No. 657 Squadron RAF
Active31 Jan 1943 – 1 Nov 1955
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleAir observation post squadron
Motto(s)Latin: Per terras perque caelum
(Translation: "By land and sky")[1]
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldryA hand couped at the wrist, holding a gun barrel[1]
Squadron codesVA 1944–45 (HQ Flight)[2]
VB 1944–45 ('A' Flight)[3]
VC 1944–45 ('B' Flight)[3]
VD 1944–45 ('C' Flight)[3]
TS (1945 – Jan 1947)[4][5]

No. 657 Squadron RAF was 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.[6][7]

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

History

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.[8]

The original squadron's heritage is being taken forward today by No. 657 Squadron AAC of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.

Aircraft operated

A Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly at the RAF Museum, London (RAF Hendon).
Aircraft operated by No. 657 Squadron RAF[1][9]
FromToAircraftVariant
Feb 1943May 1943AusterMk.I
May 1943Oct 1944AusterMk.III
Jun 1944Mar 1945AusterMk.IV
Dec 1944Mar 1945AusterMk.V
Apr 1945Nov 1952AusterMk.V
Mar 1946Dec 1952AusterAOP.4
Jun 1946Nov 1955AusterAOP.6
Apr 1947Apr 1951Sikorsky HoverflyMk.II
Sep 1951Nov 1955Bristol SycamoreHC.11

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 657 squadron RAF[1][9][10]
FromToBase
31 Jan 19431 May 1943RAF Ouston, Northumberland
1 May 194326 Jun 1943RAF Westly
26 Jun 194315 Aug 1943RAF Clifton
15 Aug 194324 Aug 1943en route to North Africa
24 Aug 194322 Sep 1943Algiers, Algeria
22 Sep 194316 Oct 1943Bone, Algeria
16 Oct 19439 Jan 1944Philippeville, Algeria
9 Jan 194416 Jan 1944Châteaudun, Algeria
16 Jan 194428 Feb 1944en route to Italy
28 Feb 19448 Apr 1944Vasto, Italy
8 Apr 194411 May 1944Presenzano, Italy
11 May 19445 Jun 1944Campozilonne, Italy
5 Jun 19449 Jun 1944Anagni, Italy
9 Jun 194423 Jun 1944Civita Castellana, Italy
23 Jun 194429 Jun 1944Città della Pieve, Italy
29 Jun 19444 Jul 1944Ravigliano, Italy
4 Jul 194418 Jul 1944Creti/Foiano, Italy
18 Jul 194419 Aug 1944Carraia, Italy
FromToBase
19 Aug 19441 Sep 1944Iesi, Italy
1 Sep 19446 Oct 1944Landing ground on south bank of river Foglia, Italy
6 Oct 194421 Oct 1944Rimini, Italy
21 Oct 19444 Nov 1944Savignano, Italy
4 Nov 194429 Nov 1944Cesena, Italy
29 Nov 194415 Dec 1944Cervia, Italy
15 Dec 194421 Mar 1945San Pancrazio, Italy
21 Mar 194524 Mar 1945Ravenna, Italy
24 Mar 194530 Mar 1945Leghorn, Italy
30 Mar 194511 Apr 1945Via Marseille, France, to The Netherlands
11 Apr 194516 Apr 1945Gilze-Rijen, the Netherlands
16 Apr 194521 Apr 1945Doetinchem, the Netherlands
21 Apr 19454 May 1945Otterloo, the Netherlands
4 May 194516 May 1945Teuge. the Netherlands
16 May 194520 Jun 1945Hilversum, the Netherlands
20 Jun 194516 Nov 1945Goslar, British Zone of Occupation
16 Nov 194526 Jan 1946Wiltshire
26 Jan 194619 Jan 1948RAF Andover, Hampshire
19 Jan 19481 Nov 1955RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Halley 1988, p. 447.
  2. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 114.
  3. 1 2 3 Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 115.
  4. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 99.
  5. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 157.
  6. ↑ Halley 1988, pp. 444–451.
  7. ↑ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–104.
  8. ↑ Lake 1999, p. 101.
  9. 1 2 Jefford 2001, p. 104.
  10. ↑ Jefford 2001, pp. 246–247.

Bibliography

  • 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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