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.

History

Formation and early years: Wapitis and Demons

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.

Second World War Reconnaissance with Ansons, Bothas, Blenheims and Hudsons

The squadron started the war flying the Anson. In June 1940, it began the process of transferring to the Blackburn Botha torpedo bomber, being the only squadron to use this type operationally. The Botha was found to be unsatisfactory, and by December 1940 the squadron was using its Avro Ansons again. 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.

Pathfinding with Mosquitos 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. In this role it carried 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.

It disbanded on 28 August 1945 at Downham Market.

Post-war reformation: Mosquitos, Spitfires and Vampires No. 608 squadron was reformed on 10 May 1946 at Thornaby in its original role as a light bomber squadron in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. It had however no operational aircraft before being redesignated as a night fighter unit in July 1947, when it received Mosquito NF.30s. These were flown until the squadron changed role yet again, this time to that of a day fighter squadron, receiving Spitfire F.22s in May 1948. From December 1949 these were gradually replaced with de Havilland Vampires, which the squadron flew until, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, it was disbanded on 10 March 1957.

Aircraft operated +Aircraft operated by no. 608 Squadron RAF, data fromFromToAircraftVersion June 1930 January 1937 Westland Wapiti Mk.IIa January 1937 March 1939 Hawker Demon March 1939 April 1941 Avro Anson Mk.I June 1940 December 1940 Blackburn Botha Mk.I February 1941 August 1941 Bristol Blenheim Mk.I March 1941 July 1941 Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV July 1941 July 1944 Lockheed Hudson Mk.V March 1943 July 1944 Lockheed Hudson Mk.VI June 1943 July 1944 Lockheed Hudson Mk.IIIa August 1944 April 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XX October 1944 April 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XXV March 1945 August 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XVI July 1947 January 1949 de Havilland Mosquito NF.30 May 1948 January 1951 Supermarine Spitfire F.22 December 1949 July 1953 de Havilland Vampire F.3 May 1951 June 1951 de Havilland Vampire F.1 April 1952 March 1957 de Havilland Vampire FB.5 April 1956 February 1957 de Havilland Vampire FB.9

Squadron bases +Bases and airfields used by no. 608 Squadron RAF, data fromFromToBase 17 March 1930 14 January 1942 RAF Thornaby, North Yorkshire (Det. at RAF Bircham Newton, Dyce) 14 January 1942 5 August 1942 RAF Wick, Caithness, Scotland 5 August 1942 27 August 1942 RAF Sumburgh, Shetland, Scotland 27 August 1942 14 September 1942 RAF Gosport, Hampshire 14 September 1942 29 October 1942 RAF North Coates, Lincolnshire 29 October 1942 9 November 1942 en route to North Africa 9 November 1942 14 November 1942 RAF Gibraltar 14 November 1942 6 August 1943 RAF Blida, Algeria 6 August 1943 4 September 1943 Protville Airfield, Tunisia 4 September 1943 23 October 1943 Borizzo Airfield, Sicily (Det. at Grottaglie) 23 October 1943 23 June 1943? Montecorvino Airfield, Italy 23 June 1943? 31 July 1944 Pomigliano, Italy 1 August 1944 28 August 1945 RAF Downham Market, Norfolk 10 May 1946 16 June 1951 RAF Thornaby, North Yorkshire 16 June 1951 12 July 1951 RAF Leuchars, Fife, Scotland 12 July 1951 10 March 1957 RAF Thornaby, North Yorkshire

Commanding officers +Officers commanding no. 608 squadron RAF, data fromFromToName March 1930 1932 S/Ldr. W. Howard-Davies 1932 December 1934 S/Ldr. I.W.H. Thomson December 1934 December 1938 S/Ldr. G.H. Ambler December 1938 May 1941 W/Cdr. G. Shaw, DFC May 1941 November 1941 W/Cdr. R.S. Derbyshire November 1941 February 1943 W/Cdr. P.D.R. Hutchings, AFC February 1943 December 1943 W/Cdr. C.M.M. Grece, DFC December 1943 July 1944 W/Cdr. Denis Finlay OBENot to be confused with his brother, RAF Officer and Olympian Donald Osborne Finlay DFC AFC August 1944 November 1944 W/Cdr. W.W.G. Scott DFC November 1944 April 1945 W/Cdr. R.C. Alabaster, DSO, DFC April 1945 August 1945 W/Cdr. K. Gray July 1946 1950 S/Ldr. W.A. Brown, DFC 1950 1952 S/Ldr. F.A. Robinson 1952 1955 S/Ldr. G.A. Martin, DFC, AFC 1955 March 1957 S/Ldr. H.D. Costain

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links Squadron history on MOD site Squadron histories for nos. 605–610 sqn of RafWeb's Air of Authority