No. 656 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No.656 Squadron was an Air Observation Post squadron that served on the Burma Front.

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.

The squadron was formed in the UK in December 1942. It spent the first half of 1943 half training at home, before finally departing for India on 12 August 1943 (still almost a year before the squadrons allocated to the invasion of Normandy entered action).

Once the squadron reached India it was used to support the Fourteenth Army, operating in small detachments all along the Burma front. It took part in the successful invasion of Burma, and was then allocated to the force for the planned invasion of Malaya. The Japanese surrendered before this invasion was needed, but the squadron still moved to Malaya, where it took part in the fight against Communist guerrillas. The squadron became part of the Army Air Corps in September 1957.

Aircraft
January-August 1943: Tiger Moth II
May-August 1943: British Taylorcraft Auster I and III
October 1944-June 1945: British Taylorcraft Auster IV
February 1945-January 1947: British Taylorcraft Auster V

Location
December 1942-March 1943: Westley
March-August 1943: Stapleford Tawney
August 1943-September 1945: Dispersed bases India and Burma
September-November 1945: Kelanang

Squadron Codes: -

Duty
December 1942-August 1943: Home based Air Observation Post
August 1943 onwards: Air Observation Post, Burma front

Books

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