No. 658 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during the Second World War. No.s 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, Nos. 664 to 666, were manned with Canadian personnel.
Its identification symbol was on a bezant, an eagle's head couped[9][1][10]
No. 658 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum on 30 April 1943[9][1] with the Taylorcraft Auster III and from March 1944 the Auster IV. The squadron role was to support the 21st Army Group and on 26 June 1944 it moved to France.[11] Fighting in the break-out from Normandy it followed the army across the countries and into Germany. In October 1945 the squadron left for India, where it was disbanded on 15 October 1946.[12][1]
The squadron number was transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps (AAC) on 1 September 1957.[13][14][15]
A postwar Auster Mk.V, restored in wartime colours.
On 1 April 2009, the squadron was disbanded at Netheravon.[2]
8 Flight
8 Flight traces it lineage to the Royal Air Force No. 1908 AOP Flight formed on 31 December 1946, disbanded on 7 October 1955 and later reformed on 16 October that year.[11]
Westland Scout XR628 of 8 Flight deployed to RAF Habilayn in 1967.
On 1 September 1957, 8 Flight AAC was formed as 8 Reconnaissance Flight with the transfer of No. 1908 AOP Flight based at RAF Idris in Libya to the newly formed Army Air Corps.[11] The flight relocated to Kenya where it was re-designated as 8 Flight AAC.[18][19] The flight subsequently relocated to Aden operating the Westland Scout helicopter.[19][20] The flight later deployed to Northern Ireland operating the Scout and Bell Sioux helicopters.[21] In 1979, the flight was based at Airfield Camp, Netheravon.[22] In 1984, the Agusta A109A/AM helicopter entered service with the flight.[23][24] In 1984, the flight was part of 7 Regiment AAC.[25][24] The flight operated a fleet of four A109As in civilian livery, two of which were captured from the Argentine forces in the Falklands War and allocated to the flight.[26][27] In 1995, 7 Regiment re-roled as a Territorial Army unit 7 Regiment AAC (V).[25] In 2000, the flight relocated to Stirling Lines.[19]
In 2001, the flight was incorporated into the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW).[8] The flight operated the Westland Gazelle AH1 helicopter c. 2007.[28][29] In 2009, the flight converted from the A109A to four Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin helicopters in civilian livery.[30][31] The flight operated the Gazelle AH1 c. 2012.[32]
Present day
The Dauphin helicopter ZJ780.
On 1 September 2013, 8 Flight AAC was re-designated as 658 Squadron AAC.[2][33]
The squadron provides dedicated aviation support to 22 SAS with domestic CT operations[3] based at Stirling Lines.[4] The helicopters have been filmed taking part in fast-roping exercises.[34][35]
^ abThomas, James (25 August 2022). "Watch: SAS Blue Thunder helicopter filmed at Herefordshire airfield". Hereford Times. Retrieved 10 September 2022. There are reportedly six of these Dauphin helicopters for 658 Squadron Army Air Corps, and they're based at the SAS camp in Credenhill, supporting 22nd Special Air Service (22 SAS).
^"SAS 'Blue Thunder' unit 'lands in London Bridge following atrocity'". The Independent. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2022. An elite SAS unit nicknamed 'Blue Thunder' is believed to have landed by helicopter on London Bridge...Blue Thunder, who act on orders from the Home Secretary, are a 70-man strong unit formed after the 2015 Paris attacks and trained in tackling domestic terror scenarios.
^Wheeler, Barry C (1979). Air Forces of the World. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 39. ISBN9780684162867.
^Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth (22 June 2008). "Helicopters – Column 1835W". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
^Tim Ripley (10 December 2008). "UK Army Air Corps received Dauphins". Jane's Defence Weekly. 45 (50): 10.
^Ministry of Defence (19 February 2015). "Chapter 4 – Formations, Vessels, Aircraft and Vehicles of the Armed Forces". United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2012(PDF). Aircraft Table 4.10. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
^Thrower, Antony; Moloy, Thomas (18 March 2022). "SAS Blue Thunder helicopter circles over town under cover of darkness in footage". mirror. Retrieved 10 September 2022. Incredible footage of an SAS blue thunder helicopter training in the skies over a British town under the cover of darkness has been shared online. The amazing video, captured in Bury, showed the impressive machine hovering while figures were seen abseiling down from the aircraft. The exercise is known as 'fast-roping' and allows troops to land where a helicopter cannot.
^Blakey, Ashlie (26 June 2019). "WATCH: Helicopters lead dramatic SAS-style training at fire station". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 September 2022. This is the dramatic moment helicopter crew members abseil SAS-style onto the roof of Manchester Central Fire Station. The incredible footage was captured on Wednesday evening. It is understood that two helicopters were involved in a training exercise. Nearby residents in Ancoats describe seeing two 'military-style' helicopters circling over the fire station. At least four people then descend from one of the choppers onto the flat roof of the building. The crew members climb down a rope using a technique known as fast-roping.
^"Operation Buckthorn". Helis.com. Retrieved 10 September 2022. An initial move by 658 Sq Dauphin (c/s Titan 21) to Dover Coastguard operations centre was followed by...
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. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-85310-053-6.
.jpg)
.jpg)
