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Motto: "Adjidaumo" (Chippeway Indian) ("Tail in the air")
Badge: A swallow soaring, holding in the claws a tomahawk

History

No 268 Squadron was formed in August 1918 from the seaplane station at Calafrana, Malta from Nos.433 and 434 Flights for anti-submarine patrols in the Central Mediterranean. On 11 October 1919, it was disbanded.

On 30 September 1940, No.268 reformed at Bury St.Edmunds with Lysanders as an army co-operation squadron and during October absorbed A Flight of No.2 squadron and B Flight of No.26 Squadron to form its basis. Dawn patrols along the coast of East Anglia began to be flown in order to locate any traces on enemy landings but the Lysander was obselete for tactical reconnaissance duties and in May 1941 some Tomahawks were received. Though inadaquete as a fighter, these could be used for low-level reconnaissance with a greater chance of survival than the multi purpose Lysanders and in October 1941 missions over northern France began to be flown. In March 1942, Mustangs began to replace both Tomahawks and Laysanders and by August it was fully equipped with Mustangs. Tactical reconnaissance missions increased in numbers and in June 1943, No.268 joined the newly-formed Second TAF in preparation for the invasion of Europe. After being given a course in spotting for naval bombardment in the Clyde, the squadron undertook this task during the landings in Normandy. In July 1944, some Typhoons were added to its strength and in August the squadron moved to France where it provided tactical reconnaissance for the Army arriving in the Low Countries at the end of September. In April 1945, it converted to Spitfires and flew reconnaissance and ground attack missions for the remaining weeks of the war, becoming No.16 Squadron on 19 September 1945. On the same day, No.487 Squadron at Cambrai-Epinoy was renumbered 268 Squadron and flew Mosquito fighter-bombers until disbanded on 31 March 1946."

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RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Relevant Websites

Casualties of the squadron, buried in the Netherlands.

Number of known casualties: 3

United Kingdom	3

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