| No. 659 Squadron AAC No. 659 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 30 April 1943 – 14 August 1947 (RAF) 1 November 1971 - present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Part of | 1 Regiment Army Air Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) |
| Motto(s) | Latin:Quovis per ardua (Translation: "Everywhere through difficulties")[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A hawk volant affrontée the head to the dexter[1] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 |
No. 659 Squadron AAC is a squadron of theBritish Army'sArmy Air Corps (AAC) based atRNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) flyingAgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 helicopters as part of1 Regiment Army Air Corps.[2] It was formerlyNo. 659 Squadron RAF, aRoyal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the21st Army Group duringWorld War II. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF wereair observation post units working closely withArmy 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.[3][4]
No. 659 Squadron was formed atRAF Firbeck on 30 April 1943[1] with theAuster III and from March 1944 the Auster IV. The squadron role was to support the Army and in June 1944 it moved to France. Fighting in the break-out from Normandy it followed the army across the low countries and into Germany. In October 1945 the squadron left for India, where it was eventually disbanded atLahore on 14 August 1947.[5]
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1943 | March 1944 | Auster | Mk.III |
| March 1944 | July 1945 | Auster | Mk.IV |
| July 1944 | August 1947 | Auster | Mk.V |
| May 1946 | August 1947 | Auster | AOP.6 |
On 1 November 1971 the squadron was reformed while in Germany.[6]
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