| No. 654 Squadron AAC 654 Aviation Squadron 654 Light Aircraft Squadron No. 654 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 15 July 1942 – 24 June 1947 (RAF) 1 September 1958 – July 2014 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Army Air Corps |
| Role | Regimental Headquarters[1] |
| Part of | 4 Regiment Army Air Corps |
No. 654 Squadron AAC (654 Sqn) is a squadron of theBritish Army'sArmy Air Corps (AAC) that is currently the Headquarters Squadron for4 Regt AAC. It was formerlyNo. 654 Squadron RAF, a unit of theRoyal Air Force during theSecond World War. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF wereair observation post units working closely withBritish Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of theArmy Air Corps on 1 September 1957.[2][3]
No. 654 Squadron was formed atRAF Old Sarum,Wiltshire, on 15 July 1942 and went into action in August 1943 in North Africa. From December 1943, it served in Italy, where it remained until disbanding atCampoformido on 24 June 1947.
No. 1906 Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 654 Squadron previously elements of 'A' & 'B' Flights along with No. 1907 Air Observation Post Flight which was formed within 654 Squadron previously elements of 'A' & 'C' Flights.[4]
The squadron had the mottoProgressive,[5] it used an identification symbol of A propeller and gun barrel in saltire[5] It used identification symbols:QA (1944 – May 1945, HQ Flight)[6]QB (1944 – May 1945, 'A' Flight)[6]QC (1944 – May 1945, 'B' Flight)[6]QD (1944 – May 1945, 'C' Flight)[6]
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1942 | September 1942 | de Havilland Tiger Moth | Mk.II |
| September 1942 | December 1942 | Auster | Mk.I |
| December 1942 | October 1944 | Auster | Mk.III |
| June 1944 | June 1947 | Auster | Mk.IV |
| December 1944 | June 1947 | Auster | Mk.V |
The squadron was formed on 1 September 1958 in Germany and employed as 2 Division Aviation HQ between 1964 and October 1969.[8]
Between February and March 1991 the squadron was inIraq as part ofOperation Desert Sabre (the ground phase ofOperation Granby) usingWestland Lynx AH1GT's against armoured vehicles of theIraqi 12th Armoured Division. They returned toHobart Barracks on 22 March 1991 without any losses.
654 AAC disbanded in July 2014, as part ofArmy 2020.[9]
At some point the squadron was reformed and became the Headquarters Squadron for 4 Regiment Army Air Corps.
The squadron operated a variety of helicopters:
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