No. 658 Squadron AAC explained

Unit Name:658 Squadron AAC

Dates:30 April 1943 – 15 October 1946 (RAF)[1]
1 September 2013 – Present
Branch: British Army
Type:Army aviation
Role:Aerial reconnaissance
Air assault
Airlift
Combat search and rescue
Counterterrorism
ISTAR
Medical evacuation
Special operations support
Size:Squadron
Command Structure:Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
Garrison:Stirling Lines
Nickname:Blue Thunder
Motto:Latin

Videmus Delemus
(Translation: "We see and destroy")

Aircraft Helicopter:Eurocopter 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.[2] The squadron is co-located with 22 SAS at Stirling Lines.[3] The press has given the squadron, their helicopters, and the CT response force they enable, the nickname "Blue Thunder".[4] [5] [6] The squadron is part of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.

History

658 Squadron RAF

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.

It's identification symbol was On a bezant, an eagle's head couped[7]

No. 658 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum on 30 April 1943 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. 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.

The squadron number was transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps (AAC) on 1 September 1957.[8]

Aircraft operated by No. 658 Squadron RAF! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Variant
April 1943 April 1944 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

No. 658 Squadron AAC was formed on 24 October 1969 at Minden as part of the 1 Division Aviation Squadron AAC.[9] [10] In 1978, squadron moved to Soest as part of 4 Regiment AAC and disbanded.[9] The squadron reformed 1982 as part of 7 Regiment AAC based at Airfield Camp, Netheravon.[9] In April 1995, the squadron became a Territorial Army unit part of 7 Regiment AAC (Volunteers).[9]

On 1 April 2009, the squadron was disbanded at Netheravon.[11]

8 Flight

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.[12]

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.[12] The flight relocated to Kenya where it was re-designated as 8 Flight AAC.[13] [14] The flight subsequently relocated to Aden operating the Westland Scout helicopter.[14] The flight later deployed to Northern Ireland operating the Scout and Bell Sioux helicopters. In 1979, the flight was based at Airfield Camp, Netheravon.[15] In 1984, the Agusta A109A/AM helicopter entered service with the flight.[16] [17] In 1984, the flight was part of 7 Regiment AAC.[18] [17] 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.[19] [20] In 1995, 7 Regiment re-roled as a Territorial Army unit 7 Regiment AAC (V).[18] In 2000, the flight relocated to Stirling Lines.[14]

In 2001, the flight was incorporated into the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW).[21] The flight operated the Westland Gazelle AH1 helicopter 2007.[22] [23] In 2009, the flight converted from the A109A to four Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin helicopters in civilian livery.[24] [25] The flight operated the Gazelle AH1 2012.[26]

Present day

On 1 September 2013, 8 Flight AAC was re-designated as 658 Squadron AAC.[11] [27]

Role

The squadron provides dedicated aviation support to 22 SAS with domestic CT operations[2] based at Stirling Lines.[3] The helicopters have been filmed taking part in fast-roping exercises.[28] [29]

Operations

Just after midnight on, the squadron landed a Dauphin on London Bridge to provide support to the Metropolitan Police Service in response to the London Bridge terrorist attack.[30] On, a Dauphin helicopter was forward-deployed in the early stages of Operation Buckthorn.[31]

Aircraft operated

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 658 Squadron. Royal Air Force. 9 June 2017.
  2. News: Rogoway . Tyler . About That "Blue Thunder" Counter-Terror Chopper That Landed On London Bridge . 10 September 2022 . The Drive . 4 June 2017 . en . tasked with supporting ... the Special Air Service ... on domestic counter-terror ops.
  3. News: Thomas . James . Watch: SAS Blue Thunder helicopter filmed at Herefordshire airfield . 10 September 2022 . Hereford Times . 25 August 2022 . en . 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)..
  4. News: This is why the SAS Blue Thunder helicopter is flying over Yorkshire today . 10 September 2022 . www.yorkshirepost.co.uk . 28 January 2019 . en . The SAS aircraft is nicknamed 'Blue Thunder'.
  5. News: Demerly . Tom . This wild viral video likely shows a UK 'Blue Thunder' special operator helicopter flying low through fog . 10 September 2022 . Business Insider . Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II, nicknamed "Blue Thunder" by the British tabloids.
  6. News: SAS 'Blue Thunder' unit 'lands in London Bridge following atrocity' . 10 September 2022 . The Independent . 4 June 2017 . en . 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..
  7. Web site: No 651 – 670 Squadron Histories. Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. https://web.archive.org/web/20110519090621/http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn651-670.htm. 19 May 2011. dead. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: 658 SQN Army Air Corps – History. British Army. https://web.archive.org/web/20070109153843/http://www.army.mod.uk/aac/units/7_regiment_aac_v_/658_squadron.htm. 9 January 2007.
  9. Web site: 658 Sqn Army Air Corps History . British Army . 30 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070223054045/http://www.army.mod.uk/aac/units/7_regiment_aac_v_/658_squadron.htm . 23 February 2007.
  10. Web site: 658 Squadron. British Army units from 1945 on. 30 June 2019.
  11. Web site: 658 Squadron AAC . Facebook . Army Air Corps . 30 June 2019 . 2 September 2013.
  12. Web site: Flight Histories – 1900 Series . Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation . 3 July 2019 . 26 May 2017.
  13. Hickey . Colonel Michael . Air Op and the Army Air Corps, Post WW II . Royal Air Force Historical Society . 2013 . 54 . 3 July 2019 . Windrush Group . 1361-4231.
  14. Web site: 8 Flight AAC. British Army units from 1945 on. 10 February 2016.
  15. Book: Wheeler . Barry C . Air Forces of the World . 1979 . Charles Scribner's Sons . New York . 9780684162867 . 39.
  16. Web site: Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth. Helicopters – Column 1835W . www.parliament.uk . House of Commons. 3 July 2019 . 22 June 2008.
  17. Web site: Movements December 1984 . Soesterberg Movements . 6 January 2017. 11 March 2020.
  18. LZ . Airfield Camp, Netheravon 1912–2012 . Army Air Corps Journal . 52 . Spring 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130227004933/http://army.mod.uk/documents/general/aac-Airfield_Camp_Netheravon.pdf . 27 February 2013 . 40–42.
  19. Web site: Secretary of State for Defence Adam Ingram. Helicopters – Column 1207W. www.parliament.uk. House of Commons . 3 July 2019 . 27 June 2005.
  20. World's Air Forces . Flight International . Flight Global . 30 November 1985.
  21. Web site: JSFAW – Responsibilities and Composition. Royal Air Force. https://web.archive.org/web/20140227170050/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafodiham/aboutus/jsfaw.cfm. 27 February 2014.
  22. Web site: Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth. Military Aircraft: Helicopters – Column 2351W. 1 October 2007. www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. 10 June 2017.
  23. Web site: 8 Flight . Helicopter History Site . 12 March 2020.
  24. Web site: Secretary of State for Defence Quentin Davies. Military Aircraft: Helicopters – Column 883W. 15 January 2009. www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. 12 March 2020.
  25. Jane's Defence Weekly . 45 . 50 . 10 December 2008. 10. UK Army Air Corps received Dauphins. Tim Ripley.
  26. Book: Ministry of Defence. United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2012. 19 February 2015. 13 March 2020. Aircraft Table 4.10. Chapter 4 – Formations, Vessels, Aircraft and Vehicles of the Armed Forces.
  27. Gary Parsons. News briefs. . . Key Publishing. January 2014. 7. 310. 0955-7091.
  28. News: Thrower . Antony . Moloy . Thomas . SAS Blue Thunder helicopter circles over town under cover of darkness in footage . 10 September 2022 . mirror . 18 March 2022 . en . 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..
  29. News: Blakey . Ashlie . WATCH: Helicopters lead dramatic SAS-style training at fire station . 10 September 2022 . Manchester Evening News . 26 June 2019 . en . 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's 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..
  30. News: Worley . Will . London terror attack: SAS 'Blue Thunder' unit 'lands in London Bridge following atrocity'. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-terror-attack-sas-blue-thunder-unit-helicopter-bridge-atrocity-borough-a7771831.html . 21 June 2022 . subscription . live. 8 March 2020 . . 4 June 2017.
  31. Web site: Operation Buckthorn . Helis.com . 10 September 2022 . en . An initial move by 658 Sq Dauphin (c/s Titan 21) to Dover Coastguard operations centre was followed by....
  32. Ripley. Tom. Britain's Flying Soldiers Back at home base. . . Key Publishing. 328. July 2015. 78. 0955-7091.
  33. Web site: UK Army Air Corps lose Dauphin in accident . HeliHub . 3 August 2023.
  34. Web site: Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) Julian Brazier. Military Aircraft: Written question – 225371 – Aircraft Platforms table . 4 March 2015. www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. 12 March 2020.
  35. Web site: Aircraft Data ZJ780, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6808 . www.airport-data.com . 9 September 2022.
    Web site: Aircraft Data ZJ781, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6813 . www.airport-data.com . 9 September 2022.
  36. Web site: Aircraft Data ZJ782, 2007 Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6816 . www.airport-data.com . 9 September 2022.
  37. Web site: Aircraft Data ZJ783, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6822 . www.airport-data.com . 9 September 2022.
  38. Web site: Aircraft Data ZJ785, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6823 . www.airport-data.com . 9 September 2022.
  39. Web site: Aircraft Data ZJ787, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin AH.1 C/N 6824 . www.airport-data.com . 9 September 2022.
  40. Web site: UK Mil Mode-S Allocations . Teesside Airport Movements . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109185117/https://www.dtvmovements.co.uk/Info/UKModeSMilP2.htm . 9 November 2022.
  41. Web site: AS365N3 Dauphin 2 in Army Air Corps . Helis.com . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109185732/https://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/British-Army-AS365N3 . 9 November 2022 . en.

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