The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has disbanded 85 (Reserve) Squadron, one of its units resident at RAF Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, UK.

Squadron 85, which was formed in August 1917, has been dissolved because of the RAF and Fleet Air Arm reductions following last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).

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The squadron has trained pilots for the RAF, Royal Navy and international trainees in the Grob Tutor aircraft.

The squadron served in France through the Second World War equipped with SE5A biplanes, flying fighter patrols and ground attack sorties over the Western Front.

The squadron achievements also include flying Hurricanes in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force and in the Battle of Britain to the flying of a succession of jet aircraft such as the Meteor, Javelin and Canberra.

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