| Original caption: “Hurricanes of Number 85 Squadron in flight, October 1940.” The Royal Air Force (RAF) Number 85 Squadron was formed from A Flight of Number 87 Squadron on June 1, 1938, as a fighter squadron. For the 1st 4 months of its existence, the squadron was equipped with the Gloster Gladiator before receiving the Hawker Hurricane in September 1938. In September 1939, the squadron moved to France with the Air Component of the BEF. The squadron suffered heavy losses during the Battle of France, losing all but 4 of its aircraft in the 12 days between the start of the German offensive and its return to Britain. The RAF took advantage of the lull in air operations during and immediately after the rest of the German campaign in France, and by early June was operational again. The squadron took part in the 1st half of the Battle of Britain, before moving to Church Fenton in Yorkshire early in September. Once in Yorkshire, the squadron converted to nightfighter operations, initially using their Hurricanes. After a month of operating from Yorkshire, the squadron moved back to the south, but the Hurricane was not well-suited to night fighting. The alternative to be tried was the Defiant I, but the squadron only flew 3 sorties before these turret-armed fighters were replaced with Douglas Havoc Is. The squadron was 1 of a number to use the Turbinlight-equipped Havocs in an attempt to improve their ability to operate in the dark. They were fitted with a 2.7-1,000,000-candlepower searchlight in the nose. The batteries for it were carried in the bomb bay. A radar operator sat in the aft fuselage. They were unarmed, and they were supposed to illuminate targets for accompanying Hawker Hurricane fighters. They were made obsolete by high-performance fighters that could carry their own radar. The squadron converted to the de Havilland Mosquito NF Mark II in August 1942, but it would not gain its 1st victory until the night of January 17-18 1943. From March 1943 to the end of April 1944, the squadron carried out intruder missions over occupied France. On May 1, 1944, Number 85 Squadron was transferred to Number 100 Group, supporting Bomber Command’s night bombing campaign until the end of the war. In this role, the squadron carried out attacks on German nightfighter airfields and escorted the bomber stream. Number 85 Squadron continued in the night fighter role for most of the war, with only a brief period as bomber support as part of 100 Group. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0306.jpg |
| Image Size | 442.25 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2665 x 1899 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 1, 1940 |
| Location | |
| City | London |
| State or Province | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | Imperial War Museum |
| Record Number | CH 1513 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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