No . 87 Squadron RAAF No . 87 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air intelligence squadron . The Squadron saw action during World War II as a photo reconnaissance squadron . History . World War II . Formed at Laverton on 8 June 1942 as No . 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit , with eight officers and thirty - five airmen under the command of Squadron Leader L . W . Law . Initial training in navigation and aerial photography was carried out at Laverton until 12 August 1942 when the unit began moving to Hughes Airfield , Northern Territory to prepare for operational service . No . 87 Squadron was formed on 10 September 1944 at Coomalie Creek Airfield in the Northern Territory by re - designating No . 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit . The Squadron ' s role during World War II was providing photo reconnaissance support for Allied operations in South East Asia and the Netherlands East Indies . Operating from Coomalie Creek , No . 87 Squadron primarily conducted reconnaissance flights over the eastern islands of the Netherlands East Indies , with occasional missions over Java and other parts of South East Asia . A detachment from the squadron was briefly based on the Cocos Islands in June 1945 where it unsuccessfully attempted to photograph targets in Singapore . During the war , one member of No . 87 Squadron was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire , four received the Distinguished Flying Cross and seven were Mentioned in Dispatches . Following the end of the war No . 87 Squadron continued to conduct flights over Japanese held territory in order to monitor Japanese Army units until they could be disarmed . The Squadron moved to Parkes , New South Wales in October 1945 where it was disbanded on 24 July 1946 . Following No . 87 Squadron ' s disbandment its Mosquito aircraft were operated as the Survey Flight based at RAAF Base Fairbairn . This Flight was re - designated No . 87 Squadron on 8 March 1948 . Operating in the photo survey role the Squadron carried out many operations to support the Commonwealth Survey Committee and National Mapping Council . The Squadron also became responsible with providing the RAAF with a photo reconnaissance capability in 1949 . Following the withdrawal of funding support by the Department of National Development No . 87 Squadron was disbanded at Fairbairn in December 1953 . Reactivation as the RAAF ' s Air Intelligence Squadron . No . 87 Squadron was reactivated as the Air Force ' s air intelligence squadron on 1 July 2006 . It is part of the Information Warfare Wing within the RAAF ' s Aerospace Operational Support Group . The Squadron ' s headquarters is located at RAAF Base Edinburgh and its seven Tactical Intelligence Flights ( TIFs ) are situated with all flying Force Element Group s of the Air Force as well as with Combat Support Group . The Squadron is responsible for providing air intelligence , counter - intelligence and combat targeting analysis and support to the Air Force . Personnel in the Squadron comprise Intelligence Officer , Armament Engineer , Air Combat Officer , Geospatial Imagery Analyst , Photographer , Air Surveillance Operator , Signals Operator , and administrative , computer systems support and logistics trade groups . The Squadron has a total strength of 170 permanent and 30 reserve personnel stationed at five different bases . In 2009 the Governor General of Australia awarded No . 87 Squadron with Battle Honours pertaining to its service during World War II . The Battle Honours awarded to the Squadron are : In March 2011 , No . 87 Squadron was awarded the Markowski Cup for being the most proficient non - flying squadron in the Air Force for 2010 . This achievement marks No . 87 Squadron as the only RAAF squadron to have won both the flying and non - flying awards , the squadron having also won the Duke of Gloucester Cup for the most proficient flying squadron in September 1948 for its photographic survey work . Commanding Officers . Commanding Officers of No . 87 Squadron Badge . With the reactivation of No . 87 Squadron in 2006 , the original Squadron badge ( approved by King George VI in July 1949 ) was updated and the revised badge with a motto in English was approved by the Chief of Air Force , Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd AO , on 22 March 2006 . Explanation of the No . 87 Squadron badge . The Sun The sun represents the Squadron ' s role in maintaining knowledge and understanding of its adversaries The Quill The quill represents the Squadron ' s analytical and communications capabilities , as the ability to impart knowledge is as important as the ability to acquire it The Sword The sword represents the Squadron ' s role in the conduct of warfare Squadron Motto ' We See and We Fight ' ( originally ' Videmus Militamus ' on the previous badge ) – highlights the importance of intelligence in detecting , locating and identifying the enemy in the successful conduct of air operations and the Squadron ' s role in both the offensive and defensive aspects of air warfare .