No. 168 Squadron

No. 168 Squadron was formed on 15 June 1942 at RAF Snailwell from elements of No. 268 Squadron, initially operating under Army Co-operation Command as a tactical reconnaissance unit equipped with the Curtiss Tomahawk II. From November 1942 the squadron re-equipped with the North American Mustang I at RAF Odiham and flew fighter reconnaissance sorties along the French coast, including Popular and Rhubarb missions hunting German fighter-bombers. By July 1943 it had transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force, where it undertook intensive pre-invasion reconnaissance — including searches for V-1 launch sites — before deploying to Normandy following the D-Day landings and flying more than five hundred sorties in support of 21st Army Group during July and August 1944. In October 1944 the Mustangs were replaced by Hawker Typhoon IBs armed with rockets and bombs, shifting the squadron’s role to offensive ground attack ahead of advancing Allied forces through Belgium and into the Netherlands. The squadron disbanded at Eindhoven on 26 February 1945 after sustaining some of the most continuous operational tempo of any 2nd TAF reconnaissance unit.