 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2008) |
| No. 85 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 August 1917 – 3 July 1919 1 June 1938 – 31 October 1958 30 November 1958 – 31 March 1963 1 April 1963 – 19 December 1975 19 December 1975 – 1 July 1991 2008 – August 2011 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Nickname(s) | Flying Foxes |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Nocto Diuque Venamur ("We hunt by day and night")[1] |
| Post-1950 aircraft insignia |  |
| Battle honours | Western Front, 1917–1918; France & Low Countries, 1939–1940; Battle of Britain, 1940; Home Defence, 1940–1944; Fortress Europe, 1943; Normandy, 1944; France & Germany, 1944–1945. |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | William Avery "Billy" Bishop Edward "Mick" Mannock Peter Townsend John Cunningham |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | On an ogress a hexagon voided[2] The hexagon was no. 85's World War I identity insignia and the ogress signifies the night[3] |
| Squadron Codes | NO (Sep 1938 – Sep 1939) VY (Sep 1939 – Apr 1951) |
No. 85 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It last served in 2011, as No. 85 (Reserve) Squadron posted to RAF Church Fenton.
- ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 170. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 156.
- ^ Rawlings 1978, p. 204.