No. 663 Squadron (Polish: 663 Polski Szwadron Powietrznych Punktów Obserwacyjnych) was an air observation post (AOP) unit, manned with Polish Army personnel, which was officially formed in Italy on 14 August 1944. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons 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.[4][5]
No. 663 Squadron
Badge of 663rd Polish Air Observation Post Squadron during World War II
Active
14 Aug 1944 – 29 Oct 1946 1 Jul 1949 – 10 Mar 1957
Volunteer Polish Army officers had been sent by ship to South Africa in June 1944 for initial training as pilots and then for operational training in the very low-level AOP role. The squadron was officially formed at San Basilio in Italy on 14 August 1944[1] as 663 Polski Szwadron Powietrznych Punktów Obserwacyjnych. The fifteen successful officers reached Italy on 28 October. All squadron personnel were drawn from Polish artillery units. The squadron's primary role was to observe enemy ground targets and to help direct artillery fire on them. After further advanced training, the squadron was declared operational on 30 January 1945. The squadron's HQ was at Villa Carpena, with three flights, two of which were detached elsewhere as needed to support No. 2 Polish Corps artillery units on the progressing "front line". Auster AOP IV and V "spotter" aircraft were flown in the unit's close support operations. After meritorious service with some pilots being killed, the unit left for the UK on 10 October 1946 and was formally disbanded on 29 October 1946.
Post-war serviceedit
Auster AOP.6 TW539 of no. 663 (AOP) Squadron RAF in 1954663 (AOP) Squadron Auster AOP.6 VX121 'A' 'low flying for the guns' over Cheshire in 1954
For the next eight years, No. 663 flew very low-level 'spotting' sorties in co-operation with Territorial Army artillery units, often based for the weekend in a friendly farmers field – for example near Tarporley, Cheshire.
No. 1952 Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 663 Squadron along with No. 1953 Air Observation Post Flight, No. 1954 Air Observation Post Flight and No. 1955 Air Observation Post Flight.[7]
The squadron disbanded on 10 March 1957, at the same time as all other Royal Auxiliary Air Force flying units.[6]
Army Air Corps history and operationsedit
The unit was reformed as an army air unit called 663 Aviation Squadron in October 1969 at Netheravon, Wiltshire. Its allocated mission was to support army formations in the Salisbury Plain area. The unit's initial equipment was the Bell Sioux AH.1 helicopter, with these being later replaced by the Westland Scout AH.1 turbine helicopter. On 1 January 1973 the unit was renamed No. 663 Squadron Army Air Corps. The Squadron again disbanded in July 1977.
663 Squadron AAC Westland Scout AH.1 in 1969
Following a restructuring of Army Air Squadrons, 660 Squadron was redesignated as 663 Squadron, part of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps. From 1993 it has been based at the ex-RAF Wattisham Airfield near Stowmarket, Suffolk. In recent years it has replaced its Westland Gazelles with Westland-assembled BoeingAH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
Aircraft operatededit
Aircraft operated by no. 663 Squadron RAF, data from[1][8]
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. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-84037-141-2.
Król, Wacław (1981). Zarys działań polskiego lotnictwa w Wielkiej Brytanii 1940–1945. Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i łączności (in Polish). Vol. 11. Warszawa, Poland: Biblioteczka Skrzydlatej Polski. ISBN83-206-0152-5.
Scholefield, R.A. (1998). Manchester Airport. Sutton Publishing. ISBN0-7509-1954-X.
Szczurowski, Maciej (2001). Artyleria Polskich Sił Zbrojnych na Zachodzie w II wojnie światowej (in Polish). Toruń, Poland: Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek. ISBN83-7174-918-X.
External linksedit
History of 663 Squadron
Personnel of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain 1940-1947
April 11, 2024
squadron, polish, polski, szwadron, powietrznych, punktów, obserwacyjnych, observation, post, unit, manned, with, polish, army, personnel, which, officially, formed, italy, august, 1944, numbers, squadrons, were, observation, post, units, working, closely, wit. No 663 Squadron Polish 663 Polski Szwadron Powietrznych Punktow Obserwacyjnych was an air observation post AOP unit manned with Polish Army personnel which was officially formed in Italy on 14 August 1944 Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons 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 4 5 No 663 SquadronBadge of 663rd Polish Air Observation Post Squadron during World War IIActive14 Aug 1944 29 Oct 1946 1 Jul 1949 10 Mar 1957CountryUnited KingdomAllegiancePolish government in exile 1944 1946 BranchRoyal Air ForceRoleAir observation post squadronMotto s We fly for the guns 1 InsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryAn Eagle displayed holding a snaffle bit 1949 1957 1 Squadron CodesROC Jul 1949 Apr 1951 2 3 Aircraft flownReconnaissanceAuster Single engined Army liaison monoplane Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation and wartime history 1 2 Post war service 1 3 Army Air Corps history and operations 2 Aircraft operated 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editFormation and wartime history edit nbsp De Havilland 82A Tiger Moth II in Polish Aviation MuseumVolunteer Polish Army officers had been sent by ship to South Africa in June 1944 for initial training as pilots and then for operational training in the very low level AOP role The squadron was officially formed at San Basilio in Italy on 14 August 1944 1 as 663 Polski Szwadron Powietrznych Punktow Obserwacyjnych The fifteen successful officers reached Italy on 28 October All squadron personnel were drawn from Polish artillery units The squadron s primary role was to observe enemy ground targets and to help direct artillery fire on them After further advanced training the squadron was declared operational on 30 January 1945 The squadron s HQ was at Villa Carpena with three flights two of which were detached elsewhere as needed to support No 2 Polish Corps artillery units on the progressing front line Auster AOP IV and V spotter aircraft were flown in the unit s close support operations After meritorious service with some pilots being killed the unit left for the UK on 10 October 1946 and was formally disbanded on 29 October 1946 Post war service edit nbsp Auster AOP 6 TW539 of no 663 AOP Squadron RAF in 1954 nbsp 663 AOP Squadron Auster AOP 6 VX121 A low flying for the guns over Cheshire in 1954No 663 Squadron was reformed on 1 July 1949 as an AOP unit of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force equipped with Auster AOP 5s and Auster AOP 6s Tiger Moth and DHC 1 Chipmunk aircraft were used for training and proficiency flights 6 The squadron headquarters was at RAF Hooton Park Wirral Cheshire with dispersed flights at RAF Ringway RAF Llandow South Wales and Wolverhampton Pendeford the latter flight moving on to Castle Bromwich Aerodrome near Birmingham 1 For the next eight years No 663 flew very low level spotting sorties in co operation with Territorial Army artillery units often based for the weekend in a friendly farmers field for example near Tarporley Cheshire No 1952 Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 663 Squadron along with No 1953 Air Observation Post Flight No 1954 Air Observation Post Flight and No 1955 Air Observation Post Flight 7 The squadron disbanded on 10 March 1957 at the same time as all other Royal Auxiliary Air Force flying units 6 Army Air Corps history and operations edit The unit was reformed as an army air unit called 663 Aviation Squadron in October 1969 at Netheravon Wiltshire Its allocated mission was to support army formations in the Salisbury Plain area The unit s initial equipment was the Bell Sioux AH 1 helicopter with these being later replaced by the Westland Scout AH 1 turbine helicopter On 1 January 1973 the unit was renamed No 663 Squadron Army Air Corps The Squadron again disbanded in July 1977 nbsp 663 Squadron AAC Westland Scout AH 1 in 1969Following a restructuring of Army Air Squadrons 660 Squadron was redesignated as 663 Squadron part of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps From 1993 it has been based at the ex RAF Wattisham Airfield near Stowmarket Suffolk In recent years it has replaced its Westland Gazelles with Westland assembled Boeing AH 64 Apache attack helicopters Aircraft operated editAircraft operated by no 663 Squadron RAF data from 1 8 From To Aircraft VariantOctober 1944 February 1946 Auster Mk IVNovember 1944 February 1946 Auster Mk VJuly 1949 October 1951 Auster AOP 5July 1949 February 1957 Auster AOP 61955 1957 Chipmunk T 10See also editNo 663 Squadron Army Air Corps 3 Regiment 663 Squadron Army Air CorpsReferences editNotes edit a b c d e Halley 1988 p 450 Bowyer amp Rawlings 1979 p 138 Flintham amp Thomas 2003 p 187 Halley 1988 pp 444 451 Jefford 2001 pp 102 104 a b Scholefield 1998 p 51 Lake 1999 p 100 Jefford 2001 p 105 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 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing Ltd ISBN 1 84037 141 2 Krol Waclaw 1981 Zarys dzialan polskiego lotnictwa w Wielkiej Brytanii 1940 1945 Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i lacznosci in Polish Vol 11 Warszawa Poland Biblioteczka Skrzydlatej Polski ISBN 83 206 0152 5 Lake Alan 1999 Flying units of the RAF Shrewsbury Airlife ISBN 1 84037 086 6 Scholefield R A 1998 Manchester Airport Sutton Publishing ISBN 0 7509 1954 X Szczurowski Maciej 2001 Artyleria Polskich Sil Zbrojnych na Zachodzie w II wojnie swiatowej in Polish Torun Poland Wydawnictwo Adam Marszalek ISBN 83 7174 918 X External links editSquadron Histories and more for Nos 651 670 Squadron on RAFweb History of 663 Squadron Personnel of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain 1940 1947 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 663 Squadron amp oldid 1179552268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
