Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

No. 666 Squadron RAF

No. 666 Squadron RAF
No. 666 (Scottish) Squadron RAuxAF
Active 1 May 1949 - 10 March 1957
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Role Air Observation
Part of No. 66 (Scottish) Group RAF, Home Command
Motto Latin: Speculatus ascendimus
(Translation: "We ascend to observe")[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry Badge: In front of two gun barrels in saltire, a lion rampant charged with the Cross of St. Andrew[1]
Squadron Codes ROG (May 1949 - Apr 1951)[2][3]
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance Auster AOP.6

No. 666 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post (AOP) squadron associated with the Canadian 1st Army and later part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadron 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[4][5]

Contents

History

Formation and World War II

No. 666 Squadron RCAF was first formed on 5 March 1945[1] at RAF Andover as an air observation post (AOP) squadron associated with the Canadian 1st Army. After a period working together with the Canadian army and later with the occupation forces in Germany the squadron disbanded on 30 September 1946.[1][6]

Post-war

As the number was not transferred to the Canadian authorities, it was revived post-war when the squadron was reformed as No. 666 (Scottish) Squadron RAuxAF, part of the RAuxAF on 1 May 1949 at Scone. Equipped with Auster AOP.6 aircraft, the squadrons headquarter was based at RAF Perth/Scone, with three detached flights, Nos. 1966, 1967 and 1968 Flight RAF[7] at respectively RAF Perth/Scone, RAF Renfrew (later RAF Abbotsinch) and RAF Turnhouse,[1] before it was disbanded on 10 March 1957 by transferring to the Army Air Corps.[8]

Present

The squadron was till 1 April 2009 represented by 666 Squadron of 7 (Volunteer) Regiment, Army Air Corps.

Aircraft operated

A preserved Auster AOP.6 at the Yorkshire Air Museum.
Aircraft operated by 666 Squadron RAF, data from[1][6]
From To Aircraft Version
June 1949 November 1951 Auster AOP.5
June 1949 February 1957 Auster AOP.6

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 666 Squadron RAF, data from[1][6]
From To Base Remark
1 May 1949 10 March 1957 RAF Perth/Scone, Perth and Kinross, Scotland No. 1966 Flight RAF
1 May 1949 10 March 1957 RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland No. 1968 Flight RAF
1 December 1951 5 December 1952 RAF Renfrew, Renfrewshire, Scotland No. 1967 Flight RAF
5 December 1952 10 March 1957 RAF Abbotsinch, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Fictional service

A fictional 666 Squadron featured in the Air Ace Picture Library story The Bomber Barons. This 666 Squadron was a bomber unit founded at the outbreak of World War II, operating Handley Page Hampdens (September 1939 - December 1940), Avro Manchesters (January 1941 - 1942), Avro Lancasters (1942–1944) and Avro Vulcans (1960s - 1982).[9] In the Charles Stross novel "The Fuller Memorandum" 666 squadron is a secret RAF unit involved on occult activities.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Halley 1988, p. 451.
  2. ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
  3. ^ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 187.
  4. ^ Halley 1988, p. 444.
  5. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–105.
  6. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 105.
  7. ^ Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 131.
  8. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation No 651 - 670 Squadron Histories
  9. ^ Air Ace Picture Library Holiday Special 1982.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • 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 Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-88. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

External links

Related content

v · d · e
Formations and units

Commands · Groups · Stations · Wings · Aircraft squadrons · Aircraft flights · Conversion units · Regiment squadrons

 Ensign of the Royal Air Force
Branches and components
Reserve forces
Associated civil organizations

Air Training Corps · RAF Association · RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Equipment

List of RAF aircraft · List of RAF missiles
Personnel
Symbols and uniform

Ensign · Badge · Roundels · Uniform

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • No. 664 Squadron RAF — Active 9 December 1944–31 May 1946 1 September 1949–10 March 1957 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 663 Squadron RAF — Badge of 663rd Polish Air Observation Post Squadron during World War II Active 14 Aug 1944 29 Oct 1946 1 Jul 1949 10 Mar 1957 …   Wikipedia

  • No. 657 Squadron RAF — Active 31 Jan 1943 1 Nov 1955 Country United Kingdom B …   Wikipedia

  • No. 652 Squadron RAF — Active 1 May 1942 1957 Country United Kingdom Branch …   Wikipedia

  • No. 661 Squadron RAF — Active 31 Aug 1943 31 Oct 1945 1 May 1949 10 Mar 1957 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 653 Squadron RAF — Active 20 Jun 1942 15 Sep 1945 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 651 Squadron RAF — Active 1 Aug 1941 1 Nov 1955 1 Nov 1955 1 Sep 1957 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 656 Squadron RAF — Active 31 Dec 1942 15 Jan 1947 29 Jun 1948 1 Sep 1957 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 660 Squadron RAF — Active 31 Jul 1943 31 May 1946 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 662 Squadron RAF — Active 30 Sep 1943 15 Dec 1945 1 Feb 1949 10 Mar 1957 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”