The initial task for the squadron was anti-invasion patrols along the coast of southern England and reconnaissance of potential invasion sites in Britain.

[4] After being declared operational on the new aircraft, the squadron commenced support for Army training exercises and undertook shipping patrols in the English Channel and North Sea, primarily along the coast of northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands, combined with a training programme for aircrew and ground crews.

The squadron suffered some casualties by enemy action and mechanical failure as they ranged more frequently into German controlled areas.

On 21 October 1942, on a mission to the Dortmund-Ems Canal and objectives in Holland the Mustang Mk.Is of 268 Squadron became the first single-engined fighters based in the UK to cross the German border.

This mission caused a great deal of consternation to the German High Command, as single-engined RAF fighters from Britain over Germany meant that a new level of threat had to be considered.

On 26 November 1942, during an operation over Holland, Flg Off R. A. Bethell, spotted and shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and shortly after sighted a Junkers Ju.52 transport aircraft which he promptly shot down in flames (post-war analysis indicates these were in fact a Klemm trainer and a Junkers W 34 target tug), the squadron's first recorded air to air combat victories.

In early 1943, operations continued over German-occupied territory, especially over the Netherlands, with losses to squadron personnel and aircraft but not without exacting a toll on the Luftwaffe.

In July 1943 the squadron, commanded by Sqn Ldr G. Pallot, re-equipped again, this time to the North American Mustang Mk.IA aircraft.

The squadron then attended a naval gunfire direction course at Dundonald in Scotland in late March to early April.

Many sorties were conducted at extremely low level against a range of targets, including German coast defences, lines of communication, supply centres, radar sites and airfields.

Later in the day the squadron flew tactical reconnaissances searching out German reinforcements and units behind the beachhead, with sorties late in the evening as far east as the western outskirts of Paris.

The squadron suffered one recorded loss on D-Day, a pilot who was returning to base with engine trouble went missing over the Channel.

The Typhoon eventually proved not to be suitable for tactical reconnaissance and they were retired from the squadron by the end of November 1944 to be replaced by the North American Mustang Mk.II.

From August 1944 the squadron was based in turn at Beny-Sur-Mer, Plumetot, Boisney, Fresnoy-Folny, St. Omer/Fort Rouge in France, St Denijs Westrem/Ghent and Deurne/Antwerp in Belgium.

The last recorded air to air victory scored by an aircraft of the squadron was a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 shot down by Flt Lt S. J. Perkins RAFVR flying Mustang Mk.II FR896, near Krefeld on 28 February 1945; the month also saw the squadron's last recorded casualty for the war, Flt Lt F. R. Normoyle RAAF, shot down and killed by German anti-aircraft fire near Bocholt on 8 February 1945.

[8] In early 1946 a number of the squadron's aircrew and aircraft were detached to form part of the Nuremberg Courier Flight supporting the Nuremberg War Trials and participated in a recreation of the attack on the Amiens Prison Operation Jericho that occurred in 1944 for the filming of a documentary film on that event.

[3] During its wartime existence from September 1940 to May 1945, the squadron included aircrew from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, British West Indies, Canada, India, New Zealand, Poland and the US.