Definition
No. 86 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom, principally operating as a bomber squadron during the Second World War and later undertaking transport and maritime patrol duties.
Overview
The squadron was first formed during the First World War as a training element of the Royal Flying Corps, later incorporated into the RAF on its creation in 1918. After being disbanded in the post‑war draw‑down, No. 86 Squadron was re‑established in the mid‑1930s as part of the RAF’s expanding bomber force.
During the Second World War the squadron served with RAF Bomber Command, initially operating Vickers Wellington medium bombers from stations in England. In the later war years it converted to heavier aircraft, including the Avro Lancaster, and participated in strategic bombing raids over occupied Europe and Germany. Following the war, No. 86 Squadron transitioned to long‑range transport and maritime patrol roles, operating aircraft such as the Consolidated Liberator and the Handley Page Hastings before its final disbandment in the 1960s.
Etymology/Origin
The designation “No. 86 Squadron” follows the RAF’s numerical system for squadrons, where numbers are allocated sequentially as new units are formed. The numeral does not imply a specific role; rather, it serves as an administrative identifier within the RAF’s organisational structure.
Characteristics
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Role | Bomber squadron (World War II); later transport and maritime patrol |
| Branch | Royal Air Force, United Kingdom |
| Command Structure | Part of RAF Bomber Command during WWII; later under Transport Command/Coastal Command |
| Main Aircraft Operated | Vickers Wellington (medium bomber), Avro Lancaster (heavy bomber), Consolidated Liberator (long‑range patrol/transport), Handley Page Hastings (transport) |
| Base Stations | Various RAF stations in England, including RAF Marham and RAF Waddington (World War II); later overseas deployments for transport duties |
| Motto & Insignia | Accurate information about an official squadron motto or badge is not confirmed. |
| Disbandment | Final disbandment occurred in the 1960s; the exact year is not confirmed in publicly available sources. |
Related Topics
- RAF Bomber Command – the command structure responsible for the strategic bombing campaign in which No. 86 Squadron participated.
- Vickers Wellington – the medium bomber type most closely associated with the squadron’s early wartime operations.
- Avro Lancaster – the heavy bomber adopted by many RAF squadrons for later war raids, including No. 86 Squadron.
- Handley Page Hastings – a post‑war transport aircraft operated by the squadron during its later years.
- Royal Air Force squadron numbering system – the method by which RAF units are identified and organised.
Note: Where specific dates, mottos, or detailed operational records are not corroborated by reliable published sources, the entry indicates that accurate information is not confirmed.