No. 683 Squadron RAF

No. 683 Squadron RAF
No. 683 Squadron RAF
No. 683 Squadron RAF.jpg
Active 8 Feb 1943 - 21 Sep 1945
1 Aug 1950 - 30 Nov 1953
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
Role photo-reconnaissance squadron
Part of AHQ Malta, Mediterranean Air Command[1]
No. 214 Group RAF, Mediterranean Air Command[2]
RAF Middle East Air Force[3]
Motto Latin: Nihil Nos Latet
(Translation: "Nothing remains concealed")[4][5]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry In front of a mullet of six points, a telescope in bend[4][5]
Squadron Codes No code(s) are known to have been carried by this squadron[4][6][7]

No. 683 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Contents

History

Formation and World War II

683 squadron was formed out of 'B' Flight of No. 69 Squadron on 8 February 1943[4][5][8] at RAF Luqa on Malta, as a photo-reconnaissance squadron operating the Spitfire fighter in the photo-reconnaissance role. The squadron added the Mosquito Mk.VI to its strength in May 1943, but they were only operated for a month. The squadron was involved in photo-reconnaissance mission over Sicily and Italy and later over Yugoslavia. The squadron moved to San Severo in Italy and continued in support of the US 5th Army. As the war continued it was involved in both tactical and strategic reconnaissance, and was involved survey flight across southern Europe. In September 1944, the squadron re-equipped with Spitfire PR.XIX photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Detachments from the squadron were based at a wide range of bases all across the Italian theatre of operations, with the squadron finally disbanding on 22 September 1945 at San Severo, Italy.[4][5][8]

Post war

The squadron was re-formed on 1 November 1950 at RAF Fayid, Egypt with the Avro Lancaster PR.1 and the Vickers Valetta C.1. It was tasked with the survey and mapping of Arabia and East Africa. In January 1952 the squadron moved to RAF Khormaksar, Aden to cover both Aden and Somaliland. Another move to RAF Habbaniya, Iraq allowed the squadron to survey and map the Persian Gulf. With the survey and mapping role completed the squadron was disbanded at Habbaniya on 30 November 1953.[4][5][8]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 683 Squadron RAF, data from[4][5][8]
From To Aircraft Variant
February 1943 July 1943 Supermarine Spitfire PR.Mk.IV
February 1943 March 1943 Supermarine Spitfire PR.Mk.IX
April 1943 September 1945 Supermarine Spitfire PR.XI
May 1943 June 1943 de Havilland Mosquito PR.Mks.IV & VI
September 1944 September 1945 Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX
November 1950 November 1953 Avro Lancaster PR.1
November 1950 November 1953 Vickers Valetta C.1

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 683 Squadron RAF, data from[4][5][8]
From To Base Remark
8 February 1943 22 November 1943 RAF Luqa, Malta
22 November 1943 20 December 1943 RAF El Aouina, Tunisia
20 December 1943 21 September 1945 RAF San Severo, Italy Dets. all over Italy
1 August 1950 26 February 1951 RAF Fayid, Egypt
26 February 1951 23 April 1951 RAF Kabrit, Egypt
23 April 1951 24 September 1951 RAF Eastleigh, Kenia Dets. at Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika
24 September 1951 12 December 1951 RAF Kabrit, Egypt Det. at RAF Shaibah, Iraq
12 December 1951 22 May 1952 RAF Khormaksar, Aden Det. at RAF Habbaniya, Iraq
22 May 1952 30 November 1953 RAF Habbaniya, Iraq Det. at RAF Sharjah, Trucial States

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 683 squadron RAF, data from[4]
From To Name
February 1943 October 1943 W/Cdr. A. Warburton, DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar
October 1943 August 1944 S/Ldr. H.S. Smith, DFC
August 1944 April 1945 S/Ldr. R.T. Turton, DFC
April 1945 September 1945 S/Ldr. E.R. Pearson, DFC
November 1950 1952 S/Ldr. I.D.N. Lawson
1952 November 1953 S/Ldr. N.N. Ezekiel

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Delve 1994, p. 67.
  2. ^ Delve 1994, p. 75.
  3. ^ Delve 1994, p. 87.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rawlings 1982, p. 246.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Halley 1988, p. 455.
  6. ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 148.
  7. ^ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 233.
  8. ^ a b c d e Jefford 2001, p. 105.

Bibliography

  • Bowman, Martin. Mosquito Photo-Reconnaissance Units of World War 2. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-85532-891-4.
  • Bowyer, Chaz. Mosquito Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. London: Ian Allan Ltd., 1984. ISBN 0-71101425-6.
  • 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, 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, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). 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.

External links

Related content


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • No. 41 Squadron RAF — Official Squadron Badge of No. 41 Squadron RAF Active 14 July 1916 Country …   Wikipedia

  • No. 99 Squadron RAF — No. 99 Squadron Royal Air Force Official squadron crest for no. 99 squadron RAF Active 15 Aug 1917 2 Apr 1920 1 Apr 1924 15 Nov 1945 17 Nov 1947 7 Jan 1976 1 Jan 2002 Present Day …   Wikipedia

  • No. 201 Squadron RAF — Official Squadron crest for No. 201 Squadron RAF Active 17 Oct 1914(RNAS) 21 Jun 1915 6 Dec 1916 1 Apr 1918 1 Apr 1918(RAF) 31 Dec 1919 1 Jan 1929 28 Feb 1957 …   Wikipedia

  • No. 16 Squadron RAF — Active 10 February 1915 – Present Role Elementary Flying Training …   Wikipedia

  • No. 208 Squadron RAF — Active 26 October 1916 – 7 November 1919 1 February 1920 30 March 1959 1 April 1959 10 September 1971 1 March 1974 31 March 1994 1 April 1994 present Country …   Wikipedia

  • No. 46 Squadron RAF — No. 46 Squadron Active 19 April 1916 31 August 1975 Country United Kingdom Branch Royal Air Force Size squadron No. 46 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps …   Wikipedia

  • No. 609 Squadron RAF — No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron Active 10 Feb 1936 15 Sep 1945 31 Jul 1946 10 Mar 1957 1 Jul 1998 present Country Unite …   Wikipedia

  • No. 263 Squadron RAF — Official Squadron Badge Crest of No. 263 Squadron RAF Active 27 September 1918 16 May 1919 20 October 1939 28 August 1945 29 August 1945 1 July 1958 1 …   Wikipedia

  • No. 501 Squadron RAF — No 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron, RAF Regiment Active 14 June 1929 20 April 1945 10 May 1946 10 March 1957 June 2001 present Country …   Wikipedia

  • No. 233 Squadron RAF — Active 31 August 1918 15 May 1919 18 May 1937 – 15 December 1945 1952 1957 1 September 1960 – 31 January 1964 Country …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”