No. 286 Squadron RAF


No. 286 Squadron RAF was a non-operational Second World War Royal Air Force squadron that operated a variety of aircraft to provide targets for anti-aircraft gun practice in the west country of England.

History

The squadron was formed at RAF Filton on 17 November 1941 from No. 10 Group AAC Flight.
From 24 January 1942 the squadron was headquartered at newly operational RAF Lulsgate Bottom. However, as the facilities there were still unfinished, from 2 March to 30 April the headquarters used RAF Colerne. It returned to Lulsgate only briefly before leaving for RAF Zeals on 26 May.
The squadron served at various locations and detachments around the west country before finally moving to RAF Weston Zoyland, where it was disbanded on 16 May 1945.

Aircraft operated

FromToAircraftVariantNotes
Nov 1941Jan 1942Westland LysanderMk.II
Nov 1941Jun 1943Hawker HurricaneMk.I
Nov 1941Jul 1944Boulton-Paul DefiantMks.I, III
Nov 1941May 1945Airspeed OxfordMks.I, II
Apr 1942May 1945Hawker HurricaneMks.IIc, IV
Jul 1943Dec 1944Miles MartinetMk.I
Nov 1944Mar 1945Miles MasterMk.III