The Flying Shufti

		In the early 1930s, the RAF began to mark all of its aircraft with a badge on the fin that denoted to which squadron the aircraft belonged. Each badge was set inside a frame which identified the role of the particular squadron. Fighters used an arrowhead, bombers used a symbolic round bomb with a fuse head, whilst Army Cooperation squadrons used a 6-pointed star. Whilst many RAF squadrons in the Middle East used the 6-pointed star, the connotations of the Star of David were thought too much of a risk for squadrons plying routes between Egypt and Palestine so 208, being one of those squadrons, chose to use a disc instead. Remembering that Army Cooperation and reconnaissance were the Squadron's duties in those days, it was logical that they should try to find an emblem that was appropriate to the task.

Horus was a hawk-headed god of Egyptian mythology, the son of Isis and Osiris, and a guardian against evil spirits. The Eye of Horus was a symbol often used to protect the dead and many ancient Egyptian artefacts carry an image of the winged eye upon them. Since 208 Squadron was stationed in Egypt and since observation was its primary task, it was reasoned that the Eye of Horus should be adopted as the 208 Sqn emblem. The badge had everything to recommend its use by 208 Squadron, as it represented reconnaissance, it had clear links with Egypt (which had been the Squadron's home for 10 years), the wings denoted flight and, of single importance at the time, nobody else had come up with the suggestion for use elsewhere. 'Vigilant'was the motto adopted from the outset. The 208 Squadron colours, too, seem to have originated in that time, for the wings on the badge were yellow and the background disc was pale blue.

Seven years later, however, it was discovered that the use of an eye in English heraldry was not acceptable, as it seemingly had connotations of evil spirits, and so the Gizah Sphinx became the official emblem on the approved Squadron badge in 1936, although the old motto remained.

To complete the story of the badge, it is only necessary to know that the verb 'to look'in Arabic is 'shouf,'corrupted into the commonly-used expression 'shufti'by English speakers. So, in the manner of time, it is not difficult to imagine how 208 Squadron came to be known as 'The Flying Shuftis.'On the Hawk of today, the badge, and thus the legend, has endured.