No. 108 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

No. 108 Squadron went through three very different incarnations during the Second World War.

At the start of the war the squadron served as an advancing training unit in No.2 Group, performing this role until it merged with No.104 Squadron to form No.13 OTU on 8 April 1940.

The squadron was reformed at Kabrit (Egypt) on 1 August 1941, as a night bomber squadron. This incarnation lasted until November 1942, and saw the squadron attack Axis held ports in Libya and Greece. From November 1941-June 1942 the squadron also operated a number Liberators, flying bombing and supply dropping missions over the Balkans. In November 1942 the squadron's aircrews were all posted to other Wellington squadrons, while the ground staff spent the next month supporting the Special Operations (Liberator) Flight before also being disbanded.

The squadron was reformed for the third time on 15 March 1943 at RAF Shandur (Egypt), this time as a night fighter squadron. The first personnel for the new squadron were provided by No.89 Squadron. For the next two years the squadron operated the Bristol Beaufighter, although this was supplemented by a number of De Havilland Mosquitoes from February-July 1944.

The Beaufighters were originally used to patrol the night skies over Egypt, Libya and Malta, while the Mosquitoes carried out intruder missions. After the Mosquitoes were withdrawn, the Beaufighters moved back to Ibku (Libya) and took over the intruder role, operating over Greece and the Balkans.

After the Germans pulled out of Greece, No. 108 Squadron moved to Hassani, close to Athens, where it became involved in the fighting against the Communists over the winter of 1944-45. In March 1945 the squadron was moved to Italy, but on 28 March, with the end of the war clearly in sight, the squadron was disbanded.

Location
2 May 1938-17 September 1939: Bassingbourn
17 September 1939-7 April 1940: Bicester

1 August-12 September 1941: Kabrit
12 September 1941-20 May 1942: Fayid
20 May-26 June 1942: L.G. 105
26 June-19 August 1942: Kabrit
19 August-13 November 1942: L.G.237
13 November-27 November 1942: L.G. 106
17 November-25 December 1942: L.G. 237

15 March-5 May 1943: Shandur
5 May-3 June 1943: Bersis
3 June 1943-1 July 1944: Luqa
1-27 July 1944: Hal Far
27 July-22 October 1944: Idku
22 October 1944-2 March 1945: Hassani
March 1945: Moved to Italy then disbanded

Group and Duty
September 1939-April 1940: Training squadron, No.2 Group
August 1941-December 1942: Night Bomber squadron, Middle East
March 1943-March 1945: Night Fighter Squadron, Mediterranean Theatre

Blenheim Squadrons of World War Two, Jon Lake. This book looks at the entire RAF service career of the Bristol Blenheim, from its debut as a promising fast bomber, through the deadly disillusionment of the blitzkrieg, on to its work in the Middle East and Mediterranean, where the aircraft found a new lease of life. Lake also looks at the use of the Blenheim as an interim fighter aircraft and its use by Coastal Command.

Mosquito Fighter/ Fighter-Bomber Units of World War 2, Martin Bowman. The second of three books looking the RAF career of the Mosquito covers its use as a night fighter, first on the defensive in the skies over Britain, and then as an intruder over Occupied Europe and Germany, and finishing with a look at the "Mosquito Panic" [see more]

Wellington in Action, Ron Mackay. A well illustrated guide to the development and service career of this classic British bomber. Mackay looks at the early development of the Wellington and the unusual geodetic frame that gave it great strength, the period when the Wellington was the mainstay of Bomber Command and the many uses found for the aircraft after it was replaced in the main bomber stream.

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (24 March 2007), No. 108 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/108_wwII.html