| No. 68 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active |
|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | inactive |
| Role | Fighter |
| Mottos | Czech:Vždy připraven (Always ready)[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Badge | A tawny owl's head couped[2] |
| Squadron Codes | WM (1943–1944)[3] |
| Squadron Roundel |  |
The nameNo. 68 Squadron has been used for two quite different units, only one of which was strictly a unit of theRoyal Air Force. "No. 68 Squadron RFC" was for a time the official British military designation for No. 2 SquadronAustralian Flying Corps.
No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps was formed atHeliopolis,Egypt in 1916.[4] For a while it was known to the British military as "No. 68 Squadron RFC" - according to some accounts in order to avoid confusion withNo. 2 Squadron, RFC. This designation was never accepted by the squadron or theAustralian Imperial Force, and was in fact officially dropped by the British by early 1918, before the formation of the RAF.
Initially equipped withAirco DH.5 aircraft, the unit's main role with these aircraft was the strafing of hostile trenches. In January 1918 the unit was re-equipped withS.E.5a fighters, which it retained for the rest of the war. The squadron claimed 77 enemy aircraft destroyed.[5] It remained in Europe until 28 February 1919 when it was disbanded.
DuringWorld War II, a new No. 68 squadron (the first RAF squadron to actually bear the number) was formed atRAF Catterick on 7 January 1941 as anight fighter squadron equipped withBristol Blenheims and became operational on 7 April before moving toHigh Ercall. In May 1941 No. 68 converted toBristol Beaufighters and in March 1942 it moved toRAF Coltishall inNorfolk. In July 1944 the Squadron converted tode Havilland Mosquitos.
From July 1941 No. 68 Squadron always had a strong element ofCzechoslovak airmen in exile, with up to eight flying crews consisting entirely of Czechoslovak personnel. Oneflight of the squadron was Czechoslovak. Notable pilots includedflying aceMiloslav Mansfeld, who as a Beaufighter pilot shot down numerousLuftwaffe bombers and as a Mosquito pilot shot down twoV-1 flying bombs. From October 1943 Mansfeld commanded the squadron's "A" flight.[6]
The poetJames Farrar was a Pilot Officer of 68 Squadron. On the night of 25/26 July 1944,Flt Lt Fred Kemp, with Farrar as navigator, failed to return after being directed to intercept aV-1 flying bomb over theThames Estuary. Kemp's body was later recovered; Farrar was never found.[7][8]
Both the Czechoslovak element and the squadron's night fighter service were honoured in 1944 whenAir Chief MarshalCharles Steele presented a badge to the squadron that shows an owl's head and has the Czech mottoVždy připraven – "Always prepared" or "Always ready".[2][9]
No. 68 Squadron was deactivated on 20 April 1945 with the personnel joining various other units includingNo. 125 Squadron RAF.
On 1 January 1952 the squadron was re-formed as a night-fighter unit atRAF Wahn inWest Germany. It flewGloster Meteors until renumbered asNo. 5 Squadron RAF on 20 January 1959.
| International | |
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| National | |
