No. 666 Squadron RCAF
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| No. 666 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 5 March 1945 - 31 October 1945 |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Role | Air Observation |
| Motto | Speculatus ascendimus Latin: "We ascend to observe" |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
Badge: In front of two gun barrels in saltire, a lion rampant charged with the Cross of St. Andrew |
No. 666 Squadron was originally an RCAF Air Observation Post squadron (AOP) formed during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) personnel.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were Air Observation Post units working closely with army units in artillery spotting and liaison. Three additional squadrons were Canadian, and approved on the RCAF list in the late summer of 1944: No. 664, No. 665 and No. 666 Squadron RCAF.
The squadron was formed at RAF Andover, England, on 5 March 1945, the third Air Observation Post squadron consisting of Canadian personnel to be formed at RAF Andover, after a 1944 parliamentary debate in Ottawa, Canada, resulted in the approval of three AOP squadrons to be added to the RCAF list, in support of the 1st Canadian Army.
Royal Canadian Artillery Major Dave Ely initially took command of each of the three squadrons, and was assisted by two RCAF Flight Lieutenants, D. Dougall (Acting Squadron Adjutant) and A.R. Woodhouse (Squadron Equipment officer). Major Ely was also assisted by nine AOP trained Royal Artillery Officers, who began training the squadron's other ranks.
In the last week of March, 1945, 666 Squadron's aircraft - sixteen Taylorcraft Auster Mark V's - began to arrive, along with the squadron's ground transport. On 7 May 1945, ten qualified Canadian AOP pilots were posted to the squadron, and from their ranks, Captain A.B. Stewart was elevated to Squadron Captain. In April, 666 began a succession of moves: on 17 April, to Alfriston Aerodrome; on 28 May, to Gilze-Rijen, Holland; on 6 June, to be headquartered at Hilversum, from where the squadron's three subordinate Flights were dispersed to Dordrecht, Alkmaar, and Ede.
On 12 June, Major Ely left 666 Squadron after being reassigned to Canadian Far East Force (CFEF), and was replaced by Major A.B. Stewart as Officer Commanding. Through the summer of 1945, the squadron was tasked with 'air taxi' duties in support of 1st Canadian Infantry Division, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and #1 Canadian AGRA (Army Groups Royal Artillery). On 25 June, 666 Squadron moved from Hilversum to Apeldoorn, Holland, joining 664 and 665 Squadron in that location, then under the overall command of the First Canadian Army.
With the disbanding of 665 (AOP) Squadron, on 10 July 1945, many of the remaining personnel from that squadron were transferred to 666 Squadron. Tasking thereafter included VIP, Courier, and Communications Flight duties in support of Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF).
No. 666 Squadron was disbanded at Apeldoorn, Holland, on 31 October 1945.
[edit] Postwar RAF service
A similarly named squadron was formed as an AOP unit of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 1 May 1949, equipped with Auster aircraft, based at Perth (Scone), with three detached flights at Abbotsinch, Renfrew and Turnhouse. No. 666 Squadron RAF was disbanded on 10 March 1957.
[edit] Reference listing
- Battle History 666 1945. Republished by Abel Book Company, Calgary, 2006 - a 37-page history endorsed by Major A.B. Stewart
- Canada's Flying Gunners: A History of the Air Observation Post of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Lt.-Col. D.L. Fromow (Ottawa: Air O.P. Pilots Association, 2002)
- Unarmed Into Battle: The Story of the Air Observation Post Major general H.J. Parham and E.M.G. Belfield (With a Foreword by Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, Master Gunner) (Wiltshire: Picton Publishing, 1986)
- Where The Hell Are The Guns? George Blackburn, MC (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1997).
[edit] Primary source interviews
- Ms. Francis Gales (Widow of Captain 'Tony' Eaton, MC).
- Gunner R.D. 'Ray' Knight, former member and observer of 665 (AOP) Squadron; 666 (AOP) Squadron, RCAF (Contributor's father)
- Gunner Floyd Osterhaut, former member and observer of 665 (AOP) Squadron.
- Captain F.R. 'Ray' Irwin, former member and pilot of 664 (AOP) Squadron, ; 665 (AOP) Squadron, RCAF; 666 (AOP) Squadron.
- Captain Bev Dane Baily, former member and pilot of 665 (AOP) Squadron.
- George Blackburn, MC.
[edit] Squadron membership
- Major D.R. Ely
- Major A.B. Stewart
- Captain A.D. Carpenter ('B' Flight Commander)
- Captain J.M. Doohan
- Captain R.O. Lundgren ('C' Flight Commander)
- Captain A.S. MacPherson ('A' Flight Commander)
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ National Archives of Canada file C12430 pertains to the war history to 664 (RCAF)(AOP) Squadron, 665 (RCAF) and 666 (RCAF)(AOP) Squadrons. This original documentation fails to disclose any information that would indicate they were raised, manned or administered by the RAF.
