No. 654 Squadron RAF

No. 654 Squadron RAF
Active 15 July 1942 – 24 June 1947
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Role Air Observation Post Squadron
Motto(s) Progressive[1]
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry A propellor and gun barrel in saltire[1]
Squadron codes QA (1944 - May 1945,
HQ Flight)[2]
QB (1944 - May 1945,
'A' Flight)[2]
QC (1944 - May 1945,
'B' Flight)[2]
QD (1944 - May 1945,
'C' Flight)[2]
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance de Havilland Tiger Moth
Taylorcraft Auster

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 personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.[3][4]

History

de Havilland DH-82b Tiger Moth.

No. 654 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire, on 15 July 1942 and went into action on August 1943 in North Africa. From December 1943, it served in Italy, where it remained until disbanding at Campoformido on 24 June 1947.

Present

The original squadron was represented by 654 Squadron of 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps. 654 AAC disbanded in July 2014, as part of Army 2020.[5]

Aircraft operated

An Auster Mk.III
Aircraft operated by no. 654 Squadron RAF, data from[1][6]
From To Aircraft Variant
July 1942 September 1942 de Havilland Tiger Moth Mk.II
September 1942 December 1942 Auster Mk.I
December 1942 October 1944 Auster Mk.III
June 1944 June 1947 Auster Mk.IV
December 1944 June 1947 Auster Mk.V

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • 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. (1988), The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988, Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., ISBN 0-85130-164-9 
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd). (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 

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