Facing Another War - The 1930s

It was at this time that a Squadron badge was introduced for use on the Squadron aircraft. 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.

In April 1933, Squadron Leader John Whitworth Jones took over command of 208 and, during his period of command, the Squadron exchanged its Atlases for the Hawker Audax, the Army Cooperation variant of the famous Hart bomber. During this time, the Squadron expanded its ideas as an instantly mobile unit and was prepared to go (almost) anywhere at (almost) a moment's notice. Thus 208 Squadron was fully involved in the development of modern expeditionary doctrine. By August 1935, the conversion to Audaxes was complete and the Squadron was expanded to 4 flights, with 'D' Flight equipped with another variant of the Hart - the Demon twin-seat fighter. The new Flight was formed as a result of Mussolini's expanded ambitions in North Africa, which caused him to build a wire fence along the length of the border between Libya and Egypt. The British response was to build a base at Mersa Matruh and expand the scope of 208 Squadron's task. Initially, 'C' Flight was detached to Mersa Matruh in October 1935, followed by 'A' Flight in December. 'D' Flight was detached to No 29 Squadron at Amariya in January 1936 and was eventually absorbed by No 64 Squadron. In the rising political tension, the whole Squadron was deployed to Mersa Matruh until July 1936 when, with Palestine in turmoil again, 208 was returned to Heliopolis but immediately detached to Ramleh for active operations. 'A' Flight was detached to Jerusalem and 'C' Flight to Haifa. However, by the end of the year, the Squadron was reunited in Heliopolis where it became ever more active in desert exercises to improve its operational readiness for whatever might occur in the ever-more volatile world of the late 1930s. October 1937 brought some light relief, however, as both the Squadron and Old Comrades celebrated 208's 'coming of age,' both in Heliopolis and in London.

In February 1938, His Majesty King George VI approved the official badge of No 208 Squadron. , which now bore the image of the Gizah Sphinx shown head-on and carrying the motto 'Vigilant.' The motto was the only item of the original, unofficial badge used up until that time, since the Chester Herald could not accept the 'Flying Shufti' as the heraldic symbol of the Squadron. But, like the old one, the new badge had strong associations with Egypt, where the Squadron had now spent almost 20 years. The badge was presented to the Squadron Commander at the time, Squadron Leader W A D Brook, by Air Vice-Marshal C T McLean CB DSO MC.

As Hitler and Mussolini expanded their power base in Europe, the Axis powers closed ranks and tension increased, both in Europe and in North Africa. January 1939 was a historic milestone in the history of 208 Squadron, as this was when it converted to its first ever monoplane - the Westland Lysander. By the time the Second World War started in September 1939, the Squadron had completed its operational work up on the Lysander and had moved to Qasaba in a state of full readiness. No longer was the 'Flying Shufti' seen on 208 Squadron's aircraft, with its identity now proclaimed by the anonymous fuselage code 'GA'.