RAF No 85 Squadron

Aircrew RAF 85Sqn at Lille-Seclin May 1940 IWM C1521

Once the Blitzkrieg had begun, the Hurricane squadrons in France were plunged into almost constant action, flying interception patrols and providing escort for RAF light bombers. Their airfields were subject to frequent Luftwaffe strafing attacks, with little or no warning. Here, personnel of No 85 Squadron at Lille-Seclin check air activity overhead while in the background two Hurricanes sit at 'stand-by', their pilots strapped in ready for immediate take-off, 10-12 May 1940.

Imperial War Museum IWM C 1521 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205219337

Aircrew RAF 85Sqn Ground staff at Lille-Seclin Nov 1939 IWM C460

Ground staff play with a ball next to a No 85 Squadron Hurricane at Lille-Seclin, November 1939. Note the fabric-covered outer wings characteristic of early-production aircraft. These were initially chosen to ensure a faster rate of production, but were soon substituted for stressed-skin metal wings. Visible also is the Watts fixed-pitch wooden propeller and the gas detection patch painted below the cockpit.

Imperial War Museum IWM C 460 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205219328

Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYC at Lille Seclin 1940 IWM C1520

Hawker Hurricane Mark Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF at readiness at Lille Seclin. In the foreground, two ground crew wait by a trolley accumulator to start the engine.

Imperial War Museum IWM C 1520 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205207589

Hawker Hurricane RAF 85Sqn VYC at Lille Seclin 1940 IWM HU1518

Ground crew and armourers of No. 85 Squadron RAF refilling ammunition belts with .303 bullets in front of Hawker Hurricane Mark I, 'VY-C', at Lille-Seclin.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 1518 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205207586

Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYG VYH at Lille Seclin 1940 IWM C1156

Hawker Hurricane Mark Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF, stand at readiness at Lille Seclin.

Imperial War Museum IWM C 1156 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205207563

Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYH at Lille Seclin 1940 IWM C1153

A Hawker Hurricane Mark I, 'VY H', of No. 85 Squadron RAF stands at readiness at Lille Seclin, as another Hurricane takes off.

Imperial War Museum IWM C 1153 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205207561

Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYK Geoffrey S Allard P3408 England July 1940 IWM HU104451

Hawker Hurricane Mk I of No. 85 Squadron, July 1940. The battery cart is plugged in and a member of the ground crew on standby beneath the wing, ready to start the engine as soon as the alarm is given.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 104451 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205229951

Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYK Geoffrey S Allard P3408 England July 1940 IWM HU104491

Hawker Hurricane Mk I flown by Sgt G 'Sammy' Allard of No. 85 Squadron, July 1940.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 104491 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230017

Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYK Geoffrey S Allard P3408 England July 1940 IWM HU104492

Hawker Hurricane Mk I flown by Sgt G 'Sammy' Allard of No. 85 Squadron, July 1940.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 104492 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230017

Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYK P3408 based at Church Fenton Yorkshire 1940 IWM CH1501

Hurricane Mark I, P3408 VY-K, of No. 85 Squadron RAF based at Church Fenton, Yorkshire, in flight.

Imperial War Museum IWM CH 1501 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124352

Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYQ Peter Townsend P3166 England Jul 1940 IWM HU104486

Hawker Hurricane Mk I P3166 VY-Q, flown by the CO of No. 85 Squadron, Sqn Ldr Peter Townsend, on standby with battery cart

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 104486 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230012

Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYQ Peter Townsend P3166 England Jul 1940 IWM HU104488

Hawker Hurricane Mk I P3166 VY-Q, flown by the CO of No. 85 Squadron, Sqn Ldr Peter Townsend, taxiing out at Castle Camps, 25 July 1940.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 104488 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230015

Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYQ Peter Townsend P3166 England Jul 1940 IWM HU104489

The CO of No. 85 Squadron, Sqn Ldr Peter Townsend, jumps down from Hurricane Mk I P3166 VY-Q while being refuelled at Castle Camps, July 1940.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 104489 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230014

Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYQ Peter Townsend P3166 England Jul 1940 IWM HU104490

Hawker Hurricane Mk I P3166 VY-Q, flown by the CO of No. 85 Squadron, Sqn Ldr Peter Townsend, being refuelled at Castle Camps, July 1940.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 104490 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230013

Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYK Geoffrey S Allard P3408 England July 1940 IWM HU104491

Hawker Hurricane Mk I flown by Sgt G 'Sammy' Allard of No. 85 Squadron, July 1940.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 104491 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230017

Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYQ Peter Townsend P3166 England Jul 1940 IWM HU104493

Hawker Hurricane Mk I P2923 VQ-R of No. 85 Squadron, flown by Pilot Officer Albert G Lewis, taxiing out at Castle Camps, July 1940

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 104493 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230019

Hawker Hurricane Mk I, P2923, VY-R, flown by Pilot Officer A G Lewis of No. 85 Squadron, landing at Castle Camps, RAF Debden's satellite airfield, July 1940. (See also HU 57626 and HU 57627). This aircraft was lost in action on 25 August 1940.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 57626 and HU 57627 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205059820

Hawker Hurricane RAF 85Sqn VYR Albert G Lewis P2923 scramble at Castle Camps Jul 1940 IWM HU104483

Pilots of No. 85 Squadron run to their Hurricanes at the satellite landing ground at Castle Camps, July 1940. In the foreground is P2923 VY-R, flown by Plt Off Albert G Lewis.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 57626 and HU 57627 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230009?cat=photographs

Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VYP N2319 at Lille Seclin France 10 May 1940 IWM C1512

Sergeant G "Sammy" Allard of No. 85 Squadron RAF being congratulated on his return to Lille Seclin in France on the evening of 10 May 1940, after shooting down the second of two Heinkel He 111s claimed by him that day. Behind him, ground crew are busy refuelling and rearming his Hawker Hurricane Mark I, N2319 'VY P'.

Imperial War Museum IWM C 1512 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205210903

Hurricane MkIs RAF 85Sqn during the Battle of Britain Oct 1940 IWM CH1510

Hawker Hurricane Mk I aircraft of No 85 Squadron, Royal Air Force on patrol during the Battle of Britain.

Imperial War Museum IWM CH 1510 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205212605

Hurricanes MkIs RAF 85Sqn in group formation Battle of Britain 1940 IWM C1500

Operations: Nine Hawker Hurricanes of 85 Squadron, Royal Air Force seen from slightly below.

Imperial War Museum IWM C 1500 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205194293

Profile 01: Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VY-X P3119 England late 1940

Profile 01: Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VY-R P/O AG Lewis England July 1940

Profile 01: Hawker Hurricane MkI RAF 85Sqn VY-Q Peter Townsend P3116 England July 1940