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 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]

No. 651 Squadron RAF
Active1 Aug 1941 – 1 Nov 1955
1 Nov 1955 – 1 Sep 1957
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
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

History

No 651 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire, on 1 August 1941. It went into action in November of that year, during Operation Torch in North Africa. It later served in Italy, North Africa, 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]

Aircraft operated
An Auster AOP.5
Aircraft operated by no. 651 Squadron RAF, data from[1][9]
FromToAircraftVariant
August 1941July 1942TaylorcraftPlus C
September 1941October 1941TaylorcraftPlus D
October 1941December 1941Stinson VigilantMk.I
February 1942September 1942TaylorcraftPlus C.2
July 1942October 1943AusterMk.I
August 1943December 1944AusterMk.III
May 1944October 1945AusterMk.IV
December 1944June 1947AusterMk.V
November 1949February 1952AusterMk.V
March 1947October 1955AusterAOP.6
November 1949March 1952AusterAOP.5
November 1955September 1957Bristol SycamoreHC.11
November 1955September 1957AusterAOP.6

See also

References

Notes
  1. Halley 1988, p. 445.
  2. 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. 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. 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.
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