No. 655 Squadron RAF

No. 655 Squadron RAF
Active 30 Nov 1942 – 31 Aug 1945
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Role Air Observation Post Squadron
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry No badge known[1]
Squadron codes PA (1944 – Aug 1945,
HQ Flight)[2]
PB (1944 – Aug 1945,
'A' Flight)[2]
PC (1944 – Aug 1945,
'B' Flight)[2]
PD (1944 – Aug 1945,
'C' Flight)[2]
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance Taylorcraft Auster

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.[3][4]

[5] No. 655 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire, on 30 November 1942 and went into action on August 1943 in North Africa. From December 1943, it served in Italy, where it remained until disbanding at Ronchi on 31 August 1945. 655 avn. sqn. Army Air Corps was the 1st (BR) Corps support Squadron at Detmold in West Germany, during the days of The British Army on The Rhine. 655 Sqn., (The Scottish Horse), a title used to remember the unit's connections with its R.A.F. precedents, and the Italian campaign, provided battlefield support, observation, casevac,and Anti Tank Guided Weapon operations in the forward area in the event of the then expected European War. As in common with all A.A.C. units at that time 655 Squadron operated Westland upgraded Bell 47 G4 and Westland 'Scout'AH Mk'1 Helicopters.[6]

Aircraft operated

An Auster Mk.III.
Aircraft operated by no. 655 Squadron RAF, data from[1][7]
From To Aircraft Variant
December 1942 February 1943 Auster Mk.I
February 1943 August 1944 Auster Mk.III
June 1944 August 1945 Auster Mk.IV
January 1945 August 1945 Auster Mk.V

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Halley 1988, p. 446.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 97.
  3. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 444.
  4. ↑ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–105.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ personal service 1970to1974
  7. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 103.

Bibliography

  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes Since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2003. 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), ISBN 0-85130-164-9 
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd). (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, ISBN 1-84037-141-2 


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