RAF 85 Sqdn

[StephenLawson]

Greetings forumites:

Can anyone provide me with a little info on RAF 85 Sqdn? When organized, What part of the front they operated on and when? Anyone know what German Army/ Jastas they opposed? Anything would be helpful. Here or offline. Thanks in advance for your help. STL

[Vigilant]

Here... please so we can all read it!

Vig.

Stephen,
Here is just a little info. Number 85 Sqdn. was stationed at Escaucourt in the Autumn of 1918.
At that time they flew the S.E. 5. Hope that others have more info than I do...
RichMC1

[MilesC]

Here are the squadron postings for 85 RAF.

Upavon 1 8 1917
Norwich 10 8 1917 *
Hounslow 27 11 1917 *
Marquise 22 5 1918 *
Petite Synthe 25 5 1918 *
St-Omer 11 6 1918 *
Bertangles 13 8 1918 *
Savy 5 9 1918
Foucaucourt 23 9 1918 *
Estrees-en-Chaussee 9 10 1918
Escaufourt 27 10 1918
Phalempin 9 1 1919

Aircraft flown in France were:
RAF SE5a from May 1918 to end of war. At the armistice they were in the 80th Army Wing in support of the Xth Army Brigade.

They are not listed as part of the British OOB in August 1918 for the Battle of Amiens, although they were certainly in France at the time posted at Bertangles.

I'm afraid I don't know which German units opposed them.

Hope this helps.

Miles

[Tom_Cervo]

Greetings forumites:

Can anyone provide me with a little info on RAF 85 Sqdn? When organized, What part of the front they operated on and when? Anyone know what German Army/ Jastas they opposed? Anything would be helpful. Here or offline. Thanks in advance for your help. STL

Try finding the biographies of the first two CO's, Billy Bishop and Mick Mannock. There's also a good bio out of Elliot White Springs, one of the founding members.

[StephenLawson]

Many thanks for your input. Especially on the airfield locations. That should give me opposition possiblities. Anyone have any SE 5a profiles from 85? I have one or two. Maybe Norman Franks will do a book. Just a joke.