Seven of the eight Squadron Commanders from the Buccaneer era were present at the Naval Eight / 208 Squadron Association Annual Reunion Dinner held at the RAF Club in London on 27 October 2012. The Magnificent Seven (L-R) were: Nigel Huckins (1992 – 1994); Graham Pitchfork (1979 – 1981); Brian “Boots” Mahaffey (1987 – 1989); Phil Pinney (1976 – 1979); Ben Laite (1981 – 1984); Bill Cope (1989 – 1992); and John Ford (1984 – 1987). This article first appeared in the 2013 Newsletter.
Exercise RED FLAG 1977
3rd August 2017 marks the 40th Anniversary of the first participation in Exercise RED FLAG by any RAF squadron and, of course, 208 was that Squadron. Click on the picture on the left to read an extract from Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork’s book ‘Buccaneer Boys’ in which David Wilby gives his recollections of the deployment.
Op PULSATOR
On 9 September 1983, Buccaneers of 208 and 12 Squadrons deployed to RAF Akrotiri as part of Op PULSATOR in support of British Forces deployed in the Lebanon. Click on the picture on the left to read the Detachment Commander’s report on the Operation in the Royal Air Force Historical Society’s Journal.