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No. 684 Squadron RAF 
Summary
No. 684 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1946.
| No. 684 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 29 September 1943 – 1 September 1946 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Inactive |
| Role | Photo-Reconnaissance |
| Part of | No. 231 Group RAF, Air Command South East Asia[1] |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Invisus Videns (Translation: "Seeing through unseen")[2][3] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A mask[2][3] |
| Squadron Codes | No code(s) are known to have been carried[3][4][5] |
History edit
The squadron was formed on 29 September 1943 at RAF Dum Dum near Calcutta, (then) British India from the twin-engined[3] elements of No. 681 Squadron RAF.[2] It operated in the photo-reconnaissance role with first the de Havilland Mosquito and the North American Mitchell, and later also with the Bristol Beaufighter and the Supermarine Spitfire. The squadron performed long range photo-reconnaissance in support of the Burma Campaign. Near the end of the war the squadron also performed high-speed courier flights. It was disbanded on 1 September 1946 at RAF Seletar, Singapore by being renumbered to No. 81 Squadron RAF.[2][6][7]
Aircraft operated edit
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1943 | September 1945 | North American Mitchell | Mk.II (B-25C) |
| September 1943 | December 1943 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.II |
| September 1943 | February 1944 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.VI |
| October 1943 | February 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.IX |
| February 1944 | May 1946 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.XVI |
| May 1945 | July 1945 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.VI |
| July 1945 | September 1946 | de Havilland Mosquito | PR.34 |
| July 1945 | July 1946 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.X |
| December 1945 | September 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | PR.XI, PR.XIX |
Squadron bases edit
| From | To | Name | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 September 1943 | 9 December 1943 | RAF Dum Dum, Bengal, British India | Formed here |
| 9 December 1943 | 31 January 1944 | RAF Comilla, Bengal, British India | |
| 31 January 1944 | 5 May 1944 | RAF Dum Dum, West Bengal, British India | |
| 5 May 1944 | 11 October 1945 | RAF Alipore, Bengal, British India | Detachments at RAF Yelahanka, Karnataka, British India; RAF China Bay, Ceylon; RAF Cocos Islands and RAF Mingaladon, Burma |
| 11 October 1945 | 27 January 1946 | Tân Sơn Nhất Airfield, Saigon, Vietnam | Detachment at RAF Seletar, Singapore |
| 27 January 1946 | August 1946 | Don Muang Airfield, Bangkok, Thailand | Detachments at RAF Seletar, Singapore and RAF Baigachi, Bengal |
| August 1946 | 1 September 1946 | RAF Seletar, Singapore | Disbanded here |
Commanding officers edit
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1943 | Dec 1943 | S/Ldr. B.S. Jones |
| Dec 1943 | Nov 1944 | W/Cdr. W.B. Murray |
| Nov 1944 | Nov 1945 | W/Cdr. W.E.M. Lowry, DFC |
| Nov 1945 | Apr 1946 | W/Cdr. K.J. Newman, DFC and Bar (RNZAF) |
| Apr 1946 | Sep 1946 | W/Cdr. J.R.H. Merrifield, DSO, DFC and Bar |
See also edit
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ Delve 1994, pp. 77 and 83.
- ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 455.
- ^ a b c d e f g Rawlings 1982, p. 247.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 148.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 233.
- ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 105.
- ^ Bowyer 1984, p. 30.
- ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 456.
- ^ Bowyer 1984, p. 132.
Bibliography edit
- Bowman, Martin (1999). Mosquito Photo-Reconnaissance Units of World War 2. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-891-7.
- Bowyer, Chaz (1984). Mosquito Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1425-6.
- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- 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.
External links edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 684 Squadron RAF.
- No 671 – 1435 Squadron Histories Archived 30 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- History of 684 Squadron