Brief History | 1943 - 45 | 1949 - 57 | 1969 - 2000 | Conversion to AH | Honours and Awards

3 Regiment - 662 Squadron.

662 Squadron is currently converting to the Apache Attack helicopter.

History of 662 Squadron.

MOTTO: OLETHRION OMMA (Death-dealing eye)

The Squadron was formed at Old Sarum airfield on the 30th September 1943. The pilots and observers were Royal Artillery Officers and the administration and maintenance staff were Royal Air Force personnel. The Sqn was equipped with Auster Mk III aircraft. After a short training period the Sqn moved to Westerly near Newmarket and were attached to 2 ATAF.

On 'D-Day' the Sqn Recce party landed on the Normandy beaches just 90 minutes after 'H-Hour' and the remainder on the 7/8th June. The Sqn was involved in the advance through France, Holland and into Germany, during which time they supported some twenty different Divisions and occupied over forty landing grounds.

From 'D-Day' until the end of the war, almost 5000 hrs were flown on a diversity of tasks, ranging from communications flying to marking advance targets for rocket-firing Typhoons. After helping to defeat the Germans, they almost ended up giving the Japanese the benefit of their AOP skills. Embarkation orders were received but cancelled before any move took place. The Sqn was disbanded on the 30th October 1945 at Melsbroek in Germany.

The Sqn was reformed again on the 1st February 1949 under the name of 662 Air OP Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force and was based at Colerne. Again the Sqn personnel were a mixture of Army and RAF in all ranks, the pilots once again Royal Artillery. The aircraft too were still Austers, this time Mk V and VI's. In 1957, along with the rest of the Auxiliary Air Force, the Sqn was disbanded on the 10th March.

Once again in 1969, 662 was reformed from what was 23 Flight in Munster, West Germany. This time it was called 662 Aviation Squadron and officially came into being on the 24th September 1969.

The tools of the Squadrons trade had moved on from the trusty Auster. Now 662 was equipped with Sioux and Scout helicopters, flying in support of 4 Guards Brigade who were part of 4 Div. They remained with 4 Div until 1971, when they changed Divisions and came under 2 Div, but still remained in support of 4 Guards Brigade.

In 1973, along with other Army Aviation units, the Sqn was re-named 662 Squadron Army Air Corps. The Sqn completed three emergency tours of Northern Ireland, all three over the Christmas period's 1973/4, 1974/5 and 1975/6. 4 Guards Brigade was disbanded on the 1st October 1976 and 662 Sqn was transferred to support 'Task force Charlie'. In 1977 the Sqn's Sioux's were replaced with GAZELLE aircraft.

1980: Now part of 2 Regiment Army Air Corps and in direct support of 'Task Force Charlie', the Scout aircraft were replaced with LYNX AH1. In the same year 'Task Force Charlie' was renamed 4 Armoured Brigade with 662 Sqn remaining as their aviation support unit. In 1981 the Sqn completed another successful tour of Northern Ireland.

As a result of reorganisation in BAOR, 2 Regiment AAC was disbanded and 662 became part of 3 Regiment AAC in 1982, moving from Munster to Soest. This time the Squadron's role was the Corps Anti-tank Squadron and it was equipped with twelve Lynx AH1's. Sometime in the mid-80's the Sqn changed roles again, reverting to a normal Anti-tank Sqn, remaining with 3 Regiment AAC. For this it lost six Lynx airframes which were replaced with six Gazelles.

The Sqn remained in Soest until 1993 when, as a whole, 3 Regiment AAC moved to Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, and became part of the recently formed '24 Airmobile Brigade'. 662 maintained its Anti-tank role with six Lynx Mk 7 TI/TOW and six Gazelle AH 1 helicopters.

In August 1995 the Sqn deployed with '24 Airmobile Brigade' on 'Op HAMDEN', as part of the United Nations Rapid Reaction Force to Croatia. After a successful 3-month tour 662 Sqn returned to Wattisham with the rest of the Regiment in October 1995. The Regiment however remained on standby to return to Croatia at a moments notice if the need arose. For this to happen, a vast quantity of the Sqn's equipment and a small maintenance team remained at Ploce.

24 Brigade was relieved of its commitment in December 1995 and the Sqn's personnel and equipment left behind returned by Christmas of the same year.

1996 was a busy year with the Sqn deploying on various '24 Brigade' exercises. Gazelle Flight supported 'Medicine Man 3' in Canada during June and July and then in January 1997 flew to Kenya for six weeks in support of 1 Royal Scots on 'Ex Grand Prix 2'.

1999 saw the Sqn deploy on Regimental exercise prior to departure for RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland to practice mountain-flying techniques prior to a six-month tour of Bosnia. In the Sqn's absence the Regiment's commitment to '24 Brigade' ended with a display at Wattisham in front of HRH The Prince of Wales. '16 Air Assault Brigade' was born and reflected the importance being placed on aviation, now more than ever. The Sqn rear party also had a busy time with deployments to Jersey, including the International Airshow where static displays allowed the public a brief glimpse at the tools of an operational Sqn.

Mechanical and logistical problems marred the Lynx fleet throughout the Army and through the turn of the new millennium crews found themselves scrambling for hours. The Gazelle however continued to give sterling service with aircrew being attached to TA units around the country. Early 2000 saw a well earned rest for the Sqn, now recovering from their Bosnia tour while the remainder of the Sqn found themselves supporting major exercises with their sister Sqn, 663. Mid summer saw the deployment of the Regiment including a 653 Sqn Mk 9 Lynx attached to 662 on Ex IRON HAWK in BATUS, the British Army Training Unit Suffield in Canada.

Brief History | 1943 - 45 | 1949 - 57 | 1969 - 2000 | Conversion to AH | Honours and Awards