No. 657 Squadron RAF

No. 657 Squadron RAF
Active	31 Jan 1943 – 1 Nov 1955
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Air Observation Post Squadron
Motto(s)	Latin: Per terras perque caelum (Translation: "By land and sky")^[1]
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry	A hand couped at the wrist, holding a gun barrel^[1]
Squadron codes	VA 1944 - 45 (HQ Flight)^[2] VB 1944 - 45 ('A' Flight)^[3] VC 1944 - 45 ('B' Flight)^[3] VD 1944 - 45 ('C' Flight)^[3] TS (1945 - Jan 1947)^[4]^[5]

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.^[6]^[7]

A postwar Auster Mk.V, restored in wartime colours.

History

No. 657 Squadron was formed at RAF Ouston 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

A Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly at the RAF Museum, London (RAF Hendon).

Aircraft operated by No. 657 Squadron RAF^[1]^[8]
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

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 657 squadron RAF^[1]^[8]^[9]

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

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	Otterloo, 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

References

Notes

1 2 3 4 Halley 1988, p. 447.
↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 114.
1 2 3 Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 115.
↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 99.
↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 157.
↑ Halley 1988, pp. 444–451.
↑ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–104.
1 2 Jefford 2001, p. 104.
↑ Jefford 2001, pp. 246–247.

Bibliography

Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). 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., 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.

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