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 British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. 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.
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 [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]
Military unit
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.
No. 1900 Independent Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 657 Squadron previously ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flights along with No. 1901 Air Observation Post Flight which was formed within 657 previously ‘C’ Flight.[8]
The original squadron’s heritage is being taken forward today by No. 657 Squadron AAC of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing .
A Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly at the RAF Museum, London (RAF Hendon ).
Aircraft operated by No. 657 Squadron RAF[1] [9]
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 [1] [9] [10]
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
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