| No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron RAuxAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 17 March 1930 – 31 July 1944 1 August 1944 – 24 August 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Part of | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Nickname(s) | North Riding "Thornaby's own" |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Omnibus ungulis (Translation: "With all talons")[1] |
| Battle honours | Channel & North Sea, 1939 Baltic, 1941–42 Mediterranean, 1942–43 Sicily, 1943 Anzio & Nettuno France & Germany, 1944–45 German Ports, 1944–45 These seven honours are all emblazoned on the squadron standard |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Air Commodore | Viscount Swinton (1934–1957) |
| Notable commanders | Denis Finlay (1943-1944)[2] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A falcon's leg, erased, belled and fessed[1] The falcon's leg indicates the squadron's readiness to go into the air at any time and attack tooth and nail[3] |
| Squadron Codes | PG (Oct 1938 – Sep 1939)[4] UL (Sep 1939 – 1942)[5] 6T (1944 – 1945,1949 – Apr 1951)[6] RAO (May 1946 – 1949)[7] |
No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It flew during its existence as a bomber, fighter and reconnaissance unit and was the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the unsuccessful Blackburn Botha torpedo bomber.
- ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 424.
- ^ Not to be confused with his brother RAF Officer and Olympian Donald Osborne Finlay DFC AFC
- ^ Moyes 1976, p. 278.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 14.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 101.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 100.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 138.