No. 658 Squadron AAC
No. 658 Squadron AAC | |
---|---|
Active | 1 Sept 2013 – Present |
Country |
|
Branch |
|
Type | Joint unit |
Role | Special forces aviation support |
Garrison/HQ | Stirling Lines |
Aircraft flown | |
Helicopter |
Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II Westland Gazelle AH1 |
No. 658 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps.
The squadron is now operational after the expanding of No. 8 Flight AAC.
History
8 Flight AAC
No. 8 Flight AAC was formed on 1 September 1957 as No. 8 Independent Reconnaissance Flight AAC in Asia before shortly moving to Kenya.[1]
During the mid-1960s the flight was renamed to No. 8 Flight AAC and operated in Aden in connection with No. 653 Squadron AAC.[1]
In 1998 the flight moved to AAC Netheravon gaining Agusta A109As before moving to Credenhill Barracks around the year 2000 with Westland Gazelle AH.1 being added. During 2008/09 Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II replaced the A109A's.[1] Two of the Agustas were captured from the Argentine forces in the Falklands War in 1982 as war prizes and the other two were bought new.[2]
658 Squadron
Current use
8 Flight was renamed No. 658 Squadron AAC on 1 September 2013.[3]
Aircraft operated
From | To | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 September 2013 | Present | Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin | II | [3] |
1 September 2013 | Present | Westland Gazelle | AH1 | [3] |
References
- 1 2 3 "8 Flight AAC". British Army units from 1945 on. 10 February 2016.
- ↑ Tim Ripley (10 December 2008). "UK Army Air Corps received Dauphins". Jane's Defence Weekly. 45 (50): 10.
- 1 2 3 Gary Parsons (January 2014). "News briefs". AirForces Monthly. Stamford: Key Publishing: pg.7.