No. 668 Squadron AAC

No. 668 (Training) Squadron AAC
No. 668 Squadron RAF
Active16 November 1944 – 10 November 1945 (RAF)
Unknown - 1971
June 1990 - present
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Army Air Corps
Part of2 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps
Garrison/HQAAC Middle Wallop

No. 668 Squadron AAC is squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps. It was previously a glider squadron of the Royal Air Force active during the Second World War as part of No. 229 Group RAF, South East Asia Command.[1]

History

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No. 668 Squadron RAF was formed on 16 November 1944 at Calcutta, (then) British India as a glider squadron, with the intention of being used for airborne operations by South East Asia Command.[2] It continued to train, as part of No. 343 Wing RAF, until the surrender of Japan, when it became surplus to requirements. The squadron was disbanded on 10 November 1945 at Fateh Jang.[2]

Today

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No. 668 Squadron AAC was formed as 668 Aviation Squadron operating Bell Sioux AH.1s and de Havilland Canada Beaver AL.1 before being disbanded during 1971. It was reformed during June 1990 at Middle Wallop as part of the School of Army Aviation, the squadron joined 2 Regiment when it was formed on 1 September 1994.[3]

The squadron is responsible for the groundcrew training that includes re-arming, refueling and ground maneuvers of the Boeing AH-64E Apache.

Aircraft operated

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A Waco CG-4 (Hadrian) in British service.
Aircraft operated by no. 668 Squadron RAF, data from[2]
From To Aircraft Version
February 1945 April 1945 Waco Hadrian
August 1945 November 1945 de Havilland Tiger Moth Mk.II

Squadron bases

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A de Havilland Tiger Moth restored in wartime colours.
Bases and airfields used by no. 669 Squadron RAF, data from[2][4]
From To Base
16 November 1944 4 February 1945 Calcutta, Bengal, British India
4 February 1945 30 April 1945 Lalaghat/Rajyeswarpur, Bengal, British India
30 April 1945 28 June 1945 Belgaum, Karnataka, British India
28 June 1945 5 July 1945 Fatehjang, Punjab, British India
5 July 1945 21 August 1945 Upper Topa Camp, Punjab, British India
21 August 1945 10 November 1945 Fatehjang, Punjab, British India

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Delve 1994, p. 84
  2. ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 452.
  3. ^ "668 Squadron". British Army Units from 1945 On. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  4. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 266–271.

Bibliography

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  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
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