No. 68 Squadron RAF

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No. 68 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed at Harlaxton on 30 January 1917.

[edit] History

The unit trained with fighters and deployed to France during September 1917, equipped with D.H.5s. During January 1918 it re-equipped with S.E.5As and on 19 January 1918 was redesignated as No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, disbanding on 28 February 1919.

The Squadron the reformed at RAF Catterick on 7 January 1941 as a night fighter Squadron equipped with Bristol Blenheims and became operational on 7 April before moving to High Ercall. In May 1941 No. 68 converted to Bristol Beaufighters and in March 1942 they went to RAF Coltishall in Norfolk. In July 1944 the Squadron converted to de Havilland Mosquitoes.

On 1 January 1952, the squadron reformed again as a night-fighter Squadron at RAF Wahn in West Germany and flew Gloster Meteors until renumbered as No. 5 Squadron RAF on 20 January 1959.