British Military Aviation in 1986

1 April
The Royal Air Force Marine Branch is disbanded.

14-15 April
Operation El Dorado Canyon: 15 General Dynamics F111Fs of the 48th Tactical
Fighter Wing, supported by three EF111s of the 42nd Electronic Combat
Squadron, take off from RAF Lakenheath and RAF Upper Heyford in the United
Kingdom to attack targets in Libya in response to growing involvement
with international terrorism.

31 December
No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit becomes the first Royal Air Force
(RAF) unit to achieve operational status with the Panavia Tornado F3 fighter.