No. 86 Squadron

Reformed at Gosport in December 1940, No. 86 Squadron flew throughout the war under RAF Coastal Command. It began with convoy escort duties on Bristol Blenheims, converted to Beaufort torpedo-bombers in mid-1941 for minelaying and anti-shipping strikes off the Norwegian coast, then re-equipped with Consolidated Liberators in late 1942. From March 1943 the squadron moved to Northern Ireland — operating from Aldergrove and then RAF Ballykelly under 15 Group — flying very-long-range anti-submarine patrols over the North Atlantic. A further detachment to Reykjavík, Iceland in early 1944 extended its reach before the squadron returned to Scotland for the war’s final year. By the end of hostilities No. 86 Squadron had destroyed fourteen U-boats, placing it among the most effective anti-submarine units in Coastal Command. It transferred to Transport Command in June 1945 and disbanded in April 1946.