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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII
No. 185 Squadron
No 185 Squadron was originally formed in East Lothian in October 1918 as a torpedo-bomber squadron, but did not see any active war service and was disbanded in April 1919. It was re-formed at Abingdon in 1938 as a bomber squadron and at the start of WWII was based at Cottesmore in a training role. In April 1940, No 185 was absorbed into No 14 OTU, was briefly (April to May 1940) a bomber squadron and then was reformed in May 1941, in Malta, as a fighter squadron from C Flight of No 251 Squadron. The squadron took part in the 1942 air battles over Malta, suffering heavy losses, and by the end of the year, with new Spitfires, No 185 flew sweeps over Sicily, supporting the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. In Febrary 1944 the squadron operated from Gottaglie, then Perugia, supporting the Allied advance north through Italy. No 185 was disbanded in August 1945.
Airfields No. 185 Squadron flew from:
- RAF Cottesmore, from 25th August 1939 (reserve bomber squadron with No 5 Group. Handley Page Hampden I, Hereford I)
- Takali and Hal Far, Malta from 27th April 1941 (Hawker Hurricane I, IIA, IIB)
- Qrendi from 5th June 1943 (Spitfire VB, VC)
- Hal Far from 23rd September 1943 (detachment to Grottaglie 21st September 1944)
- Perugia from 3rd August 1944 (Spitfire VIII, IX)
- Loreto from 23rd August 1944
- Fano from 4th September 1944
- Borghetto from 17th September 1944
- Fano from 7th October 1944
- Peretola from 17th November 1944
- Pontedera from 1st January 1945
- Villafranca from 30th April 1945
- Campoformido from 16th May 1945
- disbanded 14th August 1945
List of those who served with No. 185 Squadron during The Second World War
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