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No. 657 Squadron AAC

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No. 657 Squadron AAC
No. 657 Squadron RAF
Active31 January 1943 – 1 November 1955 (RAF)
1 January 1973 – May 2018
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
BranchUnited Kingdom British Army
TypeAviation
SizeSquadron
Part ofArmy Air Corps
Motto(s)Latin: Per terras perque caelum
(Translation: "By land and sky")[1]

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.[2][3] The squadron disbanded in May 2018 after the retirement of the Westland Lynx.

It was formerly No. 657 Squadron RAF, a unit of the Royal Air Force in North Africa, Italy and the Netherlands during the Second World War and afterwards in Germany. 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.[4][5]

A postwar Auster Mk.V, restored in wartime colours.

History

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Royal Air Force

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No. 657 Squadron was formed at RAF Ouston on 31 January 1943. It went into action in August of that year, in North Africa. It later served in Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. In November 1945, the squadron returned to the UK and continued to support army units in the South of England until disbanded by being renumbered No. 651 Squadron RAF on 1 November 1955.

No. 1900 Independent Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 657 Squadron previously 'A' & 'B' Flights along with No. 1901 Air Observation Post Flight which was formed within 657 previously 'C' Flight.[6]

The squadron's motto was: Latin: Per terras perque caelum
(Translation: "By land and sky")[7] and their identification symbol was A hand couped at the wrist, holding a gun barrel.[7] It's identification symbols were VA 1944–45 (HQ Flight)[8] VB 1944–45 ('A' Flight)[9] VC 1944–45 ('B' Flight)[9] VD 1944–45 ('C' Flight)[9] TS (1945 – Jan 1947)[10][11]


A Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly at the Royal Air Force Museum London.
Aircraft operated by No. 657 Squadron RAF[7][12]
From To Aircraft Variant
Feb 1943 May 1943 Auster Mk.I
May 1943 Oct 1944 Auster Mk.III
Jun 1944 Mar 1945 Auster Mk.IV
Dec 1944 Mar 1945 Auster Mk.V
Apr 1945 Nov 1952 Auster Mk.V
Mar 1946 Dec 1952 Auster AOP.4
Jun 1946 Nov 1955 Auster AOP.6
Apr 1947 Apr 1951 Sikorsky Hoverfly Mk.II
Sep 1951 Nov 1955 Bristol Sycamore HC.11
Bases and airfields used by No. 657 Squadron RAF[7][12][13]
From To Base
31 Jan 1943 1 May 1943 RAF Ouston, Northumberland
1 May 1943 26 Jun 1943 RAF Westly
26 Jun 1943 15 Aug 1943 RAF Clifton
15 Aug 1943 24 Aug 1943 en route to North Africa
24 Aug 1943 22 Sep 1943 Algiers, Algeria
22 Sep 1943 16 Oct 1943 Bone, Algeria
16 Oct 1943 9 Jan 1944 Philippeville, Algeria
9 Jan 1944 16 Jan 1944 Châteaudun, Algeria
16 Jan 1944 28 Feb 1944 en route to Italy
28 Feb 1944 8 Apr 1944 Vasto, Italy
8 Apr 1944 11 May 1944 Presenzano, Italy
11 May 1944 5 Jun 1944 Campozilonne, Italy
5 Jun 1944 9 Jun 1944 Anagni, Italy
9 Jun 1944 23 Jun 1944 Civita Castellana, Italy
23 Jun 1944 29 Jun 1944 Città della Pieve, Italy
29 Jun 1944 4 Jul 1944 Ravigliano, Italy
4 Jul 1944 18 Jul 1944 Creti/Foiano, Italy
18 Jul 1944 19 Aug 1944 Carraia, Italy
From To Base
19 Aug 1944 1 Sep 1944 Iesi, Italy
1 Sep 1944 6 Oct 1944 Landing ground on south bank of river Foglia, Italy
6 Oct 1944 21 Oct 1944 Rimini, Italy
21 Oct 1944 4 Nov 1944 Savignano, Italy
4 Nov 1944 29 Nov 1944 Cesena, Italy
29 Nov 1944 15 Dec 1944 Cervia, Italy
15 Dec 1944 21 Mar 1945 San Pancrazio, Italy
21 Mar 1945 24 Mar 1945 Ravenna, Italy
24 Mar 1945 30 Mar 1945 Leghorn, Italy
30 Mar 1945 11 Apr 1945 Via Marseille, France, to The Netherlands
11 Apr 1945 16 Apr 1945 Gilze-Rijen, the Netherlands
16 Apr 1945 21 Apr 1945 Doetinchem, the Netherlands
21 Apr 1945 4 May 1945 Otterloo, the Netherlands
4 May 1945 16 May 1945 Teuge. the Netherlands
16 May 1945 20 Jun 1945 Hilversum, the Netherlands
20 Jun 1945 16 Nov 1945 Goslar, British Zone of Occupation
16 Nov 1945 26 Jan 1946 Wiltshire
26 Jan 1946 19 Jan 1948 RAF Andover, Hampshire
19 Jan 1948 1 Nov 1955 RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire

Army Air Corps

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No. 657 Squadron traces it lineage to the Royal Air Force No. 657 Squadron formed in January 1943 and disbanded in November 1955.[14]

No. 657 Squadron AAC was formed on 1 January 1973 as part of 1 Regiment AAC.[1] The squadron served in Northern Ireland based at Shackleton Barracks.[1][15] On 1 March 1978, No. 665 Squadron AAC was re-designated as 657 Squadron based at Kirkee Barracks in Colchester.[1] In July 1990, the squadron relinquished its independent status by becoming part of 9 Regiment AAC and moved to Oakington in Cambridgeshire and then in February 1991 to Dishforth Airfield in North Yorkshire.[1][16]

In June 2000, the squadron once again became independent when it moved to RAF Odiham in Hampshire.[1] In September 2000, two Westland Lynx helicopters took part in Operation Barras in Sierra Leone.[17] In April 2001, the squadron became part of the newly formed Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.[2]

Afghanistan incident

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On 26 April 2014, a Lynx crashed in Takhta Pul district of Kandahar Province, killing all five British personnel on board. They were Captain Thomas Clarke, Warrant Officer 2 Spencer Faulkner and Corporal James Walters of the Army Air Corps, Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan of the Royal Air Force and Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas of the Intelligence Corps. As at 28 April 2014, the cause was described as an "accident", despite Taliban claims that they had caused the crash. The purpose of the mission has speculated upon, but has been described as a "routine training mission".[18] The site, variously described as "close to Kandahar base" and "30 miles from the Pakistani border", had been "secured" for recovery of the bodies and aircraft.[19]

A full report into the accident was published in July 2015, by the Ministry of Defence and the Military Aviation Authority.[20]

Disbandment

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With the Lynx reaching the end of its operational life in January 2018, the squadron disbanded in May 2018.[21]

Plans to purchase modified AgustaWestland Wildcat helicopters to replace the Lynx in the special forces role were dropped due to budget constraints. The squadron's special forces role has therefore been taken over by a flight of special forces-trained personnel within the existing Wildcat fleet.[22]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "657 Squadron Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008.
  2. ^ a b "JSFAW - Responsibilities and Composition". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014.
  3. ^ "RAF ODIHAM - Who is Based Here". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  4. ^ Halley 1988, pp. 444–451.
  5. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–104.
  6. ^ Lake 1999, p. 101.
  7. ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 447.
  8. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 114.
  9. ^ a b c Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 115.
  10. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 99.
  11. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 157.
  12. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 104.
  13. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 246–247.
  14. ^ "657 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  15. ^ "657 Squadron". British Army units from 1945 on. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  16. ^ "9 Regiment Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  17. ^ Fowler, William (2010). Certain Death in Sierra Leone – The SAS and Operation Barras 2000. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781846038501.
  18. ^ "Army's most skilled pilots among five killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash". London: Daily Telegraph. 28 April 2014. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  19. ^ "Afghanistan helicopter crash personnel named by MoD". London: BBC. 27 April 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  20. ^ "Service Inquiry: accident involving Lynx Mk 9 ZF540 on 26 April 2014 - Publications". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  21. ^ Banner, David (17 January 2018). "Pride and sadness as Lynx bows out at RAF Shawbury". Shropshire Star. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  22. ^ Ripley, Tim (12 September 2017). "UK reorganises special forces aviation". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.

Bibliography

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  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • 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 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Lake, Alan (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
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