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No. 286 Squadron RAF

No. 286 Squadron RAF
Active17 November 1941 – 16 May 1945
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch 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.

History

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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

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Westland Lysander
From To Aircraft Variant Notes
Nov 1941 Jan 1942 Westland Lysander Mk.II
Nov 1941 Jun 1943 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I
Nov 1941 Jul 1944 Boulton-Paul Defiant Mks.I, III
Nov 1941 May 1945 Airspeed Oxford Mks.I, II
Apr 1942 May 1945 Hawker Hurricane Mks.IIc, IV
Jul 1943 Dec 1944 Miles Martinet Mk.I
Nov 1944 Mar 1945 Miles Master Mk.III

[1][4][5]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d 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

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  • 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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