No. 651 Squadron AAC

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

No. 651 Squadron AAC
Active1 Aug 1941 – 1 Nov 1955
1 Nov 1955 – 1 Sept 1957
1957 - (Army)
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
BranchBritish Army
RoleAir Observation Post Squadron
Motto(s)Latin: Dirige
(Translation: "Direct" (as in "direct towards/pointing the way"))[1]
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldryA seashell fired[1]
Squadron codesMA (1944 – 45, HQ Flight)[2]
MB (1944 – 45, 'A' Flight)[2]
MC (1944 – 45, 'B' Flight)[2]
MD (1944 – 45, 'C' Flight)[2]
Aircraft flown
HelicopterBristol Sycamore
ReconnaissanceTaylorcraft Auster
Stinson Vigilant
Auster AOP.6

No. 651 Squadron Royal Air Force now No. 651 Squadron Army Air Corps is an aircraft squadron of the British Army. Originally the squadron was an RAF unit, in Italy and North Africa during the Second World War, and afterwards in Egypt. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were Air Observation Post units which had both Army and RAF personnel. The pilots, drivers and signallers were in the Royal Artillery whilst the adjutants, technical staff and equipment officers came from the RAF. Air observation posts were used primarily for artillery spotting, but occasionally for liaison and other duties.[3] 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[]

No 651 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire, on 1 August 1941. It went into action in November of 1942, during Operation Torch in North Africa. It later served in North Africa, Italy and finally Egypt from 1945 where it remained until 1 November 1955. On that same day, No. 657 Squadron RAF was re-numbered to 651 Squadron at RAF Middle Wallop, it now flew Sycamore helicopters as well as Austers.

No. 1908 Independent Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 651 Squadron previously 'A' Flight along with No. 1909 Air Observation Post Flight which was formed within 651 Squadron previously 'B' Flight.[6]

On 1 September 1957, the squadron was transferred to the Army Air Corps and became No. 651 Squadron AAC.[7] On 2 April 2019, the Army transferred 651 Squadron's aircraft the Britten-Norman Defender and BN-2 Islander to the RAF as part of No. 1 Group.[8] Army 651 Squadron personnel will continue to operate the aircraft who will gradually be replaced by RAF personnel through attrition.[8]

According to a FOI(A) response, the squadron comprises 6 x Britten-Norman Defenders, in addition 3 are in the sustainment fleet.[9]

Aircraft operated[]

An Auster AOP.5
Aircraft operated by no. 651 Squadron RAF, data from[1][10]
From To Aircraft Variant
August 1941 July 1942 Taylorcraft Plus C
September 1941 October 1941 Taylorcraft Plus D
October 1941 December 1941 Stinson Vigilant Mk.I
February 1942 September 1942 Taylorcraft Plus C.2
July 1942 October 1943 Auster Mk.I
August 1943 December 1944 Auster Mk.III
May 1944 October 1945 Auster Mk.IV
December 1944 June 1947 Auster Mk.V
November 1949 February 1952 Auster Mk.V
March 1947 October 1955 Auster AOP.6
November 1949 March 1952 Auster AOP.5
November 1955 September 1957 Bristol Sycamore HC.11
November 1955 September 1957 Auster AOP.6

See also[]

  • List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 445.
  2. ^ a b c d Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 89.
  3. ^ Munro, Ronald Lyell. Above the Battle: An Air Observation Post Pilot at War (Kindle ed.). Pen and Sword. p. Kindle location 307–313.
  4. ^ Halley 1988, p. 444.
  5. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–105.
  6. ^ Lake 1999, p. 100.
  7. ^ "651 Squadron Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017.
  8. ^ a b Jennings, Gareth (2 April 2019). "UK transfers Defender and Islander special mission aircraft from AAC to RAF". Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Freedom of Information (Act) request regarding squadron assignments by aircraft" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  10. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–103.

Bibliography[]

  • 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. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Lake, Alan (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""