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No. 666 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post (AOP) squadron associated with the Canadian 1st Army and later part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadron 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, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957[4][5]

No. 666 (Scottish) Squadron RAuxAF
Active	1 May 1949 – 10 March 1957
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Role	Air Observation
Part of	No. 66 (Scottish) Group RAF, Home Command
Motto(s)	Latin: Speculatus ascendimus (Translation: "We ascend to observe")[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	Badge: In front of two gun barrels in saltire, a lion rampant charged with the Cross of St. Andrew[1]
Squadron Codes	ROG (May 1949 – Apr 1951)[2][3]
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance	Auster AOP.6

History

Formation and World War II

No. 666 Squadron RCAF was first formed on 5 March 1945[1] at RAF Andover as an air observation post (AOP) squadron associated with the Canadian 1st Army. After a period working together with the Canadian army and later with the occupation forces in Germany the squadron disbanded on 30 September 1946.[1][6]

Post-war

As the number was not transferred to the Canadian authorities, it was revived post-war when the squadron was reformed as No. 666 (Scottish) Squadron RAuxAF, part of the RAuxAF on 1 May 1949 at Scone. Equipped with Auster AOP.6 aircraft, the squadron's headquarters was located at RAF Perth/Scone, with three detached flights, Nos. 1966, 1967 and 1968 Flight RAF[7] at respectively RAF Perth/Scone, RAF Renfrew (later RAF Abbotsinch) and RAF Turnhouse,[1] before it was disbanded on 10 March 1957 by transferring to the Army Air Corps.[8]

Present

The squadron was represented by 666 Squadron of 7 (Volunteer) Regiment, Army Air Corps until 1 April 2009.[9]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by 666 Squadron RAF[1][6]

From	To	Aircraft	Version
June 1949	November 1951	Auster	AOP.5
June 1949	February 1957	Auster	AOP.6

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 666 Squadron RAF[1][6]

From	To	Base	Remark
1 May 1949	10 March 1957	RAF Perth/Scone, Perth and Kinross, Scotland	No. 1966 Flight RAF
1 May 1949	10 March 1957	RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland	No. 1968 Flight RAF
1 December 1951	5 December 1952	RAF Renfrew, Renfrewshire, Scotland	No. 1967 Flight RAF
5 December 1952	10 March 1957	RAF Abbotsinch, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Fictional service

A fictional 666 Squadron featured in the Air Ace Picture Library story The Bomber Barons. This 666 Squadron was a bomber unit founded at the outbreak of World War II, operating Handley Page Hampdens (September 1939 – December 1940), Avro Manchesters (January 1941 – 1942), Avro Lancasters (1942–1944) and Avro Vulcans (1960s – 1982).[10] In the long-running series of 'Biggles' books by W.E. Johns, 666 Squadron, RAF, is the Special Duties squadron led by the eponymous hero James Bigglesworth during World War II. In the Charles Stross novel "The Fuller Memorandum" 666 Squadron is a secret RAF unit involved on occult activities.

See also

• No. 666 Squadron RCAF
• Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• History of No. 666 Squadron at Army Air Corps website
• The Air Observation Post Squadrons of the RAF
• History of No.'s 651–670 Squadrons at RAF Web
• History of 666 Squadron

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