662 Sqn

Originally formed as No. 662 (Air Observation Post) Squadron, RAF, at Old Sarum in Wiltshire (from 30 Sep 1943 to 15 Dec 1945), it later became a Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadron (from 1 May 1949 until 10 Mar 1957).

As an AAC squadron, it formed from 23 Flt on 24 Sep 1969, in Munster, and joined 2 Div Aviation Reg in 1972. It was initially equipped with 6 Sioux and 6 Scouts. The Sioux were replaced by Gazelles in 1977 and the Scout was replaced by the Lynx from 1980. The squadron moved to Soest, becoming part of 3 Reg, in Jan 1982.

3 Regiment's main role was anti-tank, in eastern North-Rhine-Westphalia and northern Essen. Each of the 3 Reg Squadrons (653, 662 and 663) were equipped with 8 Lynx and 4 Gazelle aircraft.

Following the post cold war drawdown, the squadron moved to Wattisham in 1994. In 2007, 662 Sqn was designated an Attack Helicopter Squadron, due to the centralisation of aircraft types, and equipped with the Agusta-Westland Apache battlefield helicopter under 3 Reg AAC. The squadron is currently based at Wattisham, Suffolk.

Sources

• "662 Squadron" by British Army Units from 1945 on (accessed: 01 Dec 2014)
• "662 squadron" by Helicopter history site (accessed: 01 Dec 2014)
• "662 Squadron Army Air Corps" UK MoD/Army (accessed: 01 Dec 2014)
• "Go Ugly Early, The Motto behind Harrry's Army Squadron by James Rush, Daily Mail (22 Jan 2013 ; accessed: 01 Dec 2014)
• "Münster-Loddenheide (Waterloo Barracks) by QRA Magazin (accessed: 01 Dec 2014)
• "No. 662 Squadron AAC" by Wikipedia, (accessed: 01 Dec 2014)