No. 68 Squadron RAF

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The name No. 68 Squadron has been used by the Royal Air Force for two quite different units.

No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps was formed at at Heliopolis, Egypt in 1916. To avoid confusion with No. 2 Squadron, RAF, it was known to the British military as "No. 68 Squadron", although this terminology was never accepted by the squadron or the Australian Imperial Force.

During World War II, No. 68 squadron was "re-formed" 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.

[edit] See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons