No. 285 Squadron RAF

No. 285 Squadron RAF was a non-operational Second World War Royal Air Force squadron that operated a variety of aircraft to provide targets for anti-aircraft gun practice initially in the North Midlands and North Wales area.

No. 285 Squadron RAF
Active1941-1945
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleAnti-aircraft Co-operation
Motto(s)Respice Finem
(Latin: Consider the end)[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryIn front of a pair of wings elevated and conjoined in base, two bird bolts in saltire
Squadron CodesVG (Dec 1941 - Jul 1945)

History

The squadron was formed at RAF Wrexham on 1 December 1941 from No. 9 Group AAC Flight. In 1944 the squadron moved to RAF Andover and then RAF North Weald before finally moving to RAF Weston Zoyland where it was disbanded on 26 June 1945.

Aircraft operated
Bristol Beaufighter
From To Aircraft Variant Notes
Dec 1941 Mar 1942 Bristol Blenheim Mk.I
Dec 1941 Mar 1942 Lockheed Hudson Mk.III
Dec 1941 Jun 1942 Westland Lysander Mks.II, III, IIIa
Mar 1942 Jun 1945 Airspeed Oxford Mks.I, II
Mar 1942 Jan 1944 Boulton-Paul Defiant Mks.I, III
Sep 1943 Nov 1944 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.If
Jan 1944 Jun 1945 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
Mar 1944 Apr 1944 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV
Mar 1945 Jun 1945 North American Mustang MK.I

[2][3][4]

References

Citations
  1. Pine, L G (1983). A Dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p. 198. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. Rawlings 1982, p. 256.
  3. Halley 1988, p.348.
  4. Jefford 2001, p. 85.

Bibliography
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force and 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, 1988. ISBN 1853100536. (second revised edition 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.)
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 1985.


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