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No. 85 Squadron Royal Flying Corps
1st August 1917 New Squadron formed No 85 Squadron RFC was formed at Upavon as a fighter squadron on the 1st of August 1917 flying SE5As.
September 1917 Relocated
November 1917 Equipped
22nd May 1918 Western Front
26th July 1918 CO killed in action 
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Want to know more about No. 85 Squadron Royal Flying Corps? There are:4 items tagged No. 85 Squadron Royal Flying Corps available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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1205877 Mjr. Edward Mannock VC, DSO, MC. 85 Sqdn (d.26th July 1918)  Edward Mannock was killed in action on the 26th of July 1918, aged 31. Commemorated on the Flying Services Memorial in Arras, France, he was the son of Mrs. J. Mannock, of 24, Lozells Rd., Six Ways, Birmingham. Major Mannock was involved in the downing of at least 23 further aircraft, but because others might well have assisted in their destruction these were not added to the total in his VC Citation.
An extract from the London Gazette, dated 18th July, 1919, records the following:- "On the 17th June, 1918, he attacked a Halberstadt machine near Armentieres and destroyed it from a height of 8,000 feet. On the 7th July, 1918, near Doulieu, he attacked and destroyed one Fokker (red-bodied) machine, which went vertically into the ground from a height of 1,500 feet. Shortly afterwards he ascended 1,000 feet and attacked another Fokker biplane, firing 60 rounds into it, which produced an immediate spin, resulting, it is believed, in a crash. On the 14th July, 1918, near Merville, he attacked and crashed a Fokker from 7,000 feet, and brought a two-seater down damaged. On the 19th July, 1918, near Merville, he fired 80 rounds into an Albatross two-seater, which went to the ground in flames. On the 20th July, 1918, East of La Bassee, he attacked and crashed an enemy two-seater from a height of 10,000 feet. About an hour afterwards he attacked at 8,000 feet a Fokker biplane near Steenwercke and drove it down out of control, emitting smoke. On the 22nd July, 1918, near Armentieres, he destroyed an enemy triplane from a height of 10,000 feet. Major Mannock was awarded the undermentioned distinctions for his previous combats in the air in France and Flanders:-Military Cross, gazetted 17th Sept., 1917; Bar to Military Cross, gazetted 18th Oct., 1917; Distinguished Service Order, gazetted 16th Sept., 1918; Bar to Distinguished Service Order (1st), gazetted 16th Sept., 1918; Bar to Distinguished Service Order (2nd), gazetted 3rd Aug., 1918. This highly distinguished officer during the whole of his career in the Royal Air Force, was an outstanding example of fearless courage, remarkable skill, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice, which has never been surpassed. The total number of machines definitely accounted for by Major Mannock up to the date of his death in France (26th July, 1918) is 50 - the total specified in the Gazette of 3rd Aug., 1918, was incorrectly given as 48 instead of 41."
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263393 John MacGavock Grider No. 85 Squadron (d.18th Jun 1918) John Grider joined up as a cadet, arriving from USA with two friends, Elliott Springs and Larry Callahan. His exploits are recorded in 'War Birds'.
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