No. 660 Squadron AAC No. 660 Aviation Squadron AAC No. 660 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 31 July 1943 – 31 May 1946 (RAF) 1969–1978 1978–1994 1 November 1997 – present |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Army Air Corps |
Base | RAF Shawbury |
Aircraft flown | |
Helicopter | Current:
Former:
|
No. 660 Squadron AAC (660 Sqn) is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). It was formerly No. 660 Squadron RAF, a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during the Second World War. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British 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.[1][2]
In the late 1950s the squadron's numerical was transferred to the AAC and since its formation in 1969, it has operated as a British Army unit flying various types of battlefield helicopters. The squadron has been re-formed and disbanded on a number of occasions. The squadron is currently based at RAF Shawbury where it forms part of No. 1 Flying Training School RAF,[3] but it has been deployed operationally to Northern Ireland, Hong Kong and Brunei throughout its existence.