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News Archive

Click on this link to access the Naval Eight / 208 Squadron
Association News Archive.

News Page  1  2

‘Two/Six’ Launched

Sid Jefford’s memoirs of his time on 208 Sqn during a large part of The Second World War constitute a wonderful collection of impressions and experiences as felt by a hardworking, humorous and genial ground crew engineer.
Click here to read a review of ‘Two/Six’ in the Association’s Bibliography, including where to purchase this remarkable account.

29 Aug 2023 marked 105 years since Flt Lt Henry Botterell’s famous engagement with a German observation balloon near Arras on the Western Front in WWI.
Click HERE to read about 208 Squadron’s visit to Toronto in Canada to meet Henry in 2001.

Balloon Buster - 105 Yrs Ago

Members of the Naval Eight / 208 Squadron Association and their guests returned to the RAF Club in London on Sat 21 Oct 23 for the 2023 Annual Reunion Lunch.

Click HERE to read a full account of the event.

2023 Reunion Lunch

7 January 2024 marked the 75th Anniversary of the infamous incident when four 208 Squadron Spitfire Mk XVIIIs were shot down by Israeli forces.

Click here to read Graham Pitchfork’s account from his history of 208 Squadron: ‘Forever Vigilant’.

The Infamous Israeli Incident

The 2024 Association Newsletter is another 16-page full-colour edition, which concentrates on the Buccaneer era, including articles on the 20 years of the Buccaneer on 208 Squadron and a Stag Night in Volkel. There are plenty of pictures of the ‘banana jet’ and a Buccaneer Bibliography.

Click HERE to read a PDF copy of the Newsletter.

2024 Newsletter Published

8 Jun 24 marked 60 years since 208 Sqn took part in Op NUTCRACKER providing close air support in the Radfan Campaign in Aden.

Click here to read Tim Webb’s account of the CAS operations.

Click here to read Major Tim Cornwell’s ground-level view.

Operation NUTCRACKER

40 years ago, on 9 Sep 1983, Buccaneers of 208 and 12 Sqns deployed to RAF Akrotiri as part of Op PULSATOR in support of British forces deployed in the Lebanon.
Click HERE to read the Det Cdr’s report on the Op as published in the RAF Historical Society’s Journal.

Op PULSATOR 40th

Tributes have been paid to Sqn Ldr Mark Long, a RAF Typhoon pilot and former 208 Sqn QFI, who died when the BBMF Spitfire he was flying crashed near RAF Coningsby on 25 May 2024.
Click here to read his eulogy, which was first published in RAF News.

Sqn Ldr Mark Long In Memoriam