completed just over 21 years of continuous good service. He hoped and felt that Number 208 (Army Co-operation) Squadron would continue to maintain that high standard of esprit de corps and work for which it had been noted at all times.
Co-operation exercises continued up to June when the Squadron carried out for the first time a completely self-contained air-to-air firing exercise at the Fayoum Road Range. Two Gordons were supplied for the towing of targets. July and August found the Squadron at the Aboukir training camp, as in the previous year, and in September the Squadron moved to Mersa Matruh at 24 hours notice for co-operation with the Mobile Division.
In January 1939 the Squadron commenced rearming with Lysander aircraft about which more will be said later.
Training continued, particular attention being paid to anti- aircraft co-operation with ground defences and photographic sorties using infra red and panchromatic films. Mosaics were made up for HQ BTE and by July photographic air surveys were being carried out together with night reconnaissance flights and cross- countries.
On 7th August 1939 the Squadron moved to Mersa Matruh for an indefinite period as part of a scheme by Headquarters Egypt Group to accommodate all squadrons at their war stations. The position of HQ Armoured Division however necessitated a further Squadron move to Qasaba on 1st September. In consequence of these moves training was drastically curtailed and restricted flying was imposed as an accompaniment to the tense European situation.
On 3 September 1939, the Second World War began. To read the Squadron’s history in the wartime years, please click on the following link:
