No. 85 Squadron RAAF
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No 85 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron which provided air defence to Western Australia during World War II.
[edit] History
No 85 Squadron was formed at Guildford, near Perth, Western Australia, on 12 February 1943. While initially equipped with obsolete Brewster Buffalo fighters the Squadron received more modern Australian-designed Boomerang fighters at the end of April.
Throughout its history No. 85 Squadron was responsible for providing air defence to Western Australia. Due to the almost non-existent level of Japanese activity the Squadron did not see action during the War, though the detachment from the Squadron based near Exmouth in Northern Western Australia did unsuccessfully attempt to intercept small Japanese raiding and reconnaissance forces in May 1943.
No. 85 Squadron was re-equipped with Spitfire V aircraft in September 1944 and was re-located to RAAF Base Pearce in May 1945. The Squadron was disbanded at Pearce on 10 December 1945.
[edit] Aircraft operated
- Brewster Buffalo (February-April 1943)
- CAC Boomerang (April 1943-September 1944)
- C-47 Skytrain (April 1943-?) (one aircraft only)
- Supermarine Spitfire (September 1944-December 1945)
[edit] References
- Steve Eather (1995) Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Aerospace Publications.
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