Panorama group portrait of officers and men of No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), ...

Panorama group portrait of officers and men of No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), prior to their return to Australia, taken in front of the hangar at the AFC airfield. AFC officer cadets are wearing white cap bands. A dog held by an officer, front row, middle, has a pilot's silk scarf or cravat around its neck. No 2. Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was formed initially as 68 (Australian) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC) at Kantara, Egypt on 20 September 1916. Initally the personnel of No. 2 Squadron came from No. 67 (Australian) Squadron. The squadron and its DH-5 aircraft were involved in their first action in France on 2 October 1917, and participated in the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) and the Battle of Cambrai from November until December 1917. In 1918, re-equipped with SE-5A aircraft, they were involved in the defences against the German Spring offensive and assisted the French in the Marne offensive. The last major operation of the war with which No. 2 Squadron was involved occurred on 9 November 1918. In just over one year of active sevice, members of No. 2 Squadron AFC received many decorations, including 6 Military Crosses (and 1 bar), 7 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 4 Military medals and 1 Meritorious Service Medal. Casualties in this squadron were also high with 25 killed and 8 wounded in combat, with a further 51 airmen killed in accidents and 20 of disease in the United Kingdom.