No. 654 Squadron AAC

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No. 654 Squadron AAC
654 Aviation Squadron
654 Light Aircraft Squadron
No. 654 Squadron RAF
Active15 July 1942 – 24 June 1947 (RAF)
1 September 1958 – July 2014
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg Army Air Corps
RoleRegimental Headquarters [1]
Part of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps

No. 654 Squadron AAC (654 Sqn) is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC) that is currently the Headquarters Squadron for 4 Regt AAC. It was formerly No. 654 Squadron RAF, a unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957. [2] [3]

Contents

History

Royal Air Force

de Havilland DH-82b Tiger Moth. De havilland dh-82b queen bee lf858 arp.jpg
de Havilland DH-82b Tiger Moth.

No. 654 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire, on 15 July 1942 and went into action in August 1943 in North Africa. From December 1943, it served in Italy, where it remained until disbanding at Campoformido on 24 June 1947.

No. 1906 Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 654 Squadron previously elements of 'A' & 'B' Flights along with No. 1907 Air Observation Post Flight which was formed within 654 Squadron previously elements of 'A' & 'C' Flights. [4]

The squadron had the motto Progressive, [5] it used a identification symbol of A propeller and gun barrel in saltire [5] It used identification symbols: QA (1944 – May 1945, HQ Flight) [6] QB (1944 – May 1945, 'A' Flight) [6] QC (1944 – May 1945, 'B' Flight) [6] QD (1944 – May 1945, 'C' Flight) [6]

An Auster Mk.III Auster Mk III ExCC.jpg
An Auster Mk.III
Aircraft operated by No. 654 Squadron RAF, data from [5] [7]
FromToAircraftVariant
July 1942September 1942 de Havilland Tiger Moth Mk.II
September 1942December 1942 Auster Mk.I
December 1942October 1944AusterMk.III
June 1944June 1947AusterMk.IV
December 1944June 1947AusterMk.V

Army Air Corps

The squadron was formed on 1 September 1958 in Germany and employed as 2 Division Aviation HQ between 1964 and October 1969. [8]

Between February and March 1991 the squadron was in Iraq as part of Operation Desert Sabre (the ground phase of Operation Granby) using Westland Lynx AH1GT's against armoured vehicles of the Iraqi 12th Armoured Division. They returned to Hobart Barracks on 22 March 1991 without any losses.

654 AAC disbanded in July 2014, as part of Army 2020. [9]

At some point the squadron was reformed and became the Headquarters Squadron for 4 Regiment Army Air Corps.

Deployments
Aircraft operated

The squadron operated a variety of helicopters:

Locations

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)</span> Aviation arm of the British Army

The Army Air Corps (AAC) is the aviation arm of the British Army, first formed in 1942 during the Second World War by grouping the various airborne units of the British Army. Today, there are eight regiments of the AAC, as well as two independent flights and two independent squadrons deployed in support of British Army operations around the world. Regiments and flights are located in the United Kingdom, Kenya, and Canada. Some AAC squadrons provide the air assault elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, through Joint Aviation Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 667 Squadron AAC</span> Military unit

667 Squadron AAC is a former squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC).

No. 666 Squadron AAC (V) is a former squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). It was previously No. 666 Squadron RAF, a unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and afterwards became a Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) squadron between 1 May 1949 and 10 March 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 239 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 239 Squadron RAF was an anti-submarine squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War I. During World War II the squadron performed as an army co-operation squadron and later as a night intruder unit. After the war the squadron was disbanded.

No. 663 Squadron was an air observation post (AOP) unit, manned with Polish Army personnel, which was officially formed in Italy on 14 August 1944. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons were air observation post units working closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

663 Squadron AAC is a flying unit of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 651 Squadron AAC</span> Military unit

No. 651 Squadron Army Air Corps, is an aircraft squadron of the British Army, originally formed as No. 651 Squadron Royal Air Force in Italy and North Africa during the Second World War, and afterwards in Egypt. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units which had both Army and RAF personnel. The pilots, drivers and signallers were in the Royal Artillery whilst the adjutants, technical staff and equipment officers came from the RAF. Air observation posts were used primarily for artillery spotting, but occasionally for liaison and other duties. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

No. 671 Squadron AAC is squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps. It was previously No. 671 Squadron RAF, a glider squadron of the Royal Air Force active during the Second World War as part of No. 229 Group RAF, South East Asia Command.

No. 655 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

No. 287 Squadron was an anti-aircraft co-operation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1941 to 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 662 Squadron AAC</span> Military unit

No. 662 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC) which flies the Boeing AH-64E Apache from Wattisham Flying Station as part of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps. It was formerly No. 662 Squadron, a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during the Second World War and later part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

No. 665 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps. It was formerly No. 665 Squadron, a Royal Canadian Air Force air observation post squadron that was operational during the Second World War between 22 January and 10 July 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 657 Squadron AAC</span> Military unit

No. 657 Squadron AAC was a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC), part of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing based at RAF Odiham. The squadron disbanded in May 2018 after the retirement of the Westland Lynx.

No. 660 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). It was formerly No. 660 Squadron RAF, a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during the Second World War. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

No. 652 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). It was previously No. 652 Squadron RAF, a unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and afterwards in Germany.

No. 661 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). It was formerly No. 661 Squadron, a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the Canadian 1st Army and later part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

664 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps. It was formerly No. 664 Squadron, a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the Canadian 1st Army during the Second World War and later part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

No. 659 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC) based at RNAS Yeovilton flying AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 helicopters as part of 1 Regiment Army Air Corps. It was formerly No. 659 Squadron RAF, a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during World War II. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

No. 669 (HQ) Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC) which was disbanded as a flying Squadron on 31 July 2016 and reformed as HQ Sqn 3AAC in 2021. It was formerly No. 669 Squadron RAF, a glider squadron of the Royal Air Force active during the Second World War as part of No. 229 Group RAF, South East Asia Command

No. 672 Squadron AAC is a former squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). It was formerly No. 672 Squadron RAF, a Royal Air Force squadron that was operational during the Second World War within British India.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ AirForces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. January 2023. p. 75.
  2. ↑ Halley 1988 , p. 444.
  3. ↑ Jefford 2001 , pp. 102–105.
  4. ↑ Lake 1999, p. 100.
  5. 1 2 3 Halley 1988 , p. 446.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Flintham & Thomas 2003 , p. 98.
  7. ↑ Jefford 2001 , p. 103.
  8. ↑ Farrar-Hockley 1994, p. 237.
  9. ↑ "654 Squadron's Last Parade Before Disbandment | Forces TV". Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "654 Squadron". Helis. Retrieved 30 September 2015.

Bibliography

  • Farrar-Hockley, A (1994). The Army In The Air. UK: Alan Sutton Publishing Limited. ISBN   0-7509-0617-0.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN   1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN   0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN   1-84037-141-2.
  • Lake, Alan (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN   1-84037-086-6.

Further reading

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