No. 82 Squadron

Motto: "Super omnia ubique" ("Over all things everywhere").
Badge: In front of a sun in splendour a weathercock. During the First World War the squadron used as a badge a kettle with steam issuing from it with a sun in the background, and in reference to this retained a sun behind a weathercock which is taken to operate in any direction.
Authority: King George VI, December 1938.

No. 82 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Doncaster, Yorkshire, on 7th January 1917, and from November 1917, until the Armistice served as an army co-operation unit on the Western Front flying Armstrong Whitworth FK8 aircraft. Disbanded in 1919, it re-formed as a bomber unit in 1937 and during the early part of the Second World War, flying Blenheims, played a prominent part in No. 2 Group's offensive against shipping in the English Channel and the North Sea, and "fringe" targets on the Continent. On two occasions during the summer of 1940 it was almost wiped out, but each time-thanks to the exceptional determination of the CO, Wing Commander the Earl of Bandon - it was re-formed within 48 hours to fight again. The squadron left bomber Command and moved to India in the early part of 1942 to join the effort against the Japanese.

Bomber Command WWII Bases:

• Watton : Aug 1939-Mar 1942
  • Detachment at Malta May/Jul 1941.
  • Sqdn detached to Odiham during Sep 1941.
  • Detachment at Lossiemouth Oct/Nov 1941.
  • Detachment at Tangmere Jan/Feb 1942.

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Bristol Blenheim I and IV : Mar 1938-early 1942

Code Letters:

• During the 1938 Munich crisis No. 82 was allotted the code letters "OZ". In WW2 the sqdn's codes were "UX".

First Operational Mission in WWII:

• 27th September 1939 : Photographic reconnaissance of airfields & country between same in NW Germany by 3 Blenheims.

First Bombing Mission in WWII:

• 20th December 1939 : 6 Blenheims despatched in two sections of 3 on armed reconnaissance of a specified area of North Sea. 5 of Blenheims bombed enemy minesweepers.

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