No. 657 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 657 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force
in North Africa
, Italy
and the Netherlands during the Second World War and afterwards in Germany
.
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.
on 31 January 1943. It went into action in August of that year, in North Africa. It later served in Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. In November 1945, the squadron returned to the UK and continued to support army units in the South of England until disbanded by being renumbered No. 651 Squadron RAF
on 1 November 1955.
The original squadron is represented today by No. 657 Squadron of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
.
|+Aircraft operated by no. 657 Squadron RAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Variant
|-
| Feb 1943 || May 1943 || Auster
|| Mk.I
|-
| May 1943 || Oct 1944 || Auster || Mk.III
|-
| Jun 1944 || Mar 1945 || Auster || Mk.IV
|-
| Dec 1944 || Mar 1945 || Auster || Mk.V
|-
| Apr 1945 || Nov 1952 || Auster || Mk.V
|-
| Mar 1946 || Dec 1952 || Auster || AOP.4
|-
| Jun 1946 || Nov 1955 || Auster
|| AOP.6
|-
| Apr 1947 || Apr 1951 || Sikorsky Hoverfly
|| Mk.II
|-
| Sep 1951 || Nov 1955 || Bristol Sycamore
|| HC.11
|+Bases and airfields used by no. 657 squadron RAF, data from
| width="50%" valign="top" |
{|class="wikitable"
! From !! To !! Base
|-
| 31 Jan 1943 || 1 May 1943 || RAF Ouston
, Northumberland
|-
| 1 May 1943 || 26 Jun 1943 || RAF Westly
|-
| 26 Jun 1943 || 15 Aug 1943 || RAF Clifton
|-
| 15 Aug 1943 || 24 Aug 1943 || en route to North Africa
|-
| 24 Aug 1943 || 22 Sep 1943 || Algiers
, Algeria
|-
| 22 Sep 1943 || 16 Oct 1943 || Bone
, Algeria
|-
| 16 Oct 1943 || 9 Jan 1944 || Philippeville
, Algeria
|-
| 9 Jan 1944 || 16 Jan 1944 || Châteaudun
, Algeria
|-
| 16 Jan 1944 || 28 Feb 1944 || en route to Italy
|-
| 28 Feb 1944 || 8 Apr 1944 || Vasto
, Italy
|-
| 8 Apr 1944 || 11 May 1944 || Presenzano
, Italy
|-
| 11 May 1944 || 5 Jun 1944 || Campozilonne, Italy
|-
| 5 Jun 1944 || 9 Jun 1944 || Anagni
, Italy
|-
| 9 Jun 1944 || 23 Jun 1944 || Civita Castellana
, Italy
|-
| 23 Jun 1944 || 29 Jun 1944 || Città della Pieve
, Italy
|-
| 29 Jun 1944 || 4 Jul 1944 || Ravigliano, Italy
|-
| 4 Jul 1944 || 18 Jul 1944 || Creti/Foiano
, Italy
|-
| 18 Jul 1944 || 19 Aug 1944 || Carraia, Italy
|}
| width="50%" valign="top" |
{|class="wikitable"
! From !! To !! Base
|-
| 19 Aug 1944 || 1 Sep 1944 || Iesi
, Italy
|-
| 1 Sep 1944 || 6 Oct 1944 || Landing ground on south bank of river Foglia, Italy
|-
| 6 Oct 1944 || 21 Oct 1944 || Rimini
, Italy
|-
| 21 Oct 1944 || 4 Nov 1944 || Savignano, Italy
|-
| 4 Nov 1944 || 29 Nov 1944 || Cesena
, Italy
|-
| 29 Nov 1944 || 15 Dec 1944 || Cervia
, Italy
|-
| 15 Dec 1944 || 21 Mar 1945 || San Pancrazio
, Italy
|-
| 21 Mar 1945 || 24 Mar 1945 || Ravenna
, Italy
|-
| 24 Mar 1945 || 30 Mar 1945 || Leghorn
, Italy
|-
| 30 Mar 1945 || 11 Apr 1945 || Via Marseille
, France
to The Netherlands
|-
| 11 Apr 1945 || 16 Apr 1945 || Gilze-Rijen
, the Netherlands
|-
| 16 Apr 1945 || 21 Apr 1945 || Doetinchem
, the Netherlands
|-
| 21 Apr 1945 || 4 May 1945 || Otterlo
o, the Netherlands
|-
| 4 May 1945 || 16 May 1945 || Teuge
. the Netherlands
|-
| 16 May 1945 || 20 Jun 1945 || Hilversum
, the Netherlands
|-
| 20 Jun 1945 || 16 Nov 1945 || Goslar
, British Zone of Occupation
|-
| 16 Nov 1945 || 26 Jan 1946 || Wiltshire
|-
| 26 Jan 1946 || 19 Jan 1948 || RAF Andover
, Hampshire
|-
| 19 Jan 1948 || 1 Nov 1955 || RAF Middle Wallop
, Hampshire
|}
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the Netherlands during the Second World War and afterwards in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were Air Observation Post
Air Observation Post
An Air Observation Post is a British military aircraft used for active or passive observation of artillery actions.-History:Air Observation Post is the term used by the Royal Air Force and other services of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth air forces for an aeroplane or helicopter used in the...
units working closely with Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
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.
History
No. 657 Squadron was formed at RAF OustonRAF Ouston
Royal Air Force Station Ouston, more commonly known as RAF Ouston, is a former air station that was located near the village of Heddon-on-the-Wall on Hadrian's Wall near Newcastle upon Tyne...
on 31 January 1943. It went into action in August of that year, in North Africa. It later served in Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. In November 1945, the squadron returned to the UK and continued to support army units in the South of England until disbanded by being renumbered No. 651 Squadron RAF
No. 651 Squadron RAF
No. 651 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force 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 working closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these...
on 1 November 1955.
The original squadron is represented today by No. 657 Squadron of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
The Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing is a joint-service organisation which provides aviation support to United Kingdom Special Forces, using both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. The Wing is based at RAF Odiham....
.
Aircraft operated
{|class="wikitable"|+Aircraft operated by no. 657 Squadron RAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Variant
|-
| Feb 1943 || May 1943 || Auster
Taylorcraft Auster
The Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
|| Mk.I
|-
| May 1943 || Oct 1944 || Auster || Mk.III
|-
| Jun 1944 || Mar 1945 || Auster || Mk.IV
|-
| Dec 1944 || Mar 1945 || Auster || Mk.V
|-
| Apr 1945 || Nov 1952 || Auster || Mk.V
|-
| Mar 1946 || Dec 1952 || Auster || AOP.4
|-
| Jun 1946 || Nov 1955 || Auster
Auster AOP.6
-Bibliography:*Halley, J.J., The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988, Air-Britain, Tonbridge, ISBN 0-85130-164-9....
|| AOP.6
|-
| Apr 1947 || Apr 1951 || Sikorsky Hoverfly
Sikorsky R-4
The Sikorsky R-4 was a two-place helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky with a single, three-bladed main rotor and powered by a radial engine. The R-4 was the world's first large-scale mass-produced helicopter and the first helicopter to enter service with the United States Army Air Forces, Navy, and...
|| Mk.II
|-
| Sep 1951 || Nov 1955 || Bristol Sycamore
Bristol Sycamore
-See also:-External links:* on the Bristol Sycamore* on the Bristol Sycamore*...
|| HC.11
Squadron bases
{||+Bases and airfields used by no. 657 squadron RAF, data from
| width="50%" valign="top" |
{|class="wikitable"
! From !! To !! Base
|-
| 31 Jan 1943 || 1 May 1943 || RAF Ouston
RAF Ouston
Royal Air Force Station Ouston, more commonly known as RAF Ouston, is a former air station that was located near the village of Heddon-on-the-Wall on Hadrian's Wall near Newcastle upon Tyne...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
|-
| 1 May 1943 || 26 Jun 1943 || RAF Westly
|-
| 26 Jun 1943 || 15 Aug 1943 || RAF Clifton
|-
| 15 Aug 1943 || 24 Aug 1943 || en route to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
|-
| 24 Aug 1943 || 22 Sep 1943 || Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
|-
| 22 Sep 1943 || 16 Oct 1943 || Bone
Rabah Bitat Airport
Rabah Bitat Airport , formerly known as Les Salines Airport, and popularly as El Mellah Airport is an international airport located 9 km south of Annaba, a city in Algeria...
, Algeria
|-
| 16 Oct 1943 || 9 Jan 1944 || Philippeville
Skikda
Skikda is a city in north eastern Algeria and a port on the Gulf of Stora, the ancient Sinus Numidicus. It was known as Philippeville until the end of the Algerian War of Independence in 1962...
, Algeria
|-
| 9 Jan 1944 || 16 Jan 1944 || Châteaudun
Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield
Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Algeria, located about 6 km north-northwest of Chelghoum el Aid, in Mila province, about 47 km southwest of Constantine....
, Algeria
|-
| 16 Jan 1944 || 28 Feb 1944 || en route to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
|-
| 28 Feb 1944 || 8 Apr 1944 || Vasto
Vasto
Vasto is a town and comune on the Adriatic coast of the Province of Chieti in southern Abruzzo, Italy. The population is now just over 40,000.-History:According to tradition, the town was founded by Diomedes, the Greek hero...
, Italy
|-
| 8 Apr 1944 || 11 May 1944 || Presenzano
Presenzano
Presenzano is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 60 km north of Naples and about 40 km northwest of Caserta...
, Italy
|-
| 11 May 1944 || 5 Jun 1944 || Campozilonne, Italy
|-
| 5 Jun 1944 || 9 Jun 1944 || Anagni
Anagni
Anagni is an ancient town and comune in Latium, central Italy, in the hills east-southeast of Rome. It is a historical center in Ciociaria.-Geography:...
, Italy
|-
| 9 Jun 1944 || 23 Jun 1944 || Civita Castellana
Civita Castellana
Civita Castellana is a town and comune in the province of Viterbo, 65 km north of Rome.Mount Soracte lies about 10 km to the south-east.-History:...
, Italy
|-
| 23 Jun 1944 || 29 Jun 1944 || Città della Pieve
Città della Pieve
Città della Pieve is a comune in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about southeast of Perugia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 7,366 and an area of ....
, Italy
|-
| 29 Jun 1944 || 4 Jul 1944 || Ravigliano, Italy
|-
| 4 Jul 1944 || 18 Jul 1944 || Creti/Foiano
Foiano della Chiana
Foiano della Chiana is a small agricultural town in eastern Tuscany, in the province of Arezzo, between the cities of Sinalunga and Cortona. It is well known for its annual carnival.-History:...
, Italy
|-
| 18 Jul 1944 || 19 Aug 1944 || Carraia, Italy
|}
| width="50%" valign="top" |
{|class="wikitable"
! From !! To !! Base
|-
| 19 Aug 1944 || 1 Sep 1944 || Iesi
Jesi
thumb|250px|Teatro Pergolesi.Iesi is a town and comune of the province of Ancona in the Marche, Italy.It is an important industrial and artistic center in the floodplain on the left bank of the Esino river before its mouth on the Adriatic Sea.-History:Iesi was one of the last towns of the Umbri...
, Italy
|-
| 1 Sep 1944 || 6 Oct 1944 || Landing ground on south bank of river Foglia, Italy
|-
| 6 Oct 1944 || 21 Oct 1944 || Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, Italy
|-
| 21 Oct 1944 || 4 Nov 1944 || Savignano, Italy
|-
| 4 Nov 1944 || 29 Nov 1944 || Cesena
Cesena
Cesena is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:Cesena was originally an Umbrian...
, Italy
|-
| 29 Nov 1944 || 15 Dec 1944 || Cervia
Cervia
Cervia is a town and comune in the province of Ravenna , central Italy.-History:Originally called Ficocle, it was probably of Greek origin and was located midway from current Cervia and Ravenna...
, Italy
|-
| 15 Dec 1944 || 21 Mar 1945 || San Pancrazio
San Pancrazio
San Pancrazio is a basilica church in Rome, founded in the 6th century. It stands in via S. Pancrazio, westward beyond the Porta San Pancrazio that opens in a stretch of the Aurelian Wall on the Janiculum....
, Italy
|-
| 21 Mar 1945 || 24 Mar 1945 || Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
, Italy
|-
| 24 Mar 1945 || 30 Mar 1945 || Leghorn
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
, Italy
|-
| 30 Mar 1945 || 11 Apr 1945 || Via Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to The Netherlands
|-
| 11 Apr 1945 || 16 Apr 1945 || Gilze-Rijen
Gilze-Rijen Air Base
Gilze-Rijen Air Base is a military airbase in the Netherlands located between the cities of Breda and Tilburg, in the Noord-Brabant province. It is mainly, but not exclusively used as a base for attack helicopters. The airfield has two runways, the longest, complete with instrument landing...
, the Netherlands
|-
| 16 Apr 1945 || 21 Apr 1945 || Doetinchem
Doetinchem
Doetinchem is a city and municipality in the east of the Netherlands. It is situated along the Oude IJssel river in a part of the province of Gelderland called the Achterhoek . The municipality has 56,700 inhabitants and has an area of 79.66 km²...
, the Netherlands
|-
| 21 Apr 1945 || 4 May 1945 || Otterlo
Otterlo
Otterlo is a small village in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands, in or near the Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe....
o, the Netherlands
|-
| 4 May 1945 || 16 May 1945 || Teuge
Teuge Airport
Teuge Airport or Teuge International Airport is a small general aviation airfield west from Deventer and northeast from Apeldoorn. It is located in the village of Teuge, part of the Voorst municipality in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands.The airport has two runways, the longest...
. the Netherlands
|-
| 16 May 1945 || 20 Jun 1945 || Hilversum
Hilversum Airport
Hilversum Airport is a general aviation airport south-southwest of Hilversum, a municipality and town in the Het Gooi region and the province of North Holland in the Netherlands....
, the Netherlands
|-
| 20 Jun 1945 || 16 Nov 1945 || Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
, British Zone of Occupation
|-
| 16 Nov 1945 || 26 Jan 1946 || Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
|-
| 26 Jan 1946 || 19 Jan 1948 || RAF Andover
RAF Andover
Andover Airfield is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station. The ICAO code for the airfield is EGWA and the IATA code is ADV...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
|-
| 19 Jan 1948 || 1 Nov 1955 || RAF Middle Wallop
Army Air Corps Middle Wallop
Army Air Corps Middle Wallop is a British Army base near the Hampshire village of Middle Wallop. The base hosts 2 Regiment Army Air Corps and the School of Army Aviation. The role of 2 Regiment is training and so AAC Middle Wallop is the base where most Army Air Corps pilots begin their careers...
, Hampshire
|}