Summary
No. 658 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during World War II. No.s 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, Nos. 664 to 666, were manned with Canadian personnel.
| No. 658 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 30 Apr 1943 – 15 Oct 1946[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | Air observation post squadron |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Videmus Delemus (Translation: "We see and destroy")[2][1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | On a bezant, an eagle's head couped[2][1][3] |
| Squadron Codes | No code(s) known[4] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Reconnaissance | Auster Single-engined Army liaison monoplane |
History edit
Formation and World War II edit
No. 658 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum on 30 April 1943[2][1] with the Auster III and from March 1944 the Auster IV. The squadron role was to support the 21st Army Group and on 26 June 1944 it moved to France.[1] Fighting in the break-out from Normandy it followed the army across the countries and into Germany. In October 1945 the squadron left for India, where it was disbanded on 15 October 1946.[5][1]
The squadron number was transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps (AAC) on 1 September 1957.[6][7] No. 658 Squadron AAC uses the designation, badge and motto.[8]
Aircraft operated edit
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1943 | April 1944 | Auster | Mk.III |
| March 1944 | September 1945 | Auster | Mk.IV |
| August 1944 | September 1945 | Auster | Mk.V |
| November 1945 | January 1946 | Auster | Mk.V |
| June 1946 | October 1946 | Auster | Mk.V |
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ a b c d e f "658 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 448.
- ^ "No 651 – 670 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 233.
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 104.
- ^ Halley 1988, pp. 444–451.
- ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–104.
- ^ "658 SQN Army Air Corps – History". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007.
Bibliography edit
- 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.