Taylorcraft Auster
Encyclopedia
The Taylorcraft Auster was a British
military liaison
and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited
company during the Second World War
.
Taylorcraft design of civilian aircraft, the Model A. The Model A had to be redesigned in Britain to meet more stringent Civil Aviation standards and was named the Taylorcraft Plus C. After the start of the Second World War, the company developed the model further as an Air Observation Post (AOP)—used for directing artillery
fire—aircraft for working with the British Army
Royal Artillery
units.
The Plus C was re-engined with the Blackburn Cirrus Minor
I engine and re-designated the Taylorcraft Plus D. Most of the civil Plus Cs and Ds were impressed into Royal Air Force
service, the Plus Cs were re-engined with the Cirrus Minor I and re-designated as Plus C2.
The first Auster I was the 11th Taylorcraft Plus C aircraft which was delivered to the Air Ministry
for trials in 1939. The trials led to an order for 100 aircraft placed in 1941.
The Auster II was a re-engined aircraft with an American 130 hp (97 kW) Lycoming O-290
engine. Due to the shortage of American engines that version was not built but led to the Auster III (Model E), which was the same as the Auster I but had a 130 hp (97 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major engine. The next development was the Auster IV (Model G) which had a slightly larger cabin with three seats and used the Lycoming O-290
. The major production version was the Auster V (Model J) which was an Auster IV with blind flying instruments
, and a flap modification.
Post war the Auster Mark V was used as the basis for the Auster J/1 Autocrat
intended for the civilian market; the British firm having changed their name to Auster
and stopped licensing from Taylorcraft. Further military aircraft were supplied post war; the Auster AOP6, Auster T7 (a trainer), and the Auster AOP9.
(RAF) Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadrons. Four of them (Nos. 651
, 654
, 655
and No. 657
) fought since 1943 in North Africa and Italy, being joined from August 1944 by No. 663 Polish squadron
. The other seven squadrons (Nos. 652
, 653
, 658
, 659
, 660
, 661
and No. 662
) operated after D-day in France and then the Low Countries. No. 664 Squadron RCAF
, No. 665 Squadron RCAF
, and No. 666 Squadron RCAF
were also issued with the Auster Mk. IV and V, formed in the UK at RAF Andover
in late 1944 and early 1945. The RCAF squadrons were manned by Canadian personnel of the Royal Canadian Artillery and the Royal Canadian Air Force
, with brief secondment to the squadrons with pilots from the Royal Artillery
; overall control was maintained in the UK by 70 Group, RAF Fighter Command
. The three squadrons deployed from RAF Andover
, England, to the Netherlands
, to Dunkirk, France, where the last Canadian 'shots' in Europe were fired, and later to occupied Germany. No. 656 Squadron RAF
used Austers within the South East Asia Command
(SEAC) in Burma/India theatre.
The Royal Australian Air Force
's No. 16 AOP Flight
and No. 17 AOP Flight
operated Auster Mark III aircraft in support of the Australian Army
in the Pacific Theatre
from October 1944 until the end of the war.
Several AOP squadrons were reformed within the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
in 1949 and these operated some AOP.5s, AOP.6s and AOP.9s
until at least March 1957, when the Auxiliary Air Force was disbanded. Some Auster AOP units were taken up into the Army Air Corps when it was formed in September 1957.
The air observation duties, insurgency and casualty evacuation roles performed by Auster and similar light aircraft
were generally taken over by light helicopter
s from the mid 1960s.
Taylorcraft Plus C
Taylorcraft Plus C2
Taylorcraft Plus D
Taylorcraft Auster I
Taylorcraft Auster II
Taylorcraft Auster III
Taylorcraft Auster IV
Taylorcraft Auster V
Taylorcraft Auster Model H
:
Myanmar
Canada:
Greece
:
(Transjordan
)
:
:
South Africa
:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military liaison
Liaison aircraft
A liaison aircraft is a small, usually unarmed aircraft primarily used by military forces for artillery observation or transporting commanders and messages. The concept developed before World War II and included also battlefield reconnaissance, air ambulance, column control, light cargo delivery...
and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited
Auster
Auster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.-History:The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, Thurmaston near Leicester, England, as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of...
company during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Design and development
The Auster was a twice removed development of an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Taylorcraft design of civilian aircraft, the Model A. The Model A had to be redesigned in Britain to meet more stringent Civil Aviation standards and was named the Taylorcraft Plus C. After the start of the Second World War, the company developed the model further as an Air Observation Post (AOP)—used for directing artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
fire—aircraft for working with the British 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...
Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
units.
Cirrus Minor (engine)
-See also:-Bibliography:** Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6....
I engine and re-designated the Taylorcraft Plus D. Most of the civil Plus Cs and Ds were impressed into Royal Air Force
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...
service, the Plus Cs were re-engined with the Cirrus Minor I and re-designated as Plus C2.
The first Auster I was the 11th Taylorcraft Plus C aircraft which was delivered to the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
for trials in 1939. The trials led to an order for 100 aircraft placed in 1941.
The Auster II was a re-engined aircraft with an American 130 hp (97 kW) Lycoming O-290
Lycoming O-290
|-References:...
engine. Due to the shortage of American engines that version was not built but led to the Auster III (Model E), which was the same as the Auster I but had a 130 hp (97 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major engine. The next development was the Auster IV (Model G) which had a slightly larger cabin with three seats and used the Lycoming O-290
Lycoming O-290
|-References:...
. The major production version was the Auster V (Model J) which was an Auster IV with blind flying instruments
Instrument flight rules
Instrument flight rules are one of two sets of regulations governing all aspects of civil aviation aircraft operations; the other are visual flight rules ....
, and a flap modification.
Post war the Auster Mark V was used as the basis for the Auster J/1 Autocrat
Auster Autocrat
-External links:*...
intended for the civilian market; the British firm having changed their name to Auster
Auster
Auster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.-History:The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, Thurmaston near Leicester, England, as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of...
and stopped licensing from Taylorcraft. Further military aircraft were supplied post war; the Auster AOP6, Auster T7 (a trainer), and the Auster AOP9.
Operational history
The Auster Mark III, IV and V were issued to 15 Royal Air ForceRoyal 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...
(RAF) Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadrons. Four of them (Nos. 651
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...
, 654
No. 654 Squadron RAF
No. 654 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...
, 655
No. 655 Squadron RAF
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...
and No. 657
No. 657 Squadron RAF
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....
) fought since 1943 in North Africa and Italy, being joined from August 1944 by No. 663 Polish squadron
No. 663 Squadron RAF
No. 663 Squadron RAF was an Air Observation Post unit of the Royal Air Force , which was officially formed in Italy on 14 August 1944. 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...
. The other seven squadrons (Nos. 652
No. 652 Squadron RAF
No. 652 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force 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, 665 and...
, 653
No. 653 Squadron RAF
No. 653 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.Squadron Numbers 651 to 663 were Air Observation Post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664-666, were manned with Canadian personnel...
, 658
No. 658 Squadron RAF
No. 658 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during World War II. 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...
, 659
No. 659 Squadron RAF
No. 659 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during World War II. 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...
, 660
No. 660 Squadron RAF
No. 660 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during World War II. 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...
, 661
No. 661 Squadron RAF
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...
and No. 662
No. 662 Squadron RAF
No. 662 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group 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...
) operated after D-day in France and then the Low Countries. No. 664 Squadron RCAF
No. 664 Squadron RCAF
No. 664 "Air Observation Post" Squadron, RCAF was formed in England during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, with select British artillery pilots briefly seconded to assist in squadron formation.-History:The...
, No. 665 Squadron RCAF
No. 665 Squadron RCAF
No. 665 "Air Observation Post" Squadron, RCAF was formed in England during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, with select British artillery pilots briefly seconded to assist in squadron formation...
, and No. 666 Squadron RCAF
No. 666 Squadron RCAF
No. 666 Squadron RCAF was originally an RCAF Air Observation Post squadron formed during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel.-History:...
were also issued with the Auster Mk. IV and V, formed in the UK at 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...
in late 1944 and early 1945. The RCAF squadrons were manned by Canadian personnel of the Royal Canadian Artillery and the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
, with brief secondment to the squadrons with pilots from the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
; overall control was maintained in the UK by 70 Group, RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
. The three squadrons deployed from 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...
, England, to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, to Dunkirk, France, where the last Canadian 'shots' in Europe were fired, and later to occupied Germany. No. 656 Squadron RAF
No. 656 Squadron RAF
No. 656 Squadron RAF was a Air Oberservation Post unit of the Royal Air Force in India and Burma during the Second World War and afterwards in British Malaya. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadron of the RAF were Air Observation Post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and...
used Austers within the South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II.-Background:...
(SEAC) in Burma/India theatre.
The Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
's No. 16 AOP Flight
No. 16 Air Observation Post Flight RAAF
No. 16 Air Observation Post Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force unit which saw action in the Second World War.No. 16 Air Observation Post Flight was formed at Lae in New Guinea on 20 October 1944. Operating four Auster light aircraft the Flight initially supported the Australian Army units on...
and No. 17 AOP Flight
No. 17 Air Observation Post Flight RAAF
No. 17 Air Observation Post Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force artillery-spotting and liaison unit which saw action in the Second World War. The Flight was formed at Cairns on 2 October 1944 and was equipped with Auster Mk 3 light aircraft...
operated Auster Mark III aircraft in support of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in the Pacific Theatre
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
from October 1944 until the end of the war.
Several AOP squadrons were reformed within the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
in 1949 and these operated some AOP.5s, AOP.6s and AOP.9s
Auster AOP
Auster AOP may refer to:* Taylorcraft Auster - Taylorcraft Auster I, II, III, IV and V* Auster AOP.6* Auster AOP.9...
until at least March 1957, when the Auxiliary Air Force was disbanded. Some Auster AOP units were taken up into the Army Air Corps when it was formed in September 1957.
The air observation duties, insurgency and casualty evacuation roles performed by Auster and similar light aircraft
Light aircraft
A light aircraft is an aircraft that has a maximum gross take-off weight of or less.Many aircraft used commercially for freight, sightseeing, photography and scheduled flights are light aircraft.Examples of light aircraft include:...
were generally taken over by light helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s from the mid 1960s.
Variants
- Original civilian version with a Lycoming 0-145-A2 engine, 23 built.
Taylorcraft Plus C2
- Plus C re-engined with a 90hp Cirrus Minor I engine for the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe 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...
, 20 conversions.
Taylorcraft Plus D
- Plus C with a 90hp Cirrus Minor I engine, nine built.
Taylorcraft Auster I
- Military version of Plus C, 1 conversion and 100 built.
Taylorcraft Auster II
- Auster I with a Lycoming 0-290 engine, two built.
Taylorcraft Auster III
- Auster I with a de Havilland Gipsy Major engine, 470 built.
Taylorcraft Auster IV
- Three-seat version with a Lycoming 0-290-3/1 H.O. engine, 255 built.
Taylorcraft Auster V
- Auster IV with blind flying instruments (Vacuum pump) and flap modification, and removable armour plate installed for pilot only, 790 built.
Taylorcraft Auster Model H
- Experimental tandem two-seat training glider converted from a Taylorcraft B.
Military operators
- Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air ForceThe Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
- No. 16 Air Observation Post Flight RAAFNo. 16 Air Observation Post Flight RAAFNo. 16 Air Observation Post Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force unit which saw action in the Second World War.No. 16 Air Observation Post Flight was formed at Lae in New Guinea on 20 October 1944. Operating four Auster light aircraft the Flight initially supported the Australian Army units on...
- No. 17 Air Observation Post Flight RAAFNo. 17 Air Observation Post Flight RAAFNo. 17 Air Observation Post Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force artillery-spotting and liaison unit which saw action in the Second World War. The Flight was formed at Cairns on 2 October 1944 and was equipped with Auster Mk 3 light aircraft...
- No. 16 Air Observation Post Flight RAAF
Myanmar
- Burma Air Force - Postwar
Canada:
- Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air ForceThe history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
- No. 664 Squadron RCAFNo. 664 Squadron RCAFNo. 664 "Air Observation Post" Squadron, RCAF was formed in England during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, with select British artillery pilots briefly seconded to assist in squadron formation.-History:The...
- No. 665 Squadron RCAFNo. 665 Squadron RCAFNo. 665 "Air Observation Post" Squadron, RCAF was formed in England during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, with select British artillery pilots briefly seconded to assist in squadron formation...
- No. 666 Squadron RCAFNo. 666 Squadron RCAFNo. 666 Squadron RCAF was originally an RCAF Air Observation Post squadron formed during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel.-History:...
- No. 664 Squadron RCAF
- Royal Canadian Army - Postwar
- Czechoslovakian Air Force - three aircraft, in service from 1945 to 1948.
Greece
- Hellenic Air ForceHellenic Air ForceThe Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated to HAF is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the...
- Postwar
- Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air ForceRoyal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air ForceThe Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.Although technically an armed...
- Postwar
- Indonesian Air ForceIndonesian Air ForceThe Indonesian Air Force is the air force branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.The Indonesian Air Force has 34,930 personnel equipped with 110 combat aircraft including Su-27 and Su-30.-Before Indonesian independence :...
- ex-Dutch aircraft
:
- Israeli Air ForceIsraeli Air ForceThe Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
(Transjordan
Transjordan
The Emirate of Transjordan was a former Ottoman territory in the Southern Levant that was part of the British Mandate of Palestine...
)
- Arab LegionArab LegionThe Arab Legion was the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century.-Creation:...
- Royal Jordanian Air ForceRoyal Jordanian Air ForceThe Royal Jordanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Jordanian Armed Forces.-Early days:...
:
- Royal Netherlands Air ForceRoyal Netherlands Air ForceThe Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
- Dutch Naval Aviation Service
- Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air ForceRoyal Netherlands East Indies Army Air ForceThe Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force was the air arm of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in the Dutch East Indies from 1939 until 1950...
- Postwar - Korps landelijke politiedienstenKorps landelijke politiedienstenThe Korps landelijke politiediensten is the national police force in the Netherlands, responsible for specialist missions that benefit from a centralized approach. It is independent from the regional police forces; but like them, it is subordinate to the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and has a...
Aviation Police - Postwar
:
- Polish Air Force in exile in Great BritainPolish Air Forces in France and Great BritainThe Polish Air Forces was a name of Polish Air Forces formed in France and the United Kingdom during World War II. The core of the Polish air units fighting alongside the allies were experienced veterans of Invasion of Poland of 1939 and they contributed to Allied victory in the Battle of Britain...
- 663 Polski Szwadron Powietrznych Punktów ObserwacyjnychNo. 663 Squadron RAFNo. 663 Squadron RAF was an Air Observation Post unit of the Royal Air Force , which was officially formed in Italy on 14 August 1944. 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...
(1944-1946)
- 663 Polski Szwadron Powietrznych Punktów Obserwacyjnych
South Africa
- South African Air ForceSouth African Air ForceThe South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
:
- Army Air Corps
- Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe 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...
- No. 651 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 651 Squadron RAFNo. 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...
- No. 652 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 652 Squadron RAFNo. 652 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force 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, 665 and...
- No. 653 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 653 Squadron RAFNo. 653 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.Squadron Numbers 651 to 663 were Air Observation Post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664-666, were manned with Canadian personnel...
- No. 654 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 654 Squadron RAFNo. 654 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...
- No. 655 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 655 Squadron RAFNo. 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...
- No. 656 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 656 Squadron RAFNo. 656 Squadron RAF was a Air Oberservation Post unit of the Royal Air Force in India and Burma during the Second World War and afterwards in British Malaya. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadron of the RAF were Air Observation Post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and...
- No. 657 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 657 Squadron RAFNo. 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....
- No. 658 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 658 Squadron RAFNo. 658 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during World War II. 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...
- No. 659 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 659 Squadron RAFNo. 659 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during World War II. 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...
- No. 660 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 660 Squadron RAFNo. 660 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during World War II. 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...
- No. 661 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 661 Squadron RAFNo. 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...
- No. 662 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 662 Squadron RAFNo. 662 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group 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...
- No. 663 (AOP) Squadron RAFNo. 663 Squadron RAFNo. 663 Squadron RAF was an Air Observation Post unit of the Royal Air Force , which was officially formed in Italy on 14 August 1944. 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...
1947-1949
- No. 651 (AOP) Squadron RAF