No. 85 Squadron RAF
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No. 85 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1 August 1917 – 3 July 1919 1 June 1938 – 31 October 1958 30 November 1958 – 31 March 1963 1 April 1963 – 19 December 1975 19 December 1975 – 1 July 1991 2008 – August 2011 |
Country | |
Insignia | |
Squadron Badge | On an ogress a hexagon voided[2] The hexagon was no. 85's World War I identity insignia and the ogress signifies the night[3] |
Squadron Codes | NO (Sep 1938 – Sep 1939) VY (Sep 1939 – Apr 1951) |
No. 85 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It last served in 2011, as No. 85 (Reserve) Squadron posted to RAF Church Fenton.
History
In World War I
No. 85
On 21 June 1918, there was a change of command and training methods following the arrival of the new CO, Major
The Squadron became notorious after it rejected the ace James McCudden as commanding officer, on the grounds of snobbery.[7]
World War II
On 1 June 1938, the squadron was reformed from the renumbered elements of "A" Flight of No. 87 Squadron RAF and placed under the command of Flight Lieutenant D. E. Turner. The squadron was posted to RAF Debden in Essex and commenced training on the Gloster Gladiator (the RAF's last biplane fighter). On 4 September the first Hawker Hurricanes began arriving in numbers. With war looking likely in Europe, No. 85 Squadron received the signal ordering its immediate mobilisation on 23 August 1939, the aircraft making up both "A" and "B" Flights were kept at a state of constant readiness and by 1 September the squadron had completed its preparation for the impending move to France.
On the outbreak of the
December 1939 saw a Royal visit from his Majesty the King accompanied by the
In an eleven-day period the squadron accounted for a confirmed total of 90 enemy aircraft; there were many more claims that could not be substantiated. The final sorties saw the squadron giving fighter cover to the Allied armies until its airfields were overrun and the three remaining aircraft returned to the UK. During the intense battles over France, the squadron lost seventeen pilots; two killed, six wounded and nine missing, this figure included their new CO Squadron Leader Peacock but had once again had acquitted itself well in the face of many adversities.
The squadron re-equipped and resumed full operations early in June 1940. After taking part in the first half of the
Entering the jet age
- No. 85 Squadron at RAF West Raynham[9]
- A Flight at RAF West Raynham
- B Flight at RAF North Coates
- C Flight at RAF Bawdsey
- D Flight at RAF Barkston Heath*
- E Flight at RAF Wattisham*
- F Flight at RAF Wyton*
* Joined the squadron after No. 25 Squadron converted to Tornado F3 on 1 August 1989.
2017 marked the 100th Anniversary of No. 85 Squadron, its Association met in June to celebrate the rich history gained throughout the many years of service to the Nation and the Crown. No. 85 Squadron reformed as No 85 (Reserve) Squadron in 2008, located at RAF Church Fenton, teaching Elementary Flying Training in the Grob Tutor. In August 2011, the squadron was disbanded due to the reductions in the RAF and Fleet Air Arm following the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.[10]
Commanding officers
From | To | Name |
---|---|---|
Aug 1917 | Mar 1918 | Maj. R.A. Archer |
Mar 1918 | Jun 1918 | Maj. W.A. Bishop, VC, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC |
Jun 1918 | Aug 1918 | Maj. and two Bars, MC & Bar |
Aug 1918 | Jan 1919 | Maj. Cyril Crowe |
Jan 1919 | Feb 1919 | Maj. J.O. Leach |
Jun 1938 | Aug 1938 | F/Lt. D.E. Turner |
Aug 1938 | Nov 1938 | F/Lt. A.C.P. Carver |
Nov 1938 | Jan 1940 | S/Ldr. D.F.W. Atcherley |
Jan 1940 | May 1940 | S/Ldr. J.O.W. Oliver, DSO, DFC, CB |
May 1940 | May 1940 | S/Ldr. M. Peacock |
May 1940 | Jun 1941 | S/Ldr. P. Townsend, CVO, DSO, DFC and Bar |
Jun 1941 | Oct 1941 | W/Cdr. A.T.D. Saunders |
Nov 1941 | May 1942 | W/Cdr. R.K. Hamblin |
May 1942 | Jan 1943 | W/Cdr. G.L. Raphael, DFC |
Jan 1943 | Feb 1944 | W/Cdr. J. Cunningham, DSO, DFC |
Feb 1944 | Oct 1944 | W/Cdr. C.M. Miller, DFC |
Oct 1944 | Jan 1945 | W/Cdr. F.S. Gonsalves, DFC |
Jan 1945 | Jan 1946 | W/Cdr. W.K. Davison DSO DFC |
Jan 1946 | Jan 1946 | Sqn Ldr R.H. Farrell DFC |
Jan 1946 | May 1946 | Sqn Ldr A.J. Owen DFC AFC DFM |
May 1946 | Jan 1947 | Sqn Ldr D.C. Furse DFC |
Jan 1947 | Mar 1948 | Sqn Ldr P.F. Allen DFC |
Mar 1948 | Aug 1948 | Sqn Ldr L.W.G. Gill DSO |
Aug 1948 | Jul 1950 | S/Ldr J.R. Gardner |
Jul 1950 | Sep 1950 | Flt Lt A. Hollingworth |
Sep 1950 | Jan 1952 | Sqn Ldr W.A. Griffiths DFC |
Jan 1952 | May 1954 | Sqn Ldr J.D. Hawkins AFC |
May 1954 | Dec 1955 | Sqn Ldr B. Scandrett AFC |
Dec 1955 | Jan 1958 | Wg Cdr A.F. Binks DFC |
Jan 1958 | Oct 1958 | W/Cdr. L.G. Martin |
Nov 1958 | Mar 1960 | W/Cdr. G.A. Martin, DFC, AFC |
Mar 1960 | Dec 1961 | W/Cdr. S.J. Perkins, AFC |
Dec 1961 | Mar 1963 | W/Cdr. D.A.P. Saunders-Davies |
Apr 1963 | Dec 1063 | Sqn Ldr A.C. Warren |
Dec 1963 | Apr 1966 | Sqn Ldr A. French OBE |
Apr 1966 | Jan 1968 | Sqn Ldr J.B. Mountain MBE |
Jan 1968 | Jan 1969 | Sqn Ldr A.G. Topham |
Jan 1969 | Jan 1971 | Wg Cdr J.B. Cowton |
Jan 1971 | Jan 1973 | Wg Cdr I.H. Panton |
Jan 1973 | Jan 1975 | Wg Cdr M.G. King |
Jan 1975 | Dec 1975 | Wg Cdr J.D. Harvey |
Dec 1975 | Jan 1978 | Wg Cdr G.C. Gayton |
Jan 1978 | Jun 1980 | Wg Cdr P.G. Masterman |
Jun 1980 | Jul 1983 | Wg Cdr A.C. Reed |
Jul 1983 | Nov 1985 | Wg Cdr J.B. Thornton |
Nov 1985 | 1988 | Wg Cdr J. Sewell |
1988 | 1990 | Wg Cdr R.R.Wood |
1990 | 1991 | Wg Cdr R.D. Clements |
2008 | 2011 | Sqn Ldr A. Paul |
See also
References
Notes
- ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 156.
- ^ Rawlings 1978, p. 204.
- ISSN 0035-8614.
- ^ "85 Squadron". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ American Aces of World War I. p. 52.
- ^ Smith, Adrian. "James McCudden VC".
- ^ "85 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^ "Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation". Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^ "RAF Church Fenton says farewell to 85 Squadron". raf.mod.uk/. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
Bibliography
- Franks, Norman, et al. American Aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 978-1-84176-375-0.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Robinson, Anthony. RAF Fighter Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. London: Arms and Armour Press Ltd., 1987 (Reprinted in 1999 by Brockhampton Press, ISBN 1-86019-907-0.)