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No. 666 Squadron AAC

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No. 666 Squadron AAC (V)
No. 666 Squadron AAC
666 Aviation Squadron
No. 666 (Scottish) Squadron RAuxAF
Active1 May 1949 – 10 March 1957 (RAuxAF)
19 Aug 1969 - 1 Apr 1978
1979 - 1 April 2009
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
BranchUnited Kingdom British Army
Part of7 Regiment Army Air Corps
Motto(s)Latin: Speculatus ascendimus
(Translation: "We ascend to observe")[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryBadge: In front of two gun barrels in saltire, a lion rampant charged with the Cross of St. Andrew[1]
Squadron CodesROG (May 1949 – Apr 1951)[2][3]
Aircraft flown
ReconnaissanceAuster AOP.6

No. 666 Squadron AAC (V) is a former squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). It was previously No. 666 Squadron RAF, a unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and afterwards became a Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) squadron between 1 May 1949 and 10 March 1957.

No. 666 Squadron RAF 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]

History

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Royal Canadian Air Force

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Main article: No. 666 Squadron RCAF

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]

Royal Auxiliary Air Force

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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 squadron's headquarters was located 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]

A preserved Auster AOP.6 at the Yorkshire Air Museum.
Aircraft operated by No. 666 Squadron RAuxAF[1][6]
From To Aircraft Version
June 1949 November 1951 Taylorcraft Auster AOP.5
June 1949 February 1957 Auster AOP.6


Bases and airfields used by No. 666 Squadron RAuxAF[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

Army Air Corps

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666 Aviation Squadron was formed on 19 August 1969 at Coypool, Plymouth within 3 Division Aviation Regiment, Army Air Corps. On 1 January 1973, 3 Division Aviation Regiment was renamed to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps and 666 Aviation Squadron AAC became 666 Squadron AAC. On 1 January 1973 the squadron moved to Alanbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe to support 24th Airportable Brigade, however on 1 April 1978 the squadron was disbanded and became No. 655 Squadron AAC.

666 Squadron was reformed as 666 Squadron AAC (V) during 1979 at Airfield Camp, Netheravon within 7 Regiment Army Air Corps (V) operating Westland Gazelle AH.1's.

The squadron was disbanded on 1 April 2009, still at Netheravon.[9]

Fictional service

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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).[10] In the long-running series of 'Biggles' books by W.E. Johns, 666 Squadron, RAF, is the Special Duties squadron led by the eponymous hero James Bigglesworth during World War II. In the Charles Stross novel "The Fuller Memorandum" 666 Squadron is a secret RAF unit involved on occult activities.

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Halley 1988, p. 451.
  2. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
  3. ^ Flintham & 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 & Hamlin 2007, p. 131.
  8. ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "No. 651–670 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  9. ^ "666 Squadron". British Army units from 1945. 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  10. ^ Air Ace Picture Library Holiday Special 1982.

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.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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