Hlabezulu – the stabber of the sky

266 squadron was formed in September 1918 at Mudros. The squadron was equipped with seaplanes and flew anti-submarine patrols over the Aegean Sea. It was disbanded in September 1919.

The squadron was reformed in October 1939 at Sutton Bridge. Intended to be a Blenheim squadron it never received the aircraft, and was equipped with Spitfires in January 1940. In June 1940 the squadron flew patrols over the evacuation from Dunkirk. During the Battle of Britain, the squadron was based at Wittering, Tangmere, Eastchurch and Hornchurch. In 1942 the squadron was re-equipped with Typhoons and in 1944 became part of Second TAF in France. The squadron was disbanded in July 1945.

Re-formed in 1946, the squadron had a number of post-war incarnations before finally being disbanded in 1964.