| No. 87 (United Provinces) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 September 1917 – 24 June 1919 15 March 1937 – 30 Dec 1946 1 January 1952 – 3 January 1961 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Nickname | United Provinces |
| Mottos | Latin:Maximus me metuit ("The most powerful fear me")[1][a][2] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge heraldry | A serpent reversed, head reguardant and tail embowed[2] |
| Squadron codes | PD Oct 1938 – Sep 1939 LK Sep 1939 – Dec 1946 B Jan 1952 – Jan 1961 |
| Squadron Roundel |  |
No. 87 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of theRoyal Air Force during the First World War and Second World War.
87 SquadronRoyal Flying Corps (RFC) was first formed on 1 September 1917 atUpavon from elements of the Central Flying School. On 17 December 1917, it moved toHounslow Heath Aerodrome and was equipped predominantly withSopwith Dolphins andSopwith Scouts, moving on to France in April 1918. After the armistice, the squadron moved back to England and was disbanded atRAF Ternhill on 24 June 1919.[3] The squadron had sevenaces, inArthur Vigers DFC,Leslie Hollinghurst,[b]Henry Biziou,Joseph Callaghan,[c]Charles Darwin,Herbert Joseph Larkin,Alexander Pentland, and Charles Edward Worthington. The squadron's "lazy-S" style insignia in use late in World War I on its Dolphins is said to have been authorised for use by CO Callaghan, whose pre-war time living in Texas, wherelivestock branding onranch livestock was common there at that time, could have inspired his choice of squadron insignia.[4]
87 Squadron was re-formed on 15 March 1937 atRAF Tangmere from elements ofNo. 54 Squadron RAF, operating theHawker Fury. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the squadron was part of the air element of the British Expeditionary Force in France, equipped withHawker Hurricanes. Flight LieutenantIan Gleed was posted to the squadron as a replacement pilot on 17 May 1940 and became an ace in two days. He took command of the squadron in December 1940 when it was based atRAF Charmy Down.[5][6]
John Strachey, who later became amember of parliament (MP), served as the intelligence officer for the squadron during the Battle of Britain.[7]On 23 July Flt Lt AWG Le Hardy (Tony) took command before being sent on Special Operations as the Air Liaison Officer to the Military Mission to Marshal Tito on theisland of Vis off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. Squadron Spitfires were deployed to the island in support of the commando forces from the airfield organised by A/Sqn Ldr Le Hardy for operations in support of the partisan forces in the Balkans for which he was decorated with the OBE, the youngest officer to receive that award, aged 21. The airfield became a valuable destination for damaged Allied Aircraft saving many lives. {Flying Log Book A Le Hardy OBE RAF}.
In July 1944 87 Squadron, now commanded by Squadron LeaderGeoffrey Garton, became one of two RAF Squadrons to joinNo. 8 Wing SAAF (the other being RAF185 Squadron) and began fighter-bomber operations supporting the fighting in Italy as well as taking part in offensive sweeps across the Balkans from its detached Italian bases. It continued in this role in the Italian Campaign until the end of the war.[8]
87 Squadron was again re-formed as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany on 1 January 1952 atRAF Wahn with the Gloster Meteor NF11, with the main tasking being the defence of the Ruhr. After five years it moved toRAF Bruggen, and was equipped with theGloster Javelin as an all-weather interceptor force until it was disbanded on 3 January 1961.
| Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917–1919 | Sopwith Dolphin | Single-engined piston biplane fighter | |
| 1937-1937 | Hawker Fury | II | Single-engined piston biplane fighter |
| 1937–1938 | Gloster Gladiator | I | Single-engined piston biplane fighter |
| 1938–1942 | Hawker Hurricane | I | Single-engined piston monoplane fighter |
| 1941–1944 | Hawker Hurricane | IIC | |
| 1943–1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | IX, VB, VC VIII | Single-engined piston monoplane fighter |
| 1944–1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | IX | |
| 1952–1957 | Gloster Meteor | NF11 | Twin-engined jet night fighter |
| 1957–1961 | Gloster Javelin | FAW1 | Twin-engined all weather and night interceptor |
| 1958–1960 | Gloster Javelin | FAW5 | |
| 1959–1961 | Gloster Javelin | FAW4 |
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