No. 108 Squadron RAF
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
January 1937 – March 1945
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force| No. 108 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | November 1917 – July 1919 January 1937 – March 1945 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Viribus contractis ("With gathered strength")[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | An oak leaf. The unit was formed at Stonehenge and it adopted an oak leaf as a badge being symbolic of strength and age.[1] |
| Squadron Codes | 108 (Jan 1937 – Oct 1938) MF (Oct 1938 – Apr 1939) LD (Sep 1939 – Apr 1940)[2] |
No. 108 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War which continued to serve with the Royal Air Force in the Second World War.
The unit was formed at Stonehenge or the nearby Lake Down Aerodrome[3] in November 1917, and was equipped with Airco DH.9 bombers.[1]
In July 1918, the squadron went to Capelle, Dunkirk, equipped with DH.9s for day-bombing operations against targets in north-west Belgium. In October 1918, it moved to Bisseghem, Belgium, and remained based there until the Armistice. During its service overseas the squadron made 59 successful bombing raids, 40 reconnaissance flights, and two photographic flights; dropped approximately 70 tons of bombs, and shot down nine enemy aircraft (a further 20 were reported shot down, but were not confirmed).[1][4]
Between the wars
Disbanded in July 1919, the squadron did not reappear in the order of battle until January 1937, when it was re-formed as No. 108 (Bomber) Squadron at RAF Upper Heyford.[1] Its initial equipment were Bristol Blenheim I bombers.
