653 Sqn

653 Squadron was originally a unit of the RAF during the Second World War, formed on 20 June 1942 at Old Sarum. As an Air Observation Post unit, it worked closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. In September 1942, the squadron was deployed to RAF Penshurst. The squadron relocated to Normandy on 27 June 1944, in support of the British Second Army and the Operation Overlord landings. Most of its pilots and observers came from the British Army, while maintenance was carried out by RAF personnel. The squadron moved with the Second Army through France and the Netherlands into Germany, and was disbanded at Hoya in Germany in September 1945, after the German surrender. The duties and squadron number were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957. It re-formed as 653 Squadron, AAC on 11 May 1958 at Nicosia, Cyprus with Austers and Alouettes. The squadron served with Beavers and Scouts, of 8 & 13 Flts, from Falaise Camp in Little Aden from 9 March 1961 until It was disbanded on 19 Oct 1967.

It reformed again at Netheravon in Oct 1969, becoming part of 3 Reg. 653 then appeared again, as part of 3 Reg, in Soest on 1 Apr 1978 - apparently reformed from 663 Sqn, itself having been renumbered as 658 Sqn (see BAU). Though it appears that 654 Sqn were perhaps merged into 653/662 at the time (see Helis and QRA). Anyway, wherever the people and the aircraft came from, it enjoyed a fairly stable existence in BAOR for 15 years.

In 1993, 653 Squadron moved to Wattisham where it operates the Apache. It will become the Apache Conversion Squadron after 2015.

Sources

• "3 Regiment, Army Air Corps" by Eagle online, page: 8, (accessed: 2 Dec 2014)
• "3 Regiment Army Air Corps" by UK MoD/Army (accessed: 2 Dec 2014)
• "653 Squadron" by British Army Units, (accessed: 2 Dec 2014)
• "653 Squadron Army Air Corps" by Helis, accessed: 20 Nov 2014
• "653 Squadron Army Air Corps" by the UK MoD, (accessed: 1 Dec 2014)
• "654 Squadron Army Air Corps" Helis (accessed: 2 Dec 2014)
• "Münster-Loddenheide (Waterloo Barracks) by QRA Magazin (accessed: 1 Dec 2014)
• "No 651 - 670 Squadron Histories" by RAFweb, accessed: 21 Nov 2014
• "No. 653 Squadron" by RAF Museum, (accessed: 1 Dec 2014)
• "No. 653 Squadron AAC" by Wikipedia, (26 Oct 2014 ; accessed: 1 Dec 2014)
• "No. 653 Squadron RAF" by Wikipedia, (16 Jan 2014 ; accessed: 1 Dec 2014)
• "UK Armed Forces in Suffolk" by Suffolk Armed Forces Community Covenant (accessed: 2 Dec 2014)