No. 608 Squadron RAF
| No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 17 March 1930 – 31 July 1944 1 August 1944 – 24 August 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Part of | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Nickname(s) | "Thornaby's own" |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Omnibus ungulis (Translation: "With all talons") |
| Battle honours | Channel & North Sea, 1939 Baltic, 1941–42 Mediterranean, 1942–43 Sicily, 1943 Anzio & Nettuno France & Germany, 1944–45 German Ports, 1944–45 These seven honours are all emblazoned on the squadron standard |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Air Commodore | Viscount Swinton (1934–1957) |
| Notable commanders |
Denis Finlay (1943-1944) |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A falcon's leg, erased, belled and fessed The falcon's leg indicates the squadron's readiness to go into the air at any time and attack tooth and nail |
| Squadron Codes |
PG (Oct 1938 – Sep 1939) UL (Sep 1939 – 1942) 6T (1944 – 1945,1949 – Apr 1951) RAO (May 1946 – 1949) |
No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. 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.
No. 608 Squadron was formed at Thornaby-on-Tees, 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 squadron's 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 Ansons.
The squadron started the war flying the Anson. In June 1940, it began the process of transferring to the Blackburn Botha torpedo bomber. These were found to be unsatisfactory, and by December 1940 the squadron was using it's Avro Ansons. These soldiered on until February 1941, when Bristol Blenheim Mk.IVs arrived. However, these were soon replaced by Lockheed Hudsons, which the squadron flew from bases in Scotland, North Africa and Italy until 31 July 1944, when it was disbanded at Pomigliano, Italy.
The squadron was reformed on 1 August 1944 at RAF Downham Market, Norfolk as a Mosquito squadron in No 8 (Pathfinder) Groups Light Night Striking Force. It continued to fly in this role, carrying out night attacks on Germany. On 2 May 1945, a mosquito from 608 squadron dropped a 4,000lb bomb on the naval port at Kiel. It was the last British bombing raid of the war against Nazi Germany.
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