No. 655 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No.655 Squadron was an Air Observation Post squadron that served in Italy from the summer of 1943 until the end of the Second World War.

Air Observation Post squadrons were created to provide airborne observers for the artillery (see No.651 Squadron for more details). Most of their aircrews came from the army, and they used light aircraft (most Austers) which flew above their own guns using the altitude to spot targets over the horizon.

No.655 Squadron was formed in November 1942, but remained in the UK until August 1943 when it departed for North Africa. From there it moved to Italy where it was split into small detachments which supported the Allied armies for the rest of the slow fight up the Italian peninsula. The squadron was disbanded in Italy on 31 August 1945.

Aircraft
December 1942-February 1943: British Taylorcraft Auster I
February 1943-August 1944: British Taylorcraft Auster III
June 1944-August 1945: British Taylorcraft Auster IV
January-August 1945: British Taylorcraft Auster V

Location
November 1942-February 1943: Old Sarum
February-March 1943: Fowlmere
March 1943: Old Sarum
March-April 1943: Gatwick
April-August 1943: Detling
August 1943-August 1945: Dispersed bases in North Africa and Italy

Squadron Codes: -

Duty
1943-45: Air Observation Post, Italy

Books

Help - F.A.Q. - Contact Us - Search - Recent - About Us - Privacy