Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

No. 86 Squadron RAAF

No. 86 Squadron (RAAF) was a WW 2 fighter Squadron. The squadron was formed at Gawler north of Adelaide in South Australia in March 1943.  It relieved No 84 Squadron (equipped with CAC Boomerang fighters) which had been based at Horn Island,  However No 86 Squadron was deployed to Merauke in New Guinea in July that year.  While No. 86 Squadron was stationed at Merauke until April 1944, it saw little combat, carrying out a number of interceptions of Japanese aircraft.

After being transferred back to Australia its aircraft and personnel were transferred to other units, and only a nucleus of the squadron remained.

While it was re-equipped with new CAC P51D Mustang aircraft in June 1945, the war ended before the squadron was ready for combat and it was disbanded in December 1945.

RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Volume 2 Fighter Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42794-9.