No. 286 Squadron RAF

Last updated

No. 286 Squadron RAF
Active17 November 1941 – 16 May 1945
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
RoleAnti-aircraft Co-operation
Motto(s) Latin: Praesidia Nostra Exercemus
("We exercise our defences")
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryIn front of a three-bladed propeller, a grenade fired [1]
Squadron CodesNW (Nov 1941 - May 1945)

No. 286 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 in the West Country of England.

Contents

History

The squadron was formed at RAF Filton on 17 November 1941 from No. 10 Group AAC Flight. [1]

From 24 January 1942 the squadron was headquartered at newly operational RAF Lulsgate Bottom. [2] However, as the facilities there were still unfinished, from 2 March to 30 April the headquarters used RAF Colerne. It returned to Lulsgate only briefly before leaving for RAF Zeals on 26 May. [3]

The squadron served at various locations and detachments around the west country before finally moving to RAF Weston Zoyland, where it was disbanded on 16 May 1945. [1]

Aircraft operated

Westland Lysander Lysander 5 Aug 2012 a.jpg
Westland Lysander
FromToAircraftVariantNotes
Nov 1941Jan 1942 Westland Lysander Mk.II
Nov 1941Jun 1943 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I
Nov 1941Jul 1944 Boulton-Paul Defiant Mks.I, III
Nov 1941May 1945 Airspeed Oxford Mks.I, II
Apr 1942May 1945Hawker HurricaneMks.IIc, IV
Jul 1943Dec 1944 Miles Martinet Mk.I
Nov 1944Mar 1945 Miles Master Mk.III

[1] [4] [5]

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References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Halley 1988, p. 348.
  2. ↑ James 1989, p. 17.
  3. ↑ James 1989, pp. 21–22.
  4. ↑ Rawlings 1982, p. 256.
  5. ↑ 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.
  • James, Ian. The Story of RAF Lulsgate Bottom. Bristol: Redcliffe Press, 1989. ISBN   0-948265-48-5.
  • 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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