No. 660 Squadron AAC

Last updated

No. 660 Squadron AAC
No. 660 Aviation Squadron AAC
No. 660 Squadron RAF
Active31 July 1943 – 31 May 1946 (RAF)
1969–1978
1978–1994
1 November 1997 – present
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg Army Air Corps
Base RAF Shawbury
Aircraft flown
Helicopter Current:

Former:

No. 660 Squadron AAC (660 Sqn) 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. [1] [2]

Contents

In the late 1950s the squadron's numerical was transferred to the AAC and since its formation in 1969, it has operated as a British Army unit flying various types of battlefield helicopters. The squadron has been re-formed and disbanded on a number of occasions. The squadron is currently based at RAF Shawbury where it forms part of No. 1 Flying Training School RAF, [3] but it has been deployed operationally to Northern Ireland, Hong Kong and Brunei throughout its existence.

History

Royal Air Force

No. 660 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum on 31 July 1943 [1] with the Taylorcraft Auster III and in February 1944 the Auster IV. From November 1943, it was based at Hammerwood Park, a country house in Sussex. However, as the squadron's role was to support the Second British Army, in July 1944 it moved to France. Fighting in the break-out from Normandy it followed the army across the low countries and into Germany. The squadron disbanded at Holtenau, Germany on 31 May 1946. [4]

It's identification symbol was BG (Aug 1945 – Apr 1946). [5] [6]

A postwar Auster Mk.V, restored in wartime colours. Auster.aop9.tw511.arp.jpg
A postwar Auster Mk.V, restored in wartime colours.
Aircraft operated by No. 660 Squadron RAF, data from [1] [4]
FromToAircraftVariant
July 1943February 1944 Auster Mk.III
February 1944May 1946AusterMk.IV
September 1944May 1946AusterMk.V

Army Air Corps

The squadron's numerical designation was first used by No. 660 Squadron RAF, a Royal Air Force squadron which served from 31 July 1943 until 31 May 1946 operating from bases in England, France and Germany. Its duties and squadron number were transferred to the AAC upon the corps' formation on 1 September 1957. [7] [8] [9] No. 660 Sqn was subsequently re-formed in October 1969 adopting the designation of No. 660 Aviation Squadron AAC. Based at Topcliffe and equipped with Westland (Agusta-Bell) Sioux AH.1 and Westland Scout AH.1s, it formed part of 2 Regiment Army Air Corps (2 Regt. AAC). [9] [10]

The squadron moved to Salamanca Barracks, at Soest-Bad Sassendorf Airfield in 1971, becoming part of 4 Regt AAC the following year. In January 1973, it was renamed 660 Squadron AAC and in May 1974, while a Salamanca Barracks, it was the first unit to receive the Westland Gazelle AH.1 for operational service in May 1974. A Scout Flight was later swapped with No. 654 Squadron AAC in October 1977, making it an entirely Gazelle squadron. The squadron was then assigned to 3 Regt. AAC. [9] [11]

RAF Sek Kong airfield, New Territories, Hong Kong in 1983 RAF Sek Kong Jul 1983.jpg
RAF Sek Kong airfield, New Territories, Hong Kong in 1983

On 1 April 1978, the squadron was re-designated as No. 663 Squadron AAC (663 Sqn), and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the new squadron which was based at Salamanca Barracks. [9] [10] [11] [12] Later that same year, No. 660 Squadron was re-formed at Sek Kong in Hong Kong equipped with the Scout AH.1. Its roles included observation/reconnaissance and providing a troop-lift capability on the Hong Kong–Chinese border. It also provided anti-smuggling and immigration-control capabilities and supported Army exercises, being heavily involved in stemming the flood of illegal-immigrants from the People's Republic of China (PRC). In 1984, the squadron had a complement of 12 Scouts and 80 men; of these, two Scouts and 18 men were based at Seria in Brunei. [13]

660 Sqn AAC Scout landing at Ping-Chau Island, on exercise from RAF Sek Kong/Shek Kong Airfield 660 Sqn Scout 1983 Ping-Chau.jpg
660 Sqn AAC Scout landing at Ping-Chau Island, on exercise from RAF Sek Kong/Shek Kong Airfield
Westland Scout part of the 660 Sqn in Kuala Belait, Brunei. AAC Westland Scout.jpg
Westland Scout part of the 660 Sqn in Kuala Belait, Brunei.

The Army Air Corps in the Far East had been centralised in 1969 when various flights, troops and Gurkha air platoons were amalgamated, resulting in the re-formation of No. 656 (Independent) Squadron AAC (656 Sqn) in October 1969. One Gurkha air platoon, based with the Gurkha battalion at Seria, remained as an air platoon for a while and then became C Flight 656 Sqn, then Brunei Detachment 660 Sqn in 1978, then C Flight 660 Sqn in 1979. The reorganization and increase in unit size required the squadron to be housed at Sek Kong. [14]

In the spring of 1970, the Sioux helicopters were supplemented by Scouts. The Siouxs were then phased out, with their last flights in Hong Kong being undertaken towards the end of 1974 when they were replaced by Gazelles. By the end of 1975 the Gazelle had been found unsuitable for Hong Kong, and they were returned to the UK, leaving the squadron with just its Scout helicopters. [14] The Siouxs, reputed to be the last in the AAC, were flown in Brunei until 1978 when they were also exchanged with Scouts. [10] [15] [16]

660 Sqn operated at Sek Kong until 1994, when it was disbanded as part of the preparations for the hand over of the Hong Kong Crown Protectorate to the People's Republic of China (PRC). The squadron, 50 years old at the time, was believed to be the last overseas unit using Scout helicopters. [10] [17]

Detachments

24 Jan to 14 Apr 1970
RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland (NI) [10]
15 Jun – 17 Oct 73
A small Scout and Sioux detachment stood-up for a four-month tour at Long Kesh in NI.
1 Jul to 31 Oct 1975
A detachment was provided for Long Kesh / Ballykelly in NI.

Current role

One of 1 FTS's Airbus H135 Juno's. H135 Juno - RIAT 2018 (44706686825).jpg
One of 1 FTS’s Airbus H135 Juno’s.

The Defence Helicopter Flying School concept was born during the Defence Cost Study of 1994, leading to the selection of a single site for basic helicopter training using contractor-owned aircraft and a proportion of civilian (ex-military) flying instructors. The squadron was reformed again in April 1997, as one of two single-engine rotary-wing squadrons of the tri-service Defence Helicopter Flying School, based at RAF Shawbury. 660 Sqn AAC is commanded by an Army major and equipped with civilian-owned Airbus Helicopters H135 (known as Juno). [18]

In October 1996, a contract had been placed with FBS, a company formed between Flight Refuelling Aviation, Bristows Helicopters Ltd and SERCo. This 15-year contract not only covered the engineering and supply aspects already in place, but also included the provision of the 35 Squirrel and Griffin helicopters for the Defence Helicopter Flying School at Shawbury. In practice, FBS now sub-contracts the support of the DHFS and RAF Shawbury to FB Heli Services (formerly FR Aviation Services) thus maintaining the partnership between the company and RAF Shawbury forged over the 5 years previous to that contract. Also included in the contract was the provision of 40% of the helicopter instructors, operations-support staff and flight-systems operators in the Central Air Traffic Control School. [19]

Cobham was awarded a £193m four-year contract in 2012 to provide helicopter flying training at RAF Shawbury, RAF Valley and AAC Middle Wallop, together with support services at RAF Shawbury and AAC Middle Wallop. The contract extended the previously existing Defence Helicopter Flying School and support services contract, which had been undertaken by FBS Ltd and FB Heliservices Ltd for the previous 15 years. [20]

This contract was replaced by the new Rotary Wing Training Programme (part of the UK Military Flying Training System) is currently carried out by Ascent Flight Training and delivers training on the H135 ‘Juno’ and H145 ‘Jupiter’ to both pilots and rear crew. [21] Training is overseen and govern by No. 1 Flying Training School (1 FTS) as of February 2020. [22]

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, through Joint Helicopter Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JHC FS Aldergrove</span> Ministry of Defence Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station

Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove, also known as simply JHC FS Aldergrove, is a British military base located 4.4 miles (7.1 km) south of Antrim, Northern Ireland and 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Belfast, and adjoins Belfast International Airport. It is sometimes referred to simply as Aldergrove which is the name of a nearby hamlet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Shawbury</span> Royal Air Force base in Shropshire, England

Royal Air Force Shawbury, otherwise known as RAF Shawbury, is a Royal Air Force station near the village of Shawbury in Shropshire in the West Midlands of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shek Kong Airfield</span> Military airbase in New Territories, Hong Kong

The Shek Kong Airfield, formerly Royal Air Force Sek Kong or Sek Kong Airfield, is an airfield (airbase) located in Shek Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defence Helicopter Flying School</span> 1997–2020 UK military flying school

The Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) was a military flying school based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, England. The school, established in 1997, was a tri-service organisation and trained helicopter aircrews for all three British armed forces. It initially used the Eurocopter Squirrel HT1 and Bell Griffin HT1 helicopters, which were retained despite the introduction of the Airbus Juno HT1 and Airbus Jupiter HT1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AAC Middle Wallop</span> Military airfield in Hampshire, England

Army Aviation Centre (AAC) Middle Wallop is a British Army airfield located near the Hampshire village of Middle Wallop, used for Army Air Corps training. The base hosts 2 (Training) Regiment AAC and 7 (Training) Regiment AAC under the umbrella of the Army Aviation Centre. 2 (Training) Regiment performs ground training; 7 (Training) Regiment trains aircrew on AAC aircraft after they complete basic training at RAF Shawbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1 Flying Training School RAF</span> Flying Training School of the Royal Air Force

The No. 1 Flying Training School is the oldest military pilot training school in the world, currently used to deliver rotary training to aircrew of the British armed forces.

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. 656 Squadron AAC</span> Military unit

656 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps. It was chosen as one of the AAC new AgustaWestland Apache squadrons and in April 2004 started its conversion to role. The first phase of this completed in October 2004. The squadron was the first operational Apache squadron in the Army Air Corps and was awarded fully operational status along with the remainder of 9 Regiment AAC in June 2005. It is under 4 Regiment AAC as of 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Ballykelly</span> Former Royal Air Force station in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Royal Air Force Ballykelly, or more simply RAF Ballykelly, is a former Royal Air Force station which opened in 1941 in Ballykelly, County Londonderry. It closed in 1971 when the site was handed over to the British Army as Shackleton Barracks. A small part of the base has been used as a refuelling point by army helicopters and small fixed-wing aircraft usually operating out of Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove near the town of Antrim.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 658 Squadron AAC</span> Military unit

658 Squadron AAC is an Army Air Corps unit of the British Army that provides dedicated aviation support to the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment for domestic counter terrorism (CT) operations. The squadron is co-located with 22 SAS at Stirling Lines. The press has given the squadron, their helicopters, and the CT response force they enable, the nickname "Blue Thunder". The squadron is part of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.

<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. 654 Squadron AAC 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.

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.

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

7 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps is a regiment of the British Army and is part of the Joint Helicopter Command. The regiment is responsible for providing all of the flight training of Army Air Corps (AAC) pilots. The regiment is based at the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop.

No. 670 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps. It is responsible for the Operational Conversion Phase of the Army Pilots’ Course. The Squadron is based at RAF Shawbury.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Halley 1988 , pp. 444–451.
  2. ↑ Jefford 2001 , pp. 102–104.
  3. ↑ "RAF Chief opens state of the art helicopter training facilities in Shawbury".
  4. 1 2 Jefford 2001 , p. 104.
  5. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979 , p. 22.
  6. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003 , p. 64.
  7. ↑ Halley 1988, pp. 444–451.
  8. ↑ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–104.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Helis 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 A. Young 2014.
  11. 1 2 QRA Magazin 2013.
  12. ↑ UK MoD 2014.
  13. ↑ Kneen & Sutton 1997, pp. 331–332.
  14. 1 2 Kneen & Sutton 1997, p. 331.
  15. ↑ Kneen & Sutton 1997, p. 335.
  16. ↑ Laxton 1993.
  17. ↑ Clarke 1993.
  18. ↑ "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  19. ↑ RAF Shawbury: Contractors 2014.
  20. ↑ The Business Desk 2012.
  21. ↑ "Ascent Flight Training". ascentflighttraining.com. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  22. ↑ "RAF chief opens state-of-the-art helicopter training facilities in Shawbury".

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 (second ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN   1-85310-053-6.
  • Kneen, J M.; Sutton, D J (1997). Craftsmen of the Army: The Story of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Vol II 1969-1992. Pen and Sword. ISBN   9781473813403 . Retrieved 29 September 2014.

Newspapers and magazines

Web sites

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.