No._666_Squadron_RAF Knowpia

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

History edit

Formation and World War II edit

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 edit

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]

Present edit

The squadron was represented by 666 Squadron of 7 (Volunteer) Regiment, Army Air Corps until 1 April 2009.^[9]

Aircraft operated edit

A preserved Auster AOP.6 at the Yorkshire Air Museum.

Aircraft operated by 666 Squadron RAF^[1]^[6]
From	To	Aircraft	Version
June 1949	November 1951	Auster	AOP.5
June 1949	February 1957	Auster	AOP.6

Squadron bases edit

Bases and airfields used by no. 666 Squadron RAF^[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 edit

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.

References edit

Notes edit

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Halley 1988, p. 451.
^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 187.
^ Halley 1988, p. 444.
^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–105.
^ ^a ^b ^c Jefford 2001, p. 105.
^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 131.
^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "No. 651–670 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
^ "666 Squadron". British Army units from 1945. 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
^ Air Ace Picture Library Holiday Special 1982.

Bibliography edit

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)