No. 82 Squadron RAF facts for kids

Quick facts for kids No. 82 (United Provinces) Squadron RAF
Active	7 January 1917 – 30 June 1919 14 June 1937 – 15 March 1946 1 October 1946 – 1 September 1956 22 July 1959 – 10 July 1963
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Nickname(s)	United Provinces Coventry's 'own' Squadron
Motto(s)	Latin: Super omnia ubique ("Over all things everywhere")
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry	In front of a sun in splendour a weathercock
Squadron codes	OZ (Nov 1938 – Sep 1939) UX (Sep 1939 – Mar 1946)

No. 82 Squadron RAF was a special group of the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was first created in 1917 and then officially closed down in 1963. This squadron had many jobs over the years. It flew planes to drop bombs, to scout and take pictures, and even to launch special missiles.

History of No. 82 Squadron

Starting Out: World War I Missions

No. 82 Squadron began as part of the Royal Flying Corps on January 7, 1917. It was formed in RAF Doncaster, England. Its main job was to help the army. This meant flying planes to spot enemy artillery and take photos of the battlefield.

In November 1917, the squadron moved to France. By January 1918, it was ready for action. They flew over the Western Front, especially during Germany's big attack, Operation Michael. The squadron kept flying missions until the war ended in November 1918. It was officially closed on June 30, 1919.

Back in Action: World War II and Beyond

No. 82 Squadron was started again on June 14, 1937. This time, it was a light-bomber squadron. They first flew Hawker Hind planes. Later, they got Blenheim Mk I and then the newer Blenheim Mk.IV planes in 1939.

Fighting in World War II

When World War II began, the squadron flew missions over the North Sea. One of their planes even sank a German submarine, the U-31, in March 1940.

In May 1940, Germany invaded France. No. 82 Squadron was sent to attack German forces. On May 17, 12 Blenheim planes went on a mission in Belgium. They were supposed to have fighter planes protecting them, but the escort didn't show up. German fighter planes attacked, and ten Blenheims were shot down. Many airmen were killed or captured.

Despite these big losses, the squadron kept flying. They supported British troops and later attacked German airfields. On August 13, another mission to Denmark was very tough. Eleven out of twelve planes were lost to German fighters. From 1941, they continued attacking enemy ships in the English Channel and North Sea.

Moving to India

In early 1942, the squadron moved to India. They got new Vultee Vengeance dive-bomber planes. These planes were used for anti-submarine patrols. In June 1943, they started bombing Japanese targets in Burma. They helped fight against the Japanese attack on Imphal and Kohima.

In July 1944, the squadron switched to Mosquito planes. These planes had some problems with their wooden parts, so they were grounded for a while. They started flying ground attack missions again in December 1944. These missions continued until May 1945. The squadron was closed down on March 15, 1946, after the war ended.

After the War: Surveying Africa

No. 82 Squadron was reformed again on October 1, 1946. This time, their job was to take aerial photos and survey large areas. They used Avro Lancaster and Supermarine Spitfire planes. They flew over countries like Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and Gambia.

In October 1947, the squadron moved to Kenya. By 1950, they were flying from RAF Eastleigh. In 1952, they moved back to the UK. In November 1953, they got Canberra planes and continued their survey work. The squadron was closed down again on September 1, 1956.

The Missile Era: Thor Missiles

The squadron was reformed one last time on July 22, 1959. This time, they were a Thor missile unit. These were large missiles that could travel long distances. However, newer, more advanced missiles were being developed. In 1962, the government decided to stop using the Thor missiles. So, No. 82 Squadron was officially closed for the last time on July 10, 1963.

Aircraft and Missiles Used

Where the Squadron Was Based

See also

• List of UK Thor missile bases