No. 266 Squadron — Rhodesia

No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron reformed at RAF Sutton Bridge on 30 October 1939, its designation acknowledging a gift from Southern Rhodesia. After brief familiarisation on Fairey Battles it received Spitfires and flew its first combat sorties over Dunkirk in June 1940, going on to serve through the Battle of Britain under 12 Group. In January 1942 the squadron moved to Duxford and became one of the earliest units to convert to the Hawker Typhoon, claiming that aircraft’s first confirmed air-to-air kill — a Junkers Ju 88 off the Norfolk coast — on 9 August 1942. Through 1942–43 it flew coastal defence patrols countering German Fw 190 fighter-bomber intruders. Joining 146 Wing, 84 Group, Second Tactical Air Force in early 1944, the squadron flew armed-reconnaissance and ground-attack missions in support of the Normandy landings and the advance into Germany, disbanding at Hildesheim on 31 July 1945.