No. 266 Squadron RAF

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No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.

The squadron motto was Hlabezulu (The stabber of the sky).

The squadron was formed at Mudros, Greece in August 1918 to carry out anti-submarine patrols in that area. It was disbanded on 1 September 1919.

The squadron was reformed on 30 October 1939 at RAF Sutton Bridge as a fighter squadron. The squadron was one of the Rhodesian gift squadrons and was named 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron in honour of the gift. Originally equipped with the Fairey Battle but soon after in January 1940 received the Supermarine Spitfire. It was in action over Dunkirk in early June and fought in the Battle of Britain. To rest the squadron it was moved north to RAF Wittering to carry out patrols over France.

In January 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Duxford and re-equipped with the Hawker Typhoon. The squadron changed role to fighter-bomber to support the Normandy invasion and flew armed reconnaisance missions in support of the invasion forces. The squadron was disbanded at Hildersheim on 31 July 1945.

The squadron re-formed at RAF Boxted on 1 September 1946 when 234 Squadron was renumbered. It was now a fighter squadron operating the Gloster Meteor twin-jet fighter. A move to RAF Tangmere, Sussex for two years into the squadron was disbanded when it was re-numbered 43 Squadron.

On 14 July 1952 the squadron was reformed at RAF Fassberg, West Germany flying the de Havilland Vampire and later the de Havilland Venom in the ground attack role. It was disbanded five years later on 15 November 1957.

The last time the squadron reformed was on 1 December 1959 at Rattlesden to operate the Bristol Bloodhound anti-aircraft missile until it was finally disbanded on 30 June 1964.