No. 185 Squadron RAF

Two days later six Hawker Hind aircraft were transferred from 40 (Bomber) Squadron [2] and from the 21 June these were gradually replaced with Fairey Battles before moving to RAF Thornaby on 1 September 1938.

[3] On 2 June 1939[4] the squadron were re-equipped with Handley Page Hampden Mk.1s before moving from RAF Thornaby to RAF Cottesmore on 24 August 1939[5] where it continued as a bomber squadron equipped with 15 Hampdens, a Handley Page Hereford and 4 Avro Ansons.

The squadron took part in the fierce air battles that raged over Malta, suffering increasingly heavy losses late in 1942 when the Bf 109F arrived on Sicily, outclassing the Hurricane.

For the rest of the war it operated as a fighter-bomber unit, supporting the Allied advance up the length of Italy.

Locations as part of the Italian campaign with SAAF 8 Wing:[9] 21 February-2 August 1944: Detachment to Grottaglie (Italy) 3-23 August 1944: Perugia 23 August-4 September 1944: Loreto 4-17 September 1944: Fano 17 September-7 October 1944: Borghetto 7 October-17 November 1944: Fano 17 November 1944-1 January 1945: Peretola 1 January-30 April 1945: Pontedera 30 April-16 May 1945: Villafranca 16 May-19 August 1945: Campoformido The squadron reformed on 15 September 1951 at Hal Far, Malta and was equipped with Vampires.