No. 691 Squadron RAF

No. 691 Squadron RAF was an Anti-aircraft cooperation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1949.

No. 691 Squadron RAF
Active1 December 1943 – 11 February 1949
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RoleAnti-aircraft cooperation
Part ofNo. 70 Group RAF, Air Defense of Great Britain (1943–1944)[1]
No. 11 Group RAF, Fighter Command (1944–1949)[2]
Motto(s)Latin: Volamus Ut Serviamus
(Translation: "We fly to serve")[3]
Insignia
Squadron BadgeIn front of a sword and anchor in saltire, a popinjay[3]
Squadron Codes5S (Dec 1943 – Feb 1949)[4][5]

History

The squadron was formed on 1 December 1943 at RNAS Roborough from 1623 (anti-aircraft co-operation) Flight.[3][6][7] It was tasked with anti-aircraft co-operation duties in the Plymouth area operating a variety of aircraft in this role. Most of the work was to fly as training targets for Royal Navy ships. The squadron moved a number of times from the end of the war to RAF Exeter, RAF Weston Zoyland, RAF Fairwood Common, and finally to RAF Chivenor. Its existence ended there when it was renumbered to No. 17 Squadron RAF on 11 February 1949.[3][8]

Aircraft operated
A Miles Martinet. Aircraft as this were used as target tug by no. 691 squadron
Aircraft operated by no. 691 Squadron RAF, data from[3][8][9]
FromToAircraftVariant
December 1943March 1945Fairey BarracudaMk.II
December 1943April 1945Boulton Paul DefiantMks.I & II
December 1943March 1944Hawker HurricaneMk.I
December 1943February 1949Airspeed OxfordMks. I & II
March 1944April 1945Hawker HurricaneMk.IIc
April 1945May 1947Vultee VengeanceMk.IV
July 1945August 1945Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vb
August 1945February 1949Miles Martinet
August 1945February 1949Supermarine SpitfireMk.XVI
November 1945February 1949North American HarvardMk.IIb

Squadron bases
Air bases and airfields used by no. 691 Squadron RAF, data from[3][8][9]
FromToNameRemark
1 December 194321 February 1945RNAS Roborough, DevonFormed here
21 February 19451 August 1945RAF Harrowbeer, Devon
1 August 194531 January 1946RAF Exeter, Devon
31 January 19464 October 1946RAF Fairwood Common, Glamorgan (now County of Swansea), Wales
July 19464 October 1946RAF Weston Zoyland, SomersetDetachment
4 October 194611 February 1949RAF Chivenor, DevonDisbanded here

See also

References

Notes
  1. Delve 1994, p. 72.
  2. Delve 1994, p. 79.
  3. Halley 1988, p. 457.
  4. Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, pp. 95–96.
  5. Flintham and Thomas 2003, pp. 57, 146 and 233.
  6. Delve 1994, p. 159.
  7. Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 129.
  8. Jefford 2001, p. 105.
  9. Rawlings 1982, p. 258.

Bibliography
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–88. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

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