No. 85 Squadron RAF

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No. 85 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.

[edit] History

The squadron was formed at Upavon on the 1 August 1917; the station was home to the Royal Flying Corps Central Flying School.

Shortly afterwards the Squadron moved to Mousehold Heath near Norwich under the command of Major R A Archer.

During November 1917 the Squadron transferred to Hounslow in Essex and in March 1918 Major William Avery Bishop VC, DSO, MC, took command and carried out his orders to prepare and train for front line duties in France.

On 1 April 1918 No. 85 Squadron was transferred into the new Royal Air Force.

Following this period of training the Squadron deployed to France during May 1918. Equipped with the Sopwith Dolphin and later the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A, it flew fighter patrols and ground attack sorties over the Western Front until the Armistice was signed.

On 21 June 1918 there was a change of command and training methods following the arrival of the new CO, Major Edward "Mick" Mannock VC, DSO, MC. Rather than fight as individuals the Squadron was taught to act as a unit during combat. During a patrol on 26 July 1918 accompanying Lt DC Inglis over the front line Major Mannock failed to return depriving 85 Squadron of its leader. On 18 July 1919 Major Mannock was awarded a posthumous VC.

No. 85 Squadron amassed 99 victories during its short involvement in the conflict and returned to the UK in February 1919, the squadron disbanded on 3 July 1919.

On June 1, 1938 the Squadron was reformed from the renumbered elements of "A" Flight No. 87 Squadron RAF and placed under the command of Flight Lieutenant D E Turner. The Squadron were based at RAF Debden in Essex and commenced training using the Gloster Gladiator (the RAF's last biplane fighter). On 4 September the first Hawker Hurricanes began arriving in numbers.

The war clouds began to darken the horizon once again and another trip to France was beckoning for the young men and their Hurricane fighters. No. 85 received the signal ordering their immediate mobilisation on 23 August 1939, the aircraft making up both "A" and "B" Flights were kept at a state of constant readiness, by 1 September the Squadron had completed its preparation for the impending move to France. On the outbreak of the Second World War the squadron moved its 16 Hurricanes to Boos as part of the Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) 60th Fighter Wing.

The primary role was to give support to the Fairey Battle and Bristol Blenheim units deployed around Rheims and to provide vital air defence cover for their bases. Initial sorties however involved patrols over the English Channel and a move to Merville was instigated in late September. By 1 November another move saw 85 based at Lille Seclin, however to maintain its patrols over the Channel sections were detached to Le Touquet and St. Inglevert. During one such patrol over the Boulogne area, 85 scored its first victory of World War Two when Flight Lieutenant R.H.A. Lee attacked a Heinkel He 111 which crashed into the Channel exploding on impact.

December 1939 saw a Royal visit from his Majesty the King accompanied by the Duke of Gloucester and Viscount Lord Gort. The onset of winter proved to be an additional challenge as bitterly cold weather prevented flying, caused damage to aircraft and took its toll on the health of the airmen who were living in fairly primitive conditions.

When the German invasion (Blitzkrieg) commenced in May 1940, 85 found itself locked in a bitter contest with the Luftwaffe, with attacks on their aerodromes commonplace there was no respite from operations. In an eleven day period the Squadron had accounted for a confirmed total of 90 enemy aircraft; there were many more claims that could not be substantiated. The final sorties saw 85 giving fighter cover to the Allied armies until its bases were finally overrun and the three remaining aircraft retired 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. After taking part in the first half of the Battle of Britain over Southern England, the Squadron moved to Yorkshire in September and in October following a change in role commenced night fighter patrols.

For the remainder of the Second World War No. 85 Squadron continued its nocturnal pursuit of intercepting enemy raiders, it had a brief period providing Bomber Support as part of No. 100 Group RAF and even took part in the famous anti-diver patrols intercepting V1 flying bombs.

Following the end of war in Europe the Squadron was disbanded. It was reformed and flying operations continued into the jet age with new aircraft types such as the Gloster Meteor, Gloster Javelin and English Electric Canberra.

In its final reformation No. 85 Squadron was a Bristol Bloodhound Mark II surface to air missile unit; operating from several key bases in the United Kingdom and Headquartered at RAF West Raynham in Norfolk.

The Squadron continued to play a significant part in Air Defence operations as part of 11 Group RAF Strike Command until the 1990s. The collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the end of the Cold War period heralded wide sweeping changes in the United Kingdom's Air Defence needs. 85 Squadron was disbanded on 10 July 1991 and the Standard bearing the squadrons battle honours was interred and is in the safe keeping of Ely Cathedral.

2007 marks the 90th Anniversary of No. 85 Squadron, its Association will meet in June to celebrate once again the rich history gained throughout the many years of service to the Nation and the Crown.

No. 85 Squadron's squadron insignia was a hexagon.