No. 82 Squadron RAF

No. 82 Squadron RAF. It is a squadron of the Royal Air Force which was first formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. The squadron has operated in various roles including reconnaissance, light bombing, and electronic warfare across multiple conflicts, most notably the Second World War and the Cold War. Its service history includes significant operations in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Far East.

History

No. 82 Squadron was originally formed at Doncaster on 7 January 1917, initially equipped with the Airco DH.6 for training duties before moving to France in November 1917 to perform artillery spotting and reconnaissance missions with the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8. Disbanded after the First World War, the squadron was reformed in June 1939 at Cranfield as a light bomber unit, flying the Bristol Blenheim. It saw immediate action at the start of the Second World War, participating in early raids against German shipping and during the Battle of France. The squadron later transitioned to the Douglas Boston and de Havilland Mosquito, conducting precision bombing and pathfinder missions over Occupied Europe. Post-war, it was re-equipped with the English Electric Canberra for high-altitude bombing and reconnaissance roles during the Cold War, and later operated the Handley Page Victor in a strategic reconnaissance and electronic countermeasures role before final disbandment in 1971.

Aircraft operated

The squadron's first operational aircraft was the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8, used from 1917. In the interwar period and at its 1939 reformation, it operated the Bristol Blenheim Mk.I and Mk.IV. During the mid-war period, it transitioned to the Douglas Boston III and V, followed by the de Havilland Mosquito XVI and XX for pathfinder duties. In the post-war era, it flew the English Electric Canberra B.2, PR.3, and B.6 variants from 1951. Its final operational aircraft was the Handley Page Victor B(SR).2, used for strategic radar reconnaissance and electronic intelligence gathering before the unit's standing down.

Notable personnel

Notable commanders include Wing Commander Hughie Edwards, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for leading a Bristol Blenheim raid on the port of Bremen in July 1941 while serving as a Flight Lieutenant with the squadron. Another distinguished member was Squadron Leader John Nettleton, who received the Victoria Cross for his leadership in the Augsburg raid of 1942 while serving with No. 44 Squadron RAF. The squadron also included Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson, the RAF's top Allied fighter ace in the European Theatre, who served an early tour with the unit. Pilot Officer Roderick Learoyd earned the Victoria Cross for a 1940 attack on the Dortmund–Ems Canal while flying with No. 49 Squadron RAF.

Squadron bases

The squadron was formed at Doncaster in 1917. Its primary bases during the Second World War included Watton in Norfolk, from where it launched many early Blenheim operations, and Bodney. It also operated from forward airfields in France during the Battle of France and later from stations in Bengal and Assam for operations in the Burma campaign. Post-war bases included Wyton in Cambridgeshire, a major RAF Bomber Command station for Canberra operations, and Marham in Norfolk, from where it flew the Handley Page Victor.

Operations and deployments

During the First World War, the squadron conducted reconnaissance over the Western Front. In the Second World War, its early operations included anti-shipping strikes and raids on occupied Europe during the Phoney War. It supported the British Expeditionary Force in the Battle of France and later participated in the Circus offensive and intruder missions. After converting to Mosquitos, it served with the Light Night Striking Force, part of No. 8 Group RAF. Post-war, the squadron's Canberras were deployed to Akrotiri in Cyprus during the Suez Crisis and conducted high-altitude photographic reconnaissance missions. Its final role involved Victor sorties gathering electronic intelligence on behalf of RAF Signals Command during the height of the Cold War.

Category:Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons Category:Military units and formations established in 1917