# No. 657 Squadron RAF

No. 657 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force in North Africa, Italy and the Netherlands during the Second World War and afterwards in Germany. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

## History

No. 657 Squadron was formed at RAF Ouston on 31 January 1943. It went into action in August of that year, in North Africa. It later served in Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. In November 1945, the squadron returned to the UK and continued to support army units in the South of England until disbanded by being renumbered No. 651 Squadron RAF on 1 November 1955.
No. 1900 Independent Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 657 Squadron previously 'A' & 'B' Flights along with No. 1901 Air Observation Post Flight which was formed within 657 previously 'C' Flight.
The original squadron's heritage is being taken forward today by No. 657 Squadron AAC of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.

## Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 657 Squadron RAF :
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
| Feb 1943 | May 1943 | Auster | Mk.I |
| May 1943 | Oct 1944 | Auster | Mk.III |
| Jun 1944 | Mar 1945 | Auster | Mk.IV |
| Dec 1944 | Mar 1945 | Auster | Mk.V |
| Apr 1945 | Nov 1952 | Auster | Mk.V |
| Mar 1946 | Dec 1952 | Auster | AOP.4 |
| Jun 1946 | Nov 1955 | Auster | AOP.6 |
| Apr 1947 | Apr 1951 | Sikorsky Hoverfly | Mk.II |
| Sep 1951 | Nov 1955 | Bristol Sycamore | HC.11 |

## Squadron bases

| From | To | Base |
| 31 Jan 1943 | 1 May 1943 | RAF Ouston, Northumberland |
| 1 May 1943 | 26 Jun 1943 | RAF Westly |
| 26 Jun 1943 | 15 Aug 1943 | RAF Clifton |
| 15 Aug 1943 | 24 Aug 1943 | en route to North Africa |
| 24 Aug 1943 | 22 Sep 1943 | Algiers, Algeria |
| 22 Sep 1943 | 16 Oct 1943 | Bone, Algeria |
| 16 Oct 1943 | 9 Jan 1944 | Philippeville, Algeria |
| 9 Jan 1944 | 16 Jan 1944 | Châteaudun, Algeria |
| 16 Jan 1944 | 28 Feb 1944 | en route to Italy |
| 28 Feb 1944 | 8 Apr 1944 | Vasto, Italy |
| 8 Apr 1944 | 11 May 1944 | Presenzano, Italy |
| 11 May 1944 | 5 Jun 1944 | Campozilonne, Italy |
| 5 Jun 1944 | 9 Jun 1944 | Anagni, Italy |
| 9 Jun 1944 | 23 Jun 1944 | Civita Castellana, Italy |
| 23 Jun 1944 | 29 Jun 1944 | Città della Pieve, Italy |
| 29 Jun 1944 | 4 Jul 1944 | Ravigliano, Italy |
| 4 Jul 1944 | 18 Jul 1944 | Creti/Foiano, Italy |
| 18 Jul 1944 | 19 Aug 1944 | Carraia, Italy |
| From | To | Base |
| 19 Aug 1944 | 1 Sep 1944 | Iesi, Italy |
| 1 Sep 1944 | 6 Oct 1944 | Landing ground on south bank of river Foglia, Italy |
| 6 Oct 1944 | 21 Oct 1944 | Rimini, Italy |
| 21 Oct 1944 | 4 Nov 1944 | Savignano, Italy |
| 4 Nov 1944 | 29 Nov 1944 | Cesena, Italy |
| 29 Nov 1944 | 15 Dec 1944 | Cervia, Italy |
| 15 Dec 1944 | 21 Mar 1945 | San Pancrazio, Italy |
| 21 Mar 1945 | 24 Mar 1945 | Ravenna, Italy |
| 24 Mar 1945 | 30 Mar 1945 | Leghorn, Italy |
| 30 Mar 1945 | 11 Apr 1945 | Via Marseille, France, to The Netherlands |
| 11 Apr 1945 | 16 Apr 1945 | Gilze-Rijen, the Netherlands |
| 16 Apr 1945 | 21 Apr 1945 | Doetinchem, the Netherlands |
| 21 Apr 1945 | 4 May 1945 | Otterloo, the Netherlands |
| 4 May 1945 | 16 May 1945 | Teuge. the Netherlands |
| 16 May 1945 | 20 Jun 1945 | Hilversum, the Netherlands |
| 20 Jun 1945 | 16 Nov 1945 | Goslar, British Zone of Occupation |
| 16 Nov 1945 | 26 Jan 1946 | Wiltshire |
| 26 Jan 1946 | 19 Jan 1948 | RAF Andover, Hampshire |
| 19 Jan 1948 | 1 Nov 1955 | RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire |