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No. 658 Squadron AAC

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658 Squadron AAC
No. 8 Flight AAC
No. 658 Squadron RAF
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II in 2010
Active30 April 1943 – 15 October 1946 (RAF)[1]
1 September 2013 – Present[2]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
BranchUnited Kingdom British Army
TypeArmy aviation
RoleAerial reconnaissance
Air assault
Airlift
Combat search and rescue
Counterterrorism
ISTAR
Medical evacuation
Special operations support
SizeSquadron
Part ofJoint Special Forces Aviation Wing
Garrison/HQStirling Lines
Nickname(s)Blue Thunder
Motto(s)Latin: Videmus Delemus
(Translation: "We see and destroy")[2]
Aircraft flown
HelicopterEurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II

658 Squadron AAC is a special operations support squadron of the Army Air Corps (AAC) unit of the British Army that provides dedicated aviation support to the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS) for domestic counterterrorism (CT) and CSAR operations.[3] The squadron is co-located with 22 SAS at Stirling Lines.[4] The press has given the squadron, their helicopters, and the CT response force they enable, the nickname "Blue Thunder".[5][6][7] The squadron is part of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.[8]

History

[edit]

658 Squadron RAF

[edit]

No. 658 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during the Second World War. No.s 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, Nos. 664 to 666, were manned with Canadian personnel.

Its identification symbol was on a bezant, an eagle's head couped[9][1][10]

No. 658 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum on 30 April 1943[9][1] with the Taylorcraft Auster III and from March 1944 the Auster IV. The squadron role was to support the 21st Army Group and on 26 June 1944 it moved to France.[11] Fighting in the break-out from Normandy it followed the army across the countries and into Germany. In October 1945 the squadron left for India, where it was disbanded on 15 October 1946.[12][1]

The squadron number was transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps (AAC) on 1 September 1957.[13][14][15]

A postwar Auster Mk.V, restored in wartime colours.
Aircraft operated by No. 658 Squadron RAF[9][12]
From To Aircraft Variant
April 1943 April 1944 Auster Mk.III
March 1944 September 1945 Auster Mk.IV
August 1944 September 1945 Auster Mk.V
November 1945 January 1946 Auster Mk.V
June 1946 October 1946 Auster Mk.V

658 Squadron AAC

[edit]

No. 658 Squadron AAC was formed on 24 October 1969 at Minden as part of the 1 Division Aviation Squadron AAC.[16][17] In 1978, squadron moved to Soest as part of 4 Regiment AAC and disbanded.[16] The squadron reformed c. 1982 as part of 7 Regiment AAC based at Airfield Camp, Netheravon.[16] In April 1995, the squadron became a Territorial Army unit part of 7 Regiment AAC (Volunteers).[16]

On 1 April 2009, the squadron was disbanded at Netheravon.[2]

8 Flight

[edit]

8 Flight traces it lineage to the Royal Air Force No. 1908 AOP Flight formed on 31 December 1946, disbanded on 7 October 1955 and later reformed on 16 October that year.[11]

Westland Scout XR628 of 8 Flight deployed to RAF Habilayn in 1967.

On 1 September 1957, 8 Flight AAC was formed as 8 Reconnaissance Flight with the transfer of No. 1908 AOP Flight based at RAF Idris in Libya to the newly formed Army Air Corps.[11] The flight relocated to Kenya where it was re-designated as 8 Flight AAC.[18][19] The flight subsequently relocated to Aden operating the Westland Scout helicopter.[19][20] The flight later deployed to Northern Ireland operating the Scout and Bell Sioux helicopters.[21] In 1979, the flight was based at Airfield Camp, Netheravon.[22] In 1984, the Agusta A109A/AM helicopter entered service with the flight.[23][24] In 1984, the flight was part of 7 Regiment AAC.[25][24] The flight operated a fleet of four A109As in civilian livery, two of which were captured from the Argentine forces in the Falklands War and allocated to the flight.[26][27] In 1995, 7 Regiment re-roled as a Territorial Army unit 7 Regiment AAC (V).[25] In 2000, the flight relocated to Stirling Lines.[19]

In 2001, the flight was incorporated into the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW).[8] The flight operated the Westland Gazelle AH1 helicopter c. 2007.[28][29] In 2009, the flight converted from the A109A to four Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin helicopters in civilian livery.[30][31] The flight operated the Gazelle AH1 c. 2012.[32]

Present day

[edit]
The Dauphin helicopter ZJ780.

On 1 September 2013, 8 Flight AAC was re-designated as 658 Squadron AAC.[2][33]

Role

[edit]
See also: Special Air Service § Counter Terrorist Wing

The squadron provides dedicated aviation support to 22 SAS with domestic CT operations[3] based at Stirling Lines.[4] The helicopters have been filmed taking part in fast-roping exercises.[34][35]

Operations

[edit]

Just after midnight on 4 June 2017, the squadron landed a Dauphin on London Bridge to provide support to the Metropolitan Police Service in response to the London Bridge terrorist attack.[36] On 21 December 2018, a Dauphin helicopter was forward-deployed in the early stages of Operation Buckthorn.[37]

Aircraft operated

[edit]
Aircraft Variant Introduced In service Registration(s)
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin[38] N-3 Dauphin 2/N-3 Dauphin AH.1 2009 5[39][40] ZJ780,ZJ782,ZJ783;[39][41][42][43] ZJ785;[44][42][43] ZJ787[45][42][43]

See also

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References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "658 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "658 Squadron AAC". Facebook. Army Air Corps. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b Rogoway, Tyler (4 June 2017). "About That "Blue Thunder" Counter-Terror Chopper That Landed On London Bridge". The Drive. Retrieved 10 September 2022. tasked with supporting ... the Special Air Service ... on domestic counter-terror ops
  4. ^ a b Thomas, James (25 August 2022). "Watch: SAS Blue Thunder helicopter filmed at Herefordshire airfield". Hereford Times. Retrieved 10 September 2022. There are reportedly six of these Dauphin helicopters for 658 Squadron Army Air Corps, and they're based at the SAS camp in Credenhill, supporting 22nd Special Air Service (22 SAS).
  5. ^ "This is why the SAS Blue Thunder helicopter is flying over Yorkshire today". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2022. The SAS aircraft is nicknamed 'Blue Thunder'
  6. ^ Demerly, Tom. "This wild viral video likely shows a UK 'Blue Thunder' special operator helicopter flying low through fog". Business Insider. Retrieved 10 September 2022. Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II, nicknamed "Blue Thunder" by the British tabloids
  7. ^ "SAS 'Blue Thunder' unit 'lands in London Bridge following atrocity'". The Independent. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2022. An elite SAS unit nicknamed 'Blue Thunder' is believed to have landed by helicopter on London Bridge...Blue Thunder, who act on orders from the Home Secretary, are a 70-man strong unit formed after the 2015 Paris attacks and trained in tackling domestic terror scenarios.
  8. ^ a b "JSFAW – Responsibilities and Composition". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 448.
  10. ^ "No 651 – 670 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.
  11. ^ a b c "Flight Histories – 1900 Series". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  12. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 104.
  13. ^ Halley 1988, pp. 444–451.
  14. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–104.
  15. ^ "658 SQN Army Air Corps – History". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007.
  16. ^ a b c d "658 Sqn Army Air Corps History". British Army. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  17. ^ "658 Squadron". British Army units from 1945 on. 30 June 2019.
  18. ^ Hickey, Colonel Michael (2013). "Air Op and the Army Air Corps, Post WW II" (PDF). Royal Air Force Historical Society. 54. Windrush Group. ISSN 1361-4231. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  19. ^ a b c "8 Flight AAC". British Army units from 1945 on. 10 February 2016.
  20. ^ The Likes of Leicester by Ross Mallock (2013), p. 37, at Google Books
  21. ^ Operation Banner: The British Army in Northern Ireland 1969–2007 by Nicholas van der Bijl at Google Books
  22. ^ Wheeler, Barry C (1979). Air Forces of the World. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 39. ISBN 9780684162867.
  23. ^ Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth (22 June 2008). "Helicopters – Column 1835W". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Movements December 1984". Soesterberg Movements. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  25. ^ a b LZ (Spring 2012). "Airfield Camp, Netheravon 1912–2012" (PDF). Army Air Corps Journal. No. 52. pp. 40–42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2013.
  26. ^ Secretary of State for Defence Adam Ingram (27 June 2005). "Helicopters – Column 1207W". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  27. ^ "World's Air Forces". Flight International. Flight Global. 30 November 1985.
  28. ^ Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth (1 October 2007). "Military Aircraft: Helicopters – Column 2351W". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  29. ^ "8 Flight". Helicopter History Site. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  30. ^ Secretary of State for Defence Quentin Davies (15 January 2009). "Military Aircraft: Helicopters – Column 883W". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  31. ^ Tim Ripley (10 December 2008). "UK Army Air Corps received Dauphins". Jane's Defence Weekly. 45 (50): 10.
  32. ^ Ministry of Defence (19 February 2015). "Chapter 4 – Formations, Vessels, Aircraft and Vehicles of the Armed Forces". United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2012 (PDF). Aircraft Table 4.10. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  33. ^ Gary Parsons (January 2014). "News briefs". AirForces Monthly. No. 310. Stamford: Key Publishing. p. 7. ISSN 0955-7091.
  34. ^ Thrower, Antony; Moloy, Thomas (18 March 2022). "SAS Blue Thunder helicopter circles over town under cover of darkness in footage". mirror. Retrieved 10 September 2022. Incredible footage of an SAS blue thunder helicopter training in the skies over a British town under the cover of darkness has been shared online. The amazing video, captured in Bury, showed the impressive machine hovering while figures were seen abseiling down from the aircraft. The exercise is known as 'fast-roping' and allows troops to land where a helicopter cannot.
  35. ^ Blakey, Ashlie (26 June 2019). "WATCH: Helicopters lead dramatic SAS-style training at fire station". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 September 2022. This is the dramatic moment helicopter crew members abseil SAS-style onto the roof of Manchester Central Fire Station. The incredible footage was captured on Wednesday evening. It is understood that two helicopters were involved in a training exercise. Nearby residents in Ancoats describe seeing two 'military-style' helicopters circling over the fire station. At least four people then descend from one of the choppers onto the flat roof of the building. The crew members climb down a rope using a technique known as fast-roping.
  36. ^ Worley, Will (4 June 2017). "London terror attack: SAS 'Blue Thunder' unit 'lands in London Bridge following atrocity'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  37. ^ "Operation Buckthorn". Helis.com. Retrieved 10 September 2022. An initial move by 658 Sq Dauphin (c/s Titan 21) to Dover Coastguard operations centre was followed by...
  38. ^ Ripley, Tom (July 2015). "Britain's Flying Soldiers Back at home base". AirForces Monthly. No. 328. Stamford: Key Publishing. p. 78. ISSN 0955-7091.
  39. ^ a b "UK Army Air Corps lose Dauphin in accident". HeliHub. 3 August 2023.
  40. ^ Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) Julian Brazier (4 March 2015). "Military Aircraft: Written question – 225371 – Aircraft Platforms table". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Aircraft Data ZJ780, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6808". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.;"Aircraft Data ZJ781, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6813". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.;"Aircraft Data ZJ782, 2007 Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6816". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.;"Aircraft Data ZJ783, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6822". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  42. ^ a b c "UK Mil Mode-S Allocations". Teesside Airport Movements. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  43. ^ a b c "AS365N3 Dauphin 2 in Army Air Corps". Helis.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  44. ^ "Aircraft Data ZJ785, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6823". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Aircraft Data ZJ787, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin AH.1 C/N 6824". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.

Bibliography

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  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • 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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