No. 655 Squadron RAF
| No. 655 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 30 Nov 1942 – 31 Aug 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | Air observation post squadron |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge heraldry | No badge known[1] |
| Squadron codes | PA (1944 – Aug 1945, HQ Flight)[2] PB (1944 – Aug 1945, 'A' Flight)[2] PC (1944 – Aug 1945, 'B' Flight)[2] PD (1944 – Aug 1945, 'C' Flight)[2] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Reconnaissance | Taylorcraft Auster |
No. 655 Squadron RAF was 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 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.[3][4]
History
[edit]No. 655 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire, on 30 November 1942 and went into action in August 1943 in North Africa. From December 1943, it served in Italy, where it remained until disbanding at Ronchi on 31 August 1945. Colonel Sir Richard Gorham earned the Distinguished Flying Cross while a flight commander in Italy, playing a decisive role in the Battle of Monte Cassino.[5] 655 Avn. Sqn. Army Air Corps was the 1st (BR) Corps support Squadron at Detmold in West Germany, during the days of the British Army of the Rhine. 655 Sqn., (The Scottish Horse), a title used to remember the unit's connections with its R.A.F. precedents, and the Italian campaign, provided battlefield support, observation, casevac, and Anti Tank Guided Weapon operations in the forward area in the event of the then expected European War. As in common with all A.A.C. units at that time 655 Squadron operated Westland upgraded Bell 47 G4 and Westland 'Scout'AH Mk'1 Helicopters.[6]
Aircraft operated
[edit]
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1942 | February 1943 | Auster | Mk.I |
| February 1943 | August 1944 | Auster | Mk.III |
| June 1944 | August 1945 | Auster | Mk.IV |
| January 1945 | August 1945 | Auster | Mk.V |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 446.
- ^ a b c d Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 97.
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 444.
- ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–105.
- ^ Bonete, Peter (11 March 1972). "Colonel Sir Richard M. Gorham, DFC". The Mid-Ocean News. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda.
- ^ personal service 1970to1974
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 103.
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). 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. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
External links
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