No. 662 Squadron RAF

No. 662 Squadron RAF
662 Squadron Taylorcraft Auster in Belgium, World War II
Active	30 Sep 1943 – 15 Dec 1945 1 Feb 1949 – 10 Mar 1957
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Air Observation Post squadron
Motto(s)	Greek: Olethrion Omma ("Death dealing eye")
Insignia
Squadron Badge	In front of two shells in saltire, an eagle's head erased[1]
Squadron Codes	ET (Sep 1944 – Dec 1945)[2][3] ROB (Feb 1949 – Apr 1951)[4][5]
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance	Auster Single-engined Army liaison monoplane

No. 662 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group and later part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. 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.^[6][7] It is now an Apache Helicopter Squadron.

History

Formation and early years

No. 662 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum on 30 September 1943 with the Auster III which gave way to the Auster IV in March 1944. The squadron role was to support the British 21st Army Group in June 1944 when it moved to France. The squadron supported the Army until the end of the war when it was disbanded on 15 December 1945 at Melsbroek in Belgium.^[8]

Post war

After the war the Air Observation Squadrons were reformed and No. 662 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was reformed as such at RAF Colerne on 1 May 1949, also operating a flight from RAF Middle Wallop, to provide support to the Army in the West Country until it was disbanded at RAF Colerne on 10 March 1957.^[8]

Aircraft operated

A postwar Auster Mk.V, restored in wartime colours.

Aircraft operated by no. 657 Squadron RAF, data from^[1][8]

From	To	Aircraft	Variant
September 1943	April 1944	Auster	Mk.III
March 1944	December 1945	Auster	Mk.IV
September 1944	December 1945	Auster	Mk.V
February 1949	October 1951	Auster	AOP.5
February 1949	February 1957	Auster	AOP.6
October 1949	January 1950	Auster	AOP.4

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

References

Notes

1. Halley 1988, p. 449.
2. Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 37.
3. Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 71.
4. Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
5. Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 187.
6. Halley 1988, pp. 444–451.
7. Jefford 2001, pp. 102–104.
8. Jefford 2001, p. 104.

Bibliography

• Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
• 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. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.

External links

• Squadron history for nos. 651–670 sqn. at RAF Web
• 662 sqn. page of RAF website