No. 186 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 186 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
was formed on 1 April 1918 at East Retford, providing night pilot training for home defence and on the Western front
. On 31 December 1918 it was reformed as an operational shipboard unit aboard . In 1919, the squadron became a torpedo development unit, renumbering to become 210 Squadron
on 1 February 1920.
The Squadron reformed again, on 27 April 1943, at RAF Drem
as a fighter-bomber squadron, eventually receiving its first Hurricanes
in August, after transferring to RAF Ayr, converting to Typhoons
and later, Spitfire
VBs. The squadron was renumbered as 130 squadron on 5 April 1944.
Six months later, on 5 October 1944, The squadron was reformed as a Bomber Command Lancaster
unit, based at Tuddenham
, and flew its first bombing raid 13 days later. The squadron was disbanded on 17 July 1945.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
was formed on 1 April 1918 at East Retford, providing night pilot training for home defence and on the Western front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. On 31 December 1918 it was reformed as an operational shipboard unit aboard . In 1919, the squadron became a torpedo development unit, renumbering to become 210 Squadron
No. 210 Squadron RAF
No. 210 Squadron was a Royal Air Force unit established in World War I. Disbanded and reformed a number of times in the ensuing years, it operated as a fighter squadron during World War I and as a maritime patrol squadron during the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the Cold War before it was...
on 1 February 1920.
The Squadron reformed again, on 27 April 1943, at RAF Drem
RAF Drem
RAF Drem is a former RAF station, just north of the village of Drem in East Lothian, Scotland. The motto of the station was Exiit Hinc Lumen which means "Ascend from this Light"....
as a fighter-bomber squadron, eventually receiving its first Hurricanes
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
in August, after transferring to RAF Ayr, converting to Typhoons
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
and later, Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
VBs. The squadron was renumbered as 130 squadron on 5 April 1944.
Six months later, on 5 October 1944, The squadron was reformed as a Bomber Command Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
unit, based at Tuddenham
Tuddenham
Tuddenham is a village and civil parish in the Forest Heath district of Suffolk in eastern England. In 2005 it had a population of 450.Between 1943 and 1963, RAF Tuddenham was a Royal Air Force airfield close to the village...
, and flew its first bombing raid 13 days later. The squadron was disbanded on 17 July 1945.