the service did not receive...
and they were re-equipped for that role with Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s.
Reconnaissance with Ansons, Bothas, Blenheims and Hudsons
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
flying the Anson and in June 1940 began to re-equip with the Blackburn Botha
Blackburn Botha
-See also:-External links:*...
torpedo bomber. These were found to be unsatisfactory however and by December 1940 the squadron only had its old Ansons on strength. These soldiered on till February 1941, when Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
Mk.IVs arrived, soon to be replaced with Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
s, which the squadron flew from bases in Scotland, North Africa and Italy until 31 July 1944, when it was disbanded for the first time at Pomigliano, Italy.
Pathfinding with Mosquitos
The squadron was reformed on 1 August 1944 at RAF Downham MarketRAF Downham Market
RAF Downham Market was a Royal Air Force airfield in the west of the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom which operated during the second half of World War II.-History:...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
as a 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"...
squadron in No 8 (Pathfinder) Group
No. 8 Group RAF
No. 8 Group RAF was a Royal Air Force group which existed during the final year of World War I and during World War II.-Formation in World War II:...
s Light Night Striking Force. It continued to fly in this role, carrying out night attacks on Germany, until disbanding on 28 August 1945 at Downham Market.
Post-war reformation: Mosquitos, Spitfires and Vampires
No. 608 squadron was reformed on 10 May 1946 at Thornaby in its original role as a light bomber squadron in the Royal Auxiliary Air ForceRoyal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
. It had however no operational aircraft before being redesignated as a night fighter unit in July 1947, when it received Mosquito NF.30
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"...
s. These were flown until the squadron changed role yet again, this time to that of a day fighter squadron, receiving Spitfire F.22
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...
s in May 1948. From December 1949 these were gradually replaced with de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
s, which the squadron flew until, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, it was disbanded on 10 March 1957.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1930 | January 1937 | Westland Wapiti Westland Wapiti The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service.... |
Mk.IIa |
| January 1937 | March 1939 | Hawker Demon | |
| March 1939 | April 1941 | Avro Anson Avro Anson The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was... |
Mk.I |
| June 1940 | December 1940 | Blackburn Botha Blackburn Botha -See also:-External links:*... |
Mk.I |
| February 1941 | August 1941 | Bristol Blenheim Bristol Blenheim The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter... |
Mk.I |
| March 1941 | July 1941 | Bristol Blenheim | Mk.IV |
| July 1941 | July 1944 | Lockheed Hudson Lockheed Hudson The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter... |
Mk.V |
| March 1943 | July 1944 | Lockheed Hudson Lockheed Hudson The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter... |
Mk.VI |
| June 1943 | July 1944 | Lockheed Hudson Lockheed Hudson The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter... |
Mk.IIIa |
| August 1944 | April 1945 | 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"... |
Mk.XX |
| October 1944 | April 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.XXV |
| March 1945 | August 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.XVI |
| July 1947 | January 1949 | de Havilland Mosquito | NF.30 |
| May 1948 | January 1951 | 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... |
F.22 |
| December 1949 | July 1953 | de Havilland Vampire De Havilland Vampire The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served... |
F.3 |
| May 1951 | June 1951 | de Havilland Vampire | F.1 |
| April 1952 | March 1957 | de Havilland Vampire | FB.5 |
| April 1956 | February 1957 | de Havilland Vampire | FB.9 |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 17 March 1930 | 14 January 1942 | RAF Thornaby RAF Thornaby RAF Thornaby was a former RAF Station located at the Teesside town of Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire. The station was created in the mid 1920s and came under the control of No. 18 Group, RAF Coastal Command in 1939. Being used mostly for reconnaissance work, anti shipping strikes, and attacks on... , North Yorkshire North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest... (Det. at RAF Bircham Newton, Dyce) |
| 14 January 1942 | 5 August 1942 | RAF Wick Wick Airport Wick Airport is located north of the town of Wick in Caithness at the north-eastern extremity of the mainland of Scotland. It is owned and maintained by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited.... , Caithness Caithness Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
| 5 August 1942 | 27 August 1942 | RAF Sumburgh RAF Sumburgh RAF Sumburgh was located on the southern tip of the mainland island of the Shetland Islands, and was home to half of No. 404 Squadron RCAF, .... , Shetland, Scotland |
| 27 August 1942 | 14 September 1942 | RAF Gosport Gosport Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months... , Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force... |
| 14 September 1942 | 29 October 1942 | RAF North Coates, Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... |
| 29 October 1942 | 9 November 1942 | en route to North Africa |
| 9 November 1942 | 14 November 1942 | RAF Gibraltar RAF Gibraltar Royal Air Force Station Gibraltar, better known as RAF Gibraltar and formally as North Front, is a Royal Air Force station on Gibraltar. No military aircraft are currently stationed there, but there are regular visits... |
| 14 November 1942 | 6 August 1943 | RAF Blida Blida Airport Blida Airport is an airport in Blida, Algeria .On November 8th, 1942, during World War II, the airport was taken by the British 11th Infantry Brigade. The event was part of the Operation Torch of the North African Campaign.Major A... , Algeria Algeria Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab... |
| 6 August 1943 | 4 September 1943 | Protville Airfield Protville Airfield Protville Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which is located approximately 18 km north of Oued Lill; 25 km north-northwest of Tunis. It was built by United States Army engineers in 1943 during the Tunisian Campaign... , Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area... |
| 4 September 1943 | 23 October 1943 | Borizzo Airfield Borizzo Airfield Borizzo Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, which was located in the vicinity of Trapani on Sicily.- History :... , Sicily Sicily Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,... (Det. at Grottaglie) |
| 23 October 1943 | 23 June 1943 | Montecorvino Airfield, Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
| 23 June 1943 | 31 July 1944 | Pomigliano, Italy |
| 1 August 1944 | 28 August 1945 | RAF Downham Market RAF Downham Market RAF Downham Market was a Royal Air Force airfield in the west of the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom which operated during the second half of World War II.-History:... , Norfolk Norfolk Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county... |
| 10 May 1946 | 16 June 1951 | RAF Thornaby, North Yorkshire |
| 16 June 1951 | 12 July 1951 | RAF Leuchars RAF Leuchars RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:... , Fife Fife Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire... , Scotland |
| 12 July 1951 | 10 March 1957 | RAF Thornaby, North Yorkshire |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| March 1930 | 1932 | S/Ldr. Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... W. Howard-Davies |
| 1932 | December 1934 | S/Ldr. I.W.H. Thomson |
| December 1934 | December 1938 | S/Ldr. G.H. Ambler Geoffrey Ambler Air Vice Marshal Geoffrey Hill Ambler CB, CBE, AFC was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II... |
| December 1938 | May 1941 | W/Cdr. Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries... G. Shaw, DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against... |
| May 1941 | November 1941 | W/Cdr. R.S. Derbyshire |
| November 1941 | February 1943 | W/Cdr. P.D.R. Hutchings, AFC Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"... |
| February 1943 | December 1943 | W/Cdr. C.M.M. Grece, DFC |
| December 1943 | July 1944 | W/Cdr. D.O. Finlay Donald Finlay Group Captain Donald "Don" Osborne Finlay, DFC, AFC was a British athlete and Royal Air Force officer. He was born in Christchurch, Hampshire and died in Great Missenden.-Athletics career:... , DFC |
| August 1944 | November 1944 | W/Cdr. W.W.G. Scott |
| November 1944 | April 1945 | W/Cdr. R.C. Alabaster, DSO Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September... , DFC |
| April 1945 | August 1945 | W/Cdr. K. Gray |
| July 1946 | 1950 | S/Ldr. W.A. Brown, DFC |
| 1950 | 1952 | S/Ldr. F.A. Robinson |
| 1952 | 1955 | S/Ldr. G.A. Martin, DFC, AFC |
| 1955 | March 1957 | S/Ldr. H.D. Costain |