The 1960s - Out of Africa

The new Squadron was equipped with Venoms, which it operated for a year, flying out of Eastleigh in Kenya. During that time, the Squadron maintained a presence in central Africa, in a more peaceful mode than for a long time, whilst also maintaining a detachment in the Persian Gulf. In March 1960, however, 208 flew back to Stradishall, where it re-equipped completely with Hunter FGA9s, thus extending its mobility. On return to Nairobi, Squadron aircraft were detached to Khormaksar, Sharjah and Bahrain. In June 1961, when Kuwait was threatened by Iraq, 208 Squadron was ready to respond and on 2nd July, moved into Kuwait at the Sheik's request to maintain defensive patrols. It remained there until October, and 208 Squadron was the last British unit to leave Kuwait, returning to Khormaksar alongside No 43 Squadron, which was providing air support to British troops in the Radfan, as Aden's political issues came to the boil. 208's pilots endeared themselves to the ground troops by carrying out rocket strikes as close as 25 yards from our own ground positions and hitting the right spot. The Squadron's back-and-forth life continued with periodic detachments to Bahrain, and operations against the Yemeni rebels in Aden continued until June 1964 when 208 Squadron moved permanently to Muharraq, although the Squadron continued to detach flights to Aden right up to Independence Day.

In October 1966, at Muharraq, a profound event in the life of the Squadron took place with the celebrations of 208 Squadron's 50th Birthday, which was attended by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Bromet, by Major Christopher Draper and by many other distinguished names of the Royal Air Force. Many more detachments and Armament Practice Camps occupied 208's time over the next 5 years, but there was a certain inevitability about the outcome of all these practices, as the British Government told the world that it no longer intended to maintain a presence east of Suez, so the British Forces in the Gulf were to be disbanded in 1971. 208 Squadron was amongst that number and, on 10th September 1971, it was disbanded at Muharraq. As there were no immediate plans to reform the Squadron, its Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Ian Dick, brought home the Standard and laid it up at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell until it was to be required again. No 208 Squadron had established a record that has not yet been beaten, and is unlikely ever to be beaten - it served in the Middle East for almost 52 years, longer than any other numbered Squadron in the Royal Air Force.