No. 8 Squadron RAF

2025-10-16T07:09:50Z

193.31.64.29: /* Aircraft operated */Fixed as per text above

{{Short description|Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}

{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = No. 8 Squadron RAF
| native_name =
| image = No. 8 Squadron RAF badge.png
| image_size = 150px
| alt =
| caption = [[Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force|Squadron badge]]
| dates = {{Hlist|1915–1918 ([[Royal Flying Corps|RFC]])|1918–1920|1920–1945|1945|1946–1971|1972–present}}
| disbanded =
| country = {{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom
| countries =
| allegiance =
| branch = [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|23px]] [[Royal Air Force]]
| type = Flying squadron
| role = [[Airborne early warning and control]]
| size =
| command_structure = {{hlist|[[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group]]|[[Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance|ISTAR]] Force}}
| garrison = [[RAF Lossiemouth]]
| garrison_label = Station
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = {{Language with name/for|la|Uspiam et passim|Everywhere unbounded|break=yes}}
| colors = 
| colors_label = 
| march =
| mascot = Augustus (A [[Eurasian eagle-owl|European eagle owl]])
| anniversaries =
| equipment = [[Boeing 737 AEW&C#United Kingdom|E-7 Wedgetail]] (from late 2025)
| equipment_label = Aircraft
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| current_commander =
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| identification_symbol = [[File:RAF 8 Sqn.svg|150px]]
| identification_symbol_label = Roundel
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'''Number 8 Squadron''' (sometimes written as '''No. VIII Squadron''') is a squadron of the [[Royal Air Force]]. It is based at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland and is expected to take delivery of the [[Boeing 737 AEW&C|Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW1]] during 2025/26.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/uk-pushes-delayed-wedgetail-service-entry-target-into-2026/162883.article |title=UK pushes delayed Wedgetail service entry target into 2026 |website=Flight Global |first=Craig|last=Hoyle|date=6 May 2025}}</ref> The Wedgetail is the [[Future of the Royal Air Force#Wedgetail|replacement]] for the [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|Boeing E-3D Sentry]] which the squadron operated from until 1991 to 2021.

==History==

===First World War (1915–1920)===
As No. 8 Squadron of the [[Royal Flying Corps]] (RFC) it was formed at [[Brooklands]], [[Surrey]] on {{start date|1915|1|1|df=yes}}, equipped with the [[Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2]]c. The squadron moved to [[Fort Grange]], [[HMS Sultan (shore establishment)|Gosport]] later on 6 January for further training, and crossed to France on 15 April 1915 to [[Saint-Omer]].<ref name="Rawlings coast p19">Rawlings 1982, p. 19.</ref> While its main equipment was the B.E.2c, it also operated a fighter flight between May 1915 and early 1916 equipped with a mixture of aircraft, including the [[Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8]] and the [[Bristol Scout]], while it also evaluated the prototype [[Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.9]], a modified B.E.2 that carried the observer/gunner in a [[nacelle]] ahead of the aircraft's propeller.<ref name="Rawlings coast p19"/><ref name="Bruce RFC p379,2,4">Bruce 1982, pp. 379, 382, 384.</ref>

Operating from airfields near Saint-Omer, the squadron was initially used for bombing and long-range [[reconnaissance]], carrying out flights of up to {{convert|100|mi|km}} behind the front lines.<ref name="Rawlings coast p19"/><ref name="Ashworth p43">Ashworth 1989, p. 43.</ref> In February 1916, it moved to Bellevue and specialised in the Corps Reconnaissance role, carrying out contact patrols and artillery spotting in close co-operation with the army.<ref name="Rawlings coast p19"/><ref name="Halley p29">Halley 1980, p. 29.</ref> The squadron flew in support of the [[Battle of the Somme]] in the summer of 1916 and the [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Battle of Arras]] in April and May 1917. It received the improved B.E.2e from February 1917, but despite this, losses were heavy as all marks of B.E.2 were outclassed. The [[Armstrong Whitworth FK.8]] replaced the B.E.2s in August 1917.<ref name="Rawlings coast p19"/><ref name="Halley p30">Halley 1980, p. 30.</ref>

In June 1918, No. 8 Squadron, part of the [[Royal Air Force]] since 1 April 1918 and commanded by [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] [[Trafford Leigh-Mallory|T. Leigh-Mallory]], was allocated to the [[Royal Tank Regiment|Tank Corps]], flying contact patrols in support of the Tank Corps attacks during the [[Battle of Amiens (1918)|Battle of Amiens]], and becoming expert in spotting and destroying German anti-tank guns. The FK.8 and some tanks were equipped with [[wireless telegraphy|wireless]] sets, although wireless communications between tanks and aeroplanes remained at a very basic stage for the rest of the war.<ref name="Fuller wireless">Fuller 1920, pp. 242–4, 248.</ref>

On 12 August 1918, [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|Captain]] [[Ferdinand Maurice Felix West|Ferdinand West]] of No. 8 Squadron was flying a F.K.8 on a contact patrol when he was attacked by seven German fighters. Despite a severe leg wound, West managed to manoeuvre his aircraft so that his observer could drive off the attacking fighters, before making a forced landing behind Allied lines and insisting in reporting the results of the flight. He was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for this action.<ref name="Rawlings coast p19"/><ref>[http://8squadron.co.uk/history_Capt_West_VC.php "Air Commodore Ferdinand Maurice Felix West VC CBE MC - A Biography"]. ''8 Squadron Royal Air Force''. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.</ref><ref name="Fuller West">Fuller 1920, pp. 246–7.</ref>

In December 1918, a few weeks after the [[Armistice with Germany]] that ended the [[World War I|First World War]], the squadron re-equipped with [[Sunbeam Arab]]-engined [[Bristol F.2 Fighter]]. It served briefly in Germany as part of the [[British Army of the Rhine#1919–1929|British Army of Occupation]], before moving back to the United Kingdom in July 1919 and disbanding on 20 January 1920.<ref name="RAF Hist">[http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/8squadron.cfm "8 Squadron"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404031035/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/8squadron.cfm |date=4 April 2012 }}. ''Royal Air Force''. Retrieved 16 September 2012.</ref>

===Interwar period (1920–1939)===
No. 8 Squadron reformed on 18 October 1920 at [[Helwan]], near [[Cairo]], Egypt, as a day-bomber squadron equipped with the [[Airco DH.9A]]. With the security of Iraq the responsibility of the RAF, the squadron moved to [[Basra]] in February 1921 to carry out air policing.<ref name="Ashworth p43-4">Ashworth 1989, pp. 43–44.</ref> The squadron was deployed to [[Kirkuk]] in July 1922, where it operated against a [[Iraqi Kurdistan|Kurdish]] rebellion and Turkish infiltration, and helping to evacuate forces allied to the British from the city of [[Sulaymaniyah]] in September 1922.<ref name="8sqd exile1">[http://8squadron.co.uk/history_1920-1939.php ""Exile" - Between The Wars - 1920-1939: No 8 Squadron is Posted Overseas"]. ''8 Squadron Royal Air Force''. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1922/1922%20-%200681.html "Editorial Comment: The RAF in Iraq"]. ''[[Flight International|Flight]]'', 23 November 1922, pp. 681–682.</ref> In November and December 1923, the squadron was deployed against [[Marsh Arabs]] in the [[Mesopotamian Marshes]].<ref name="8sqd exile1"/>

In February 1927, in response to unrest in [[Aden]], No. 8 Squadron was deployed to [[RAF Khormaksar]], where it continued in the air policing role. The squadron replaced the elderly DH.9A with new [[Fairey III|Fairey IIIF]] light bombers from January 1928. It flew operations against [[Zaidiyyah|Zaidi]] in February 1928 and against the Subaihi tribe, who were refusing to pay taxes and revolting, from January to March 1929. Operations against the Subaihi involved destroying crops with incendiary bombs and bombing villages after giving warning so they could be evacuated. This pressure eventually forced the Subaihi to sue for peace, with the rebel chiefs paying fines. More peaceful operation carried out by the squadron included survey flights, casualty evacuation and carrying mail, while the squadron carried out a long-distance return trip from Aden to Cairo and back in 1932.<ref name="8sqd aden">[http://8squadron.co.uk/history_move_to_aden.php "8 Squadron Moves to Aden"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215123524/http://www.8squadron.co.uk/history_move_to_aden.php |date=15 February 2012 }}. ''8 Squadron Royal Air Force''. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2012.</ref><ref name="Thet Aeromay94 p34-5">Thetford ''Aeroplane Monthly'' May 1994, pp. 34–35.</ref>

In April 1935, it re-equipped again with the [[Vickers Vincent]], a general purpose aircraft based on the [[Vickers Vildebeest]] biplane torpedo bomber. The squadron started to receive [[Bristol Blenheim]] twin-engined [[monoplane]] bombers in April 1939, but it retained a flight of Vincents for operations over the rough interior of the [[Aden Protectorate]].<ref name="Ashworth p44">Ashworth 1989, p. 44.</ref>

===Second World War (1939–1945)===
On 10 June 1940, Italy declared war on Britain and France. No 8 Squadron flew its first combat missions of the war on 12 June, when nine Blenheims bombed an airfield at [[Assab]] in Italian-occupied [[Eritrea]], across the [[Red Sea]] from Aden, with five Vincents attacking the same airfield that night.<ref name="Shoresdust p18-9">Shores 1996, p. 18–19.</ref> On 5 August 1940, [[Italian conquest of British Somaliland|Italy invaded British Somaliland]], and No. 8 Squadron's Blenheims flew missions against advancing Italian troop columns. The Italians heavily outnumbered the British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] defences, and the port of [[Berbera]] was occupied by the Italians on 19 August.<ref name="8sqd eth">[http://8squadron.co.uk/history_ethiopian_campaign.php "The Ethiopian Campaign - 1940-1941"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215124634/http://www.8squadron.co.uk/history_ethiopian_campaign.php |date=15 February 2012 }}. ''8 Squadron Royal Air Force'', 4 September 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2012.</ref><ref name="Shoresdust p45-54">Shores 1996, pp. 45–54.</ref>

The unit continued to be based at [[RAF Khormaksar]] in Aden equipped with [[Bristol Blenheim]]s. The [[Vickers Wellington|Vickers Wellington XIII]] was flown from December 1943 until May 1945.<ref name="Halley, 1988, p. 35">Halley, 1988, p. 35</ref>

===Post-War (1945–1971)===
On 15 May 1945, No. 8 Squadron reformed by renumbering [[No. 200 Squadron RAF|No. 200 Squadron]] at RAF Jessore in India, equipped with the [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|Consolidated Liberator VI]]. The squadron again disbanded on 15 November 1945.<ref>Halley, 1988, p. 34</ref>

The squadron was reformed at Khormaksar on 1 September 1946 by renumbering [[No. 114 Squadron RAF|No. 114 Squadron]] and the role of fighter bomber was adopted, initially with the [[de Havilland Mosquito|de Havilland Mosquito FB.6]]. These were replaced by the [[Hawker Tempest]], and the [[Bristol Brigand]]. These fighter was supported by the Anson C.19 and [[Auster AOP.6]]. The squadron's first jet aircraft were received in 1953 when it equipped with the [[de Havilland Vampire|de Havilland Vampire FB.9]].<ref name="Halley, 1988, p. 35"/> Continued updating of equipment brought the [[de Havilland Venom|de Havilland Venom FB.1 and FB.4]] and the [[Hawker Hunter]], flown from 1960 until 1971.<ref name=hawker>{{cite web|url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/hawker-hunter-fga9/|title=Hawker Hunter FGA9|publisher=RAF Museum|access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref> The squadron disbanded on 21 December 1971.<ref name=hawker/>

===Shackletons and Sentries (1972–2021)===
[[File:ShackletonAEW2 8Sqn RAF 1982.jpeg|thumb|An [[Avro Shackleton|Avro Shackleton AEW.2]] of No. 8 Squadron in 1982|left]]
The squadron reformed at [[RAF Kinloss]] on 1 January 1972 in the [[Airborne Early Warning]] (AEW) role using the [[Avro Shackleton|Avro Shackleton AEW.2]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news-feature/1579305/magnificent-men-and-their-shack-flying-machines/|title=Magnificent men and their 'shack' flying machines|date=6 October 2018|publisher=The Press and Journal|access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref> It moved to [[RAF Lossiemouth]] on 14 August 1973, where it stayed until 1991 when it moved to [[RAF Waddington]] near Lincoln and re-equipped with the [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|Boeing E-3D Sentry]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hughes|first= Jim |year=1993|title=Airfield Focus 11: Lossiemouth|location=Peterborough|publisher=GMS Enterprises|isbn=978-1-870384-24-7|page= 19}}</ref> The first of seven Sentries was handed over to the RAF on 26 March 1991{{sfn|March|1992|p=74}} and the last during May 1992.{{sfn|March|1993|p=86}} The squadron was deployed over the [[Balkans]] in the early 1990s; it also saw action over [[Iraq]] in 2009 and [[Afghanistan]] in 2010 and was then involved in [[Operation Ellamy]] in 2011 during the [[Libyan Civil War (2011)|Libyan Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theinsightonline.co.uk/features/no-8-squadron-celebrating-100-years/|title=No. 8 Squadron celebrating 100 years|publisher=Insight|access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>

In early 2015, No. 8 Squadron deployed with two Sentries to [[RAF Akrotiri]], Cyprus, to participate in [[Operation Shader]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://forces.tv/73791674 |title=The E-3D Sentry Arrives in RAF Akrotiri |website=forces.tv |date=28 January 2015 |access-date=3 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202182251/http://forces.tv/73791674 |archive-date=2 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Craig |last=Hoyle |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/uk-details-extent-of-combat-activity-over-iraq/116078.article |title=UK details extent of combat activity over Iraq |website=Flight Global |date=2 March 2015 |access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref>

Two Sentries deployed to [[RAF Akrotiri]] on Cyprus in late May and early June 2021 to support [[United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21|Carrier Strike Group 21]] as it passed through the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Ripley |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/raf-e-3d-awacs-supports-uk-carrier-strike-group-in-mediterranean |title=UK retires Sentry AEW1 |website=Janes.com |date=28 June 2021 |access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref> The E-3D's final operational sortie was carried out on 30 July, with the two aircraft returning to Waddington on 2 August and 4 August.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.key.aero/article/uk-sentry-fleet-stands-down-disposal-options-considered |title=UK Sentry fleet stands down as disposal options considered |website=key.aero |date=6 August 2021 |access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref> The Sentry was officially retired by the RAF on 28 September 2021.<ref>{{cite web |first=Gareth |last=Jennings |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uk-retires-sentry-aew1 |title=UK retires Sentry AEW1 |website=Janes.com |date=28 September 2021 |access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref>

== Future ==
[[File:RAF Wedgetail in flight.jpg|thumb|An E-7 Wedgetail in October 2024, which is soon to be operated by No.8 Squadron.]]
It was announced in July 2019 that from the mid-2020s the squadron will be the first to operate the [[Boeing 737 AEW&C|Boeing E-7 Wedgetail]], the [[Future of the Royal Air Force#Wedgetail|planned replacement]] for the RAF's E-3D Sentry fleet.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jennings |first=Gareth |date=17 July 2019 |title=RAF announces AEW&C, space, 'drone' test squadrons |url=https://www.janes.com/article/89925/raf-announces-aew-c-space-drone-test-squadrons |work=IHS Janes |location=London |access-date=18 July 2019 }} </ref>

As of May 2025, the first E-7 is expected to the delivered to the RAF by the end of 2025, with initial operational capability planned for 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 May 2025 |title=Delays push RAF E-7 service entry to 2026 |url=https://www.key.aero/article/delays-push-raf-e-7-service-entry-2026 |access-date=28 August 2025 |website=Key.Aero |publisher=Key Publishing |language=en}}</ref>

==Aircraft operated==
Aircraft operated include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=No.8 Squadron |url=http://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/research/squadrons/8/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811092747/http://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/research/squadrons/8/ |archive-date=11 August 2018 |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=National Cold War Exhibition |publisher=[[Royal Air Force Museum]]}}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2]] (1915–1917)
* [[Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8]] (1917–1918)
* [[Bristol F.2 Fighter|Bristol F.2b Fighter]] (1918–1920)
* [[Airco DH.9A]] (1920–1928)
* [[Fairey III|Fairey IIIF]] (1928–1935)
* [[Vickers Vincent]] (1935–1942)
* [[Bristol Blenheim|Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, Mk.IV and Mk.V]] (1941–1944)
* [[Martin Maryland]] (1940–1941)
* [[Lockheed Hudson]] (1943)
* [[Vickers Wellington|Vickers Wellington Mk.XIII]] (1943–1945)
* [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|Consolidated Liberator Mk.VI]] (1945)
* [[De Havilland Mosquito|de Havilland Mosquito FB.6]] (1946–1947)
* [[Hawker Tempest|Hawker Tempest F.6]] (1947–1950)
* [[Bristol Brigand]] (1949–1953)
* [[de Havilland Vampire|de Havilland Vampire FB.9]] (1952–1953)
* [[de Havilland Venom|de Havilland Venom FB.1 and FB.4]] (1955–1960)
* [[Gloster Meteor|Gloster Meteor FR.9]] (1958–1961)
* [[Hawker Hunter|Hawker Hunter FGA.9 and FR.10]] (1960-1971)
* [[Avro Shackleton|Avro Shackleton AEW.2]] (1972–1991)
* [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW1]] (1991–2021)
{{div col end}}

== Heritage ==

=== Badge and motto ===
The [[Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force|squadron's badge]] features a sheathed Arabian dagger known as a [[Janbiya|jambia]], adopted in recognition of the unit's long association with [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabia]]. The weapon is sheathed to symbolise the squadron's guardian duties. The badge was approved by [[George VI|King George VI]] in December 1943.<ref name=":0" />

The squadron's motto is {{Language with name/for|la|Uspiam et passim|Everywhere unbounded}}.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pine |first1=L.G. |url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/243 |title=A dictionary of mottoes |date=1983 |publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul |isbn=0-7100-9339-X |edition=1 |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/243 243] |url-access=registration}}</ref> This reflects the vast areas of wilderness associated with the squadron's operations in Aden during the 1930s and 1940s.<ref name=":0" />

=== Aircraft markings ===
The squadron markings which appear on either side of the [[Royal Air Force roundels|RAF roundel]] are horizontal bars of yellow, blue and red, representing sand, sea and blood.<ref name=":0" />

=== Aircraft names ===
[[File:Avro 696 Shackleton AEW2, UK - Air Force AN2267008.jpg|thumb|A No. 8 Squadron [[Avro Shackleton|Avro Shackleton AEW.2]] in 1978]]
The squadron's [[Avro Shackleton|Avro Shackletons]] were named after characters from British [[Children's television series|children's]] television programmes ''[[The Magic Roundabout]]'' and ''[[The Herbs]]'':<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hatton |first=Tim |date=4 April 2017 |title=Shackleton TV Characters |url=https://archive.aeroscale.net/news/24884/index.htm |access-date=16 March 2023 |website=Aeroscale}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*WL741 – 'PC Knapweed' and 'Basil'
*WL745 – 'Sage'
*WL747 – 'Florence'
*WL754 – 'Paul'
*WL756 – 'Mr Rusty' and 'Snoopy'
*WL757 – 'Brian'
*WL790 – 'Mr McHenry' and 'Zebedee'
*WL793 – 'Ermintrude' and 'Dylan'
*WL795 – 'Rosalie' and 'Zebedee'
*WR960 – 'Dougal'
*WR963 – 'Ermintrude' and 'Parsley'
*WR965 – 'Dill' and 'Rosalie'
{{div col end}}

The tradition continued when the squadron converted to the E-3D Sentry, with each named after one of the dwarfs from [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney's]] 1937 animated film [[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'']].<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 October 2021 |title=An in-depth look at the Boeing E-3D Sentry in RAF service |url=https://www.key.aero/article/depth-look-boeing-e-3d-sentry-raf-service#:~:text=This%20time,%20inspiration%20came%20from%20Disney's%20seven,ZH105%20'Sneezy',%20ZH106%20'Grumpy'%20and%20ZH107%20'Bashful'.&text=Authorised%20by%20the%20mission%20commander%20on%20board,directed%20RAF%20Tornados%20to%20attack%20the%20site. |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Key.Aero |language=en}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ZH101 – ‘Doc’
* ZH102 – ‘Dopey’
* ZH103 – ‘Happy’
* ZH104 – ‘Sleepy’
* ZH105 – ‘Sneezy’
* ZH106 – ‘Grumpy’
* ZH107 – ‘Bashful’
{{div col end}}

== Battle honours ==
[[File:RAF - E-3D Sentry - Waddington Airshow 2012 (7495847112).jpg|alt=An RAF E-3D Sentry AEW1 of No. 8 Squadron.|thumb|A [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|E-3D Sentry AEW1]] of No. 8 Squadron at [[RAF Waddington]], 2012.]]
No. 8 Squadron has received the following [[RAF squadron standards and battle honours|battle honours]]. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be emblazoned on the [[RAF squadron standards and battle honours|squadron standard]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=VIII Squadron |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/viii-squadron/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Royal Air Force |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=4 September 2006 |title=No 8 Squadron Heraldry |url=http://8squadron.co.uk/history_heraldry.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806132549/http://8squadron.co.uk/history_heraldry.php |archive-date=6 August 2016 |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=8 Squadron}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] (1915–1918)*
* [[Battle of Loos|Loos]]*
* [[Battle of the Somme|Somme]] (1916)*
* [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Arras]]*
* [[Battle of Cambrai (1917)|Cambrai]] (1917)*
* [[Second Battle of the Somme (1918)|Somme]] (1918)
* [[Battle of Amiens (1918)|Amiens]]
* [[Hindenburg Line]]
* [[Kurdistan]] (1922–1924)
* [[Aden Protectorate|Aden]] (1928)
* Aden (1929)
* Aden (1934)
* East Africa (1940–1941)*
* Eastern Waters (1942–1945)*
* Burma (1945)*
* [[Kosovo War|Kosovo]] (1999)
* [[Operation Herrick|Afghanistan]] (2001–2014)
* [[Operation Telic|Iraq]] (2003)
* [[Operation Ellamy|Libya]] (2011)
{{div col end}}
Along with other units forming the [[NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen|NATO Airborne Earlier Warning Force]], No. 8 Squadron was awarded a battle honour by NATO's [[Supreme Allied Commander Europe]] for operations during the [[Kosovo War]] in the late 1990s.<ref name=":0" /> The squadron was the first in the RAF to be formally presented with a second standard in 1967; the first standard gifted in 1954, deteriorated in the climate whilst the squadron was located in Aden.<ref>{{cite news |title=Second Squadron Standard |work=The Times |issue=56864 |date=13 February 1967 |page=12|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons]]
* [[Armed forces in Scotland]]
* [[Military history of Scotland]]

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

===Bibliography===
* Ashworth, C. ''Encyclopedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons''. Wellingborough, UK:PSL, 1989. {{ISBN|1-85260-013-6}}.
* Bruce, J. M. ''The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing)''. London, UK: Putnam, 1982. {{ISBN|0-370-30084-X}}.
* Fuller, J. F. C. [https://archive.org/details/tanksingreatwar00john/page/n8/mode/2up ''Tanks in the Great War: 1914-1918'']. New York: E. P. Dutton and Company, 1920.
* Halley, J. J. ''The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force''. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians), 1980. {{ISBN|0-85130-083-9}}.
* Halley, J. J. ''The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988''. Air-Britain (Historians), 1988. Tonbridge, UK. {{ISBN|0-85130-164-9}}.
* Lewis, P. ''Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F., 1912–59''. London, UK: Putnam, 1959.
*{{cite book |last1=March|first1=P.|title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1992|year=1992|publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund|location=[[Fairford]], UK}}
*{{cite book |last1=March|first1=P.|title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1993|year=1993|publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund|location=[[Fairford]], UK}}
* Rawlings, John D. R. ''Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft''. London, UK: Jane's Publishing Company, 1982. {{ISBN|0-7106-0187-5}}.
* Shores, C. ''Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940–42''. London, UK: Grub Street, 1996. {{ISBN|1-898697-37-X}}.
* Thetford, O. "By Day and By Night: Fairey IIIF and Gordon in Service". ''[[Aeroplane Monthly]]'', Vol 22 No 5, May 1994. pp. 32–38. ISSN 0143-7240.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

* {{Official website|https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/viii-squadron/}}
{{RAF squadrons}}
{{Royal Air Force}}

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1915]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons|008 Squadron]]
[[Category:Royal Flying Corps squadrons|008 Squadron]]
[[Category:1915 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Aden in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in British Somaliland in World War II|R]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

No. 8 Squadron RAF