No. 661 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the Canadian 1st Army and later part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. 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.[6][7]
No. 661 Squadron RAF
Active
31 Aug 1943 – 31 Oct 1945 1 May 1949 – 10 Mar 1957
No. 661 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum on 31 August 1943 with the Auster III and in March 1944 the Auster IV. The squadron role was to support the Canadian 1st Army and in July 1944 it moved to France. Fighting in the break-out from Normandy it followed the Canadians across the low countries and into Germany. The squadron disbanded at Ghent, Belgium on 31 October 1945.[8]
Post-warEdit
After the war the Air Observation Squadrons were reformed and No. 661 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was as such formed at RAF Kenley on 1 May 1949, consisting of five flights -nos. 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1961 (Reserve) AOP Flights-,[9] to provide support to the Army in the south London and Surrey area until it was disbanded on 10 March 1957 at RAF Henlow.[8]
No. 1957 Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 662 Squadron along with No. 1958 Air Observation Post Flight, No. 1959 Air Observation Post Flight, No. 1960 Air Observation Post Flight & No. 1961 Air Observation Post Flight.[10]
Aircraft operatedEdit
Ex-661 Squadron Auster AOPIV NJ695.
Aircraft operated by no. 661 Squadron RAF, data from[1][8]
Auster MkIV, built in 1943 and deployed to France in July 1944. It was operated by 661 squadron in Europe until the squadron was disbanded. Demobbed and civilianised by Taylorcraft England, it was sold to a flying school in East Anglia in 1948, then to a French parachuting club in 1958, before returning to the UK in 1973. Currently in flyable condition, restoration to full airworthiness is planned to be completed in 2023.
Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN0-85059-364-6.
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. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
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. ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-365-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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No 661 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the Canadian 1st Army and later part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force 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 6 7 No 661 Squadron RAFActive31 Aug 1943 31 Oct 1945 1 May 1949 10 Mar 1957CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceRoleAir Observation Post squadronMotto s Latin Designo oculis ad caedem With my eyes i designate for slaughter InsigniaSquadron BadgeA grenade enfiled by a compass ring 1 Squadron CodesOE Aug 1944 Oct 1945 2 3 ROA Feb 1949 Apr 1951 4 5 Aircraft flownReconnaissanceAuster Single engined Army liaison monoplane Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation and World War II 1 2 Post war 2 Aircraft operated 3 Surviving aircraft 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory EditFormation and World War II Edit No 661 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum on 31 August 1943 with the Auster III and in March 1944 the Auster IV The squadron role was to support the Canadian 1st Army and in July 1944 it moved to France Fighting in the break out from Normandy it followed the Canadians across the low countries and into Germany The squadron disbanded at Ghent Belgium on 31 October 1945 8 Post war Edit After the war the Air Observation Squadrons were reformed and No 661 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was as such formed at RAF Kenley on 1 May 1949 consisting of five flights nos 1957 1958 1959 1960 and 1961 Reserve AOP Flights 9 to provide support to the Army in the south London and Surrey area until it was disbanded on 10 March 1957 at RAF Henlow 8 No 1957 Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 662 Squadron along with No 1958 Air Observation Post Flight No 1959 Air Observation Post Flight No 1960 Air Observation Post Flight amp No 1961 Air Observation Post Flight 10 Aircraft operated Edit nbsp Ex 661 Squadron Auster AOPIV NJ695 Aircraft operated by no 661 Squadron RAF data from 1 8 From To Aircraft VariantAugust 1943 April 1944 Auster Mk IIIMarch 1944 October 1945 Auster Mk IVNovember 1944 October 1945 Auster Mk VMay 1949 October 1951 Auster AOP 5May 1949 February 1957 Auster AOP 6Jul 1949 February 1950 Auster AOP 4Surviving aircraft EditOne known 661 Squadron aircraft survives in airworthy condition Serial Geographic location Institutional location History PhotoNJ695 Lee on the Solent Hampshire UK The Historic Aircraft Hanger Bellman 4 Solent Airport Auster MkIV built in 1943 and deployed to France in July 1944 It was operated by 661 squadron in Europe until the squadron was disbanded Demobbed and civilianised by Taylorcraft England it was sold to a flying school in East Anglia in 1948 then to a French parachuting club in 1958 before returning to the UK in 1973 Currently in flyable condition restoration to full airworthiness is planned to be completed in 2023 nbsp See also EditList of Royal Air Force aircraft squadronsReferences EditNotes Edit a b Halley 1988 p 448 Bowyer amp Rawlings 1979 p 79 Flintham amp Thomas 2003 p 95 Bowyer amp Rawlings 1979 p 138 Flintham amp Thomas 2003 p 187 Halley 1988 pp 444 451 Jefford 2001 pp 102 104 a b c Jefford 2001 p 104 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 131 Lake 1999 p 101 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 amp 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 Lake Alan 1999 Flying units of the RAF Shrewsbury Airlife ISBN 1 84037 086 6 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 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing External links EditSquadron history for nos 651 670 sqn at RAF Web 661 sqn page of RAF website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 661 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1164774406, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
