Nowadays, No. 168 Squadron RAF is a topic that has captured the attention of people from all over the world. With the advancement of technology and globalization, No. 168 Squadron RAF has acquired unprecedented relevance in modern society. From its origins to its impact on everyday life, No. 168 Squadron RAF has generated growing interest in various fields, from science and politics to popular culture. In this article, we will explore in depth the different facets of No. 168 Squadron RAF, its evolution over time, and its influence on our daily lives.
No. 168 Squadron RAF | |
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Active | 1942–1945 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Motto(s) | Latin: Rerum Cognoscere Causas ("To know the causes of things") |
No. 168 Squadron RAF was a Second World War Royal Air Force squadron that operated the North American Mustang on missions over occupied Europe and in support of the D-Day landings.
The squadron was formed on 15 June 1942 at RAF Snailwell from parts of 268 Squadron. It was originally equipped with the American Curtiss Tomahawk II. It did not become operational until it moved to RAF Odiham and re-equipped the North American Mustang I. It soon began operations with photo reconnaissance sorties along the French coast (code named Popular) and Rhubarb sorties. It flew a variety of sorties for Army support and patrols and on the hunt for German fighter-bombers attacking towns. The main role which became more important from the end of 1943 was fighter reconnaissance both in preparation for the allied landings and later looking for V-1 sites.
It was busy on the lead-up to the D-day landings and moved to the beach head only three-weeks later. In July and August it flew over 500 sorties in support of the ground forces. In October 1944 it replaced the Mustangs with Hawker Typhoons and its role changed to offensive operations. The squadron operated in the ground-attack role ahead of the advancing troops using the Typhoon armed with rockets and bombs. The squadron ended up at Eindhoven in the Netherlands after many months of intensive operations, and was disbanded there on 26 February 1945.
Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
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1942 | Curtiss Tomahawk | II | Single-engined fighter |
1942–1944 | North American Mustang | I and IA | Single-engined fighter |
1944–1945 | Hawker Typhoon | IB | Single-engined fighter |