No. 87 Squadron 
(United Provinces)  Royal Air Force - 
Radio Call Sign - 'SUNCUP' - Squadron Code - 'LK'
 

The same as 213 Squadron, 87 Squadron received orders to return to England due to the threat of invasion once France had fallen. All Hawker Hurricanes that could stand up to the trip were flown back to England. The rest were eventually returned by both air and sea. After spending two days at RAF Debden, the next move was made to RAF Church Fenton where the Squadron re-formed and were re-fitted out ready for action. By the 30 May 1940, practically all who had served out in France had collected together at RAF Church Fenton. During the first fortnight in June the task of reforming went steadily ahead, and it was a task which was not made easier by the fact that practically all equipment, service and personnel, had necessarily been abandoned in France. By the 21 June 1940, was once more ready for operations. The work consisted mainly of protecting convoys in the North Sea and some night flying was carried out from RAF Leconfield.
 

There were the following personnel occurrences,

1 June 1940 – P/O. H.J.R Dunn was unfortunately killed as the result of a flying incident at Yeadon.

7 June 1940 – P/O. J.A. Currie was posted to RAF Church Fenton.

15 June 1940 – S/Ldr. T.C Lovell Gregg was posted to the squadron for flying duties (supernumerary), and P/O.                                 E.M Sopwith was posted to RAF Eastchurch.

17 June 1940 – P/O. D.T Jay was posted to the squadron for flying duties.

18 June 1940 – P/O. A.C.R McLure, Sgt. Thorogood and Sgt. Wakeling were posted to the squadron for flying                                   duties.

26 June 1940 – F/Lt. H. De G. Domville was posted to RAF Hadfield Woodhouse.

27 June 1940 – F/Lt. Williams was posted to H.Q.R.C Blackpool and S/Ldr. R.A.E. Traill was posted to number 11                             Group.

​28 June 1940 – P/O. K.O. Coghlan was posted to squadron for Intelligence duties.

4 July 1940 – The Squadron received orders to move to RAF Exeter, Devon, the next day.

5 July 1940 – A total of eleven Hurricanes were flown to RAF Exeter.

6 July 1940 – Three more Hurricanes were flown to RAF Exeter and by the evening the move was completed.

On arrival at RAF Exeter which had been a civil airport prior to the outbreak of war, it was found that the Station was still in the position of transition of switching over to war conditions. No 213 Squadron had moved in two weeks prior and had already settled into the limited temporary quarters available. It was described that 213 had occupied the best parts of the station with officers billeted in the Rougemont Hotel in Exeter town centre and the nearby Farringdon House.

By this time the capitulation of France had completely altered the whole strategic situation of the war and the South West of England suddenly found itself vulnerable to attack instead of being a safe reception area as before. There was, therefore, considerable speculation as to when the Blitzkrieg would be launched against England.

9 July 1940 – Sgt. Cowley had an inconclusive scrap with a Heinkel HE.111 just South of Portland.

11 July 1940 – This day provided the first bit of excitement from the operational point of view. S/Ldr. Dewar, F/O.                                 Glyde and P/O Jay surprised about twelve Me. 110’s South of Portland. S/Ldr. Dewar destroyed two                             of the ME110’s, F/O. Glyde destroyed one and probably another and P/O. Jay destroyed one. The                                   Squadron suffered no casualties although F/O. Glyde had a near escape from a bullet which pierced                             the control panel of his hood and struck the armour plating close to his head.

12 July 1940 – P/O. W.K Sutton RAFVR – was posted to squadron as Adjutant.

                         From the 11 to the 18 July ‘A’ Flight was detached at RAF Hullavington, Wiltshire,­­ for night flying du-                          ties, but nothing of importance occurred.

18 July 1940 – ‘A’ Flight returned to RAF Exeter from RAF Hullavington.

19 July 1940 – Sgt. Thorogood having lost his section ran into about eight JU87’s, west of Portland. He attacked                              one and killed the rear gunner and then found it advisable to take evasive action.

24 July 1940 – ‘B’ Flight detached to RAF Hullavington, Wiltshire, night flying duties.

25 July 1940 - 87 Squadron saw action in the early stages of the Battle of Britain. Flying Officer Rayner was in one of seven aircraft of ‘A’ Flight 87 Squadron which departed RAF Exeter at approximately 10:26hrs. Just off Portland at roughly 15,000 feet bombs were spotted falling around a ship. Three aircraft began their attack with three remaining at 15,000 feet and Flying Officer Rayner climbed higher to 17,000 feet which was just in cloud base. He then spotted three ME110s from his port side at right angles. He gave a short burst at starboard enemy aircraft at 100yds range with deflection bursts of two seconds. This resulted in an enemy aircraft getting a starboard engine fire. The enemy leader completed a half roll and dived from sight. Enemy number two turned and the rear gunner gave an accurate burst and then dived away. The enemy aircraft was not seen to crash but Flying Officer Rayner saw a large patch of oil on the sea, in the vicinity of the combat zone. Flying Officer Rayner reported an unconfirmed strike to a ME110 20 miles south-east of Portland. Flight Lieutenant Gleed ‘A’ Flight 87 Squadron reported that during the dive-bombing attack by ME110s at 11:00hrs on the 25 July 1940, he saw one ME109 escort fighter painted with blue all over.

26 July 1940 - Pilot Officer J Cock ‘B’ Flight 87 Squadron was on patrol in Hurricane P3394 LK-M when he spotted enemy aircraft caught in a searchlight at 8,000 feet proceeding west. He followed the enemy aircraft and climbed for the attack and came within range at 17,000 feet. He fired a short burst before the enemy aircraft at 250 yards gradually closing range to 150 yards, also fired successive bursts. The rear gunner fired several bursts and then stopped with the aircraft going into a steep dive. Pilot Officer J Cock then lost sight of the enemy aircraft. He reported that one person had parachuted out.
 

The under surface of the enemy aircraft was painted greeny blue with black crosses at wing tip extremities. The aircraft was confirmed destroyed and was identified as a Heinkel HE 111H-4. The aircraft crashed over Devon.
 

Information sourced from the book Battle of Britain Combat Archive Volume 2 – Simon W Parry

8 August 1940 - Green Section B Flight, 87 Squadron, took off from RAF Exeter at 16:30hrs and were 80 miles south of Portland at 17:15hrs. Three Hurricanes of Green Section 87 Squadron were on patrol at 25,000 feet over Portland when they sighted one ME110 which immediately turned south. Green Section gave chase and pursued enemy aircraft far out to sea but could not catch enemy aircraft. When approaching the French coast Green Leader Pilot Officer Jay fired all his rounds at enemy aircraft from a range of 600 yards without any results seen. There was no return fire or damage to Green Section. The Hurricanes returned to RAF Exeter at 18:00hrs

Information sourced from the book Battle of Britain Combat Archive Volume 2 – Simon W Parry

15 August 1940 - 87 Squadron, 11 aircraft took off from Exeter at 17:30 hours for Portland. On arriving at Portland each flight seems to have encountered a separate circle of enemy aircraft going, round and round. What has been described as the fiercest fight yet took place, it was a lightning dog-fight which can hardly be described on paper, apart from pilots say they fired short bursts at other enemy aircraft but could not stop to see the results. Included in enemy aircraft casualties is one ME 110 destroyed by Pilot Officer Comely, who was himself shot down in the combat. Squadron Leader Lovell-Gregg in Hurricane P3215 crashed at Abbotsbury, Dorset. The Hurricane caught fire and the pilot was killed in an endeavour to force land. The aircraft it would appear, had stalled and crashed through trees surrounding the field and caught fire.

​Enemy aircraft were reported as being painted blue grey on top, light blue under surface. Pilots state enemy aircraft camouflage was very good.
 

Information sourced from the book Battle of Britain Combat Archive Volume 4 – Simon W Parry

25 August 1940 - Thirteen Hurricanes of 87 Squadron intercepted a large raid about 5 miles west of Portland. The raid consisted of Ju88s escorted by Me110s and Me109s. B Flight went for the Ju88s and the Me110 went for B Flight. A Flight then attacked the Me110s. Some of the Me110s were seen to fire red Verey lights, apparently as a signal to the Me109s to come down, which they did. A general dogfight ensued.
 

Information sourced from the book Battle of Britain Combat Archive Volume 6 – Simon W Parry

The Squadron left RAF Exeter in November 1940 when 87 Squadron moved to Gibraltar to take part in Operation Torch.
 

From June 1941 to January 1944, the Squadron operated with the fighter aircraft the Hawker Hurricane IIC.