No. 656 Squadron AAC

656 Squadron AAC
Apache pilot of 656 Sqn (2009)
Active	1 Sep 1957 - present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Army Air Corps
Motto(s)	Latin: Volans et videns ("Flying and seeing")
Helicopter	AgustaWestland Apache AH.1

No. 656 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps. It was chosen as one of the AAC new Apache Squadrons and in April 2004 started its conversion to role. The first phase of this completed in October 2004. The Squadron was the first operational Apache Squadron in the Army Air Corps and was awarded fully operational status along with the remainder of 9 Regiment AAC in June 2005. It is under 4 Regiment AAC as of 2007.

After their formation as 656 (AOP) Squadron on 31 December 1942 at RAF Westley, the Squadron deployed to the Far East in support of the 14th Army. 656 Squadron operated from 1943 - 1946 in India, Burma and the Dutch East Indies. During the War, the Squadron was to fly more operational hours than their counterparts in Europe. The Squadron was then reduced in size and reformed into 1914 Flight in Malaya during the internal conflict there. During this time, 656 provided support to both the AOP and Air liaison role, this it continued to do throughout the emergency.

The Squadron then reformed as an AAC Squadron on 1 September 1957. 656 Light Aircraft Squadron's time in the Far East continued with tours in Singapore, Borneo and Hong Kong.

With the exception of 2 flights, the Squadron was disbanded in 1977 and finally returned to the UK to be reformed in Farnborough, from where it participated in Operation Agila (Rhodesia) and Operation Corporate (The Falklands War) in 1982.

At the start of "Operation Corporate", six Scouts from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron were operating alongside three machines from No. 656 Squadron AAC. When 5 Infantry Brigade landed, they were joined by another three Scouts from 656 Squadron. During the Falklands conflict, the Scout was engaged in CASEVAC, re-supply and Special Forces insertion roles. One aircraft, XT629, was one of two Scouts of B Flight, 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron, that was attacked by two FMA IA 58 Pucarás (the only Argentine air-to-air victory in the war) of Grupo 3 near Camilla Creek House, North of Goose Green. XT629 was hit by cannon fire and crashed, killing the pilot and severing the leg of the crewman, who was thrown clear of the wreckage on impact. The second Scout evaded the Pucarás and later returned to the site to CASEVAC the survivor. Another Scout, XR628, of 656 Sqn AAC, suffered a main rotor gearbox failure whilst in a low hover over MacPhee Pond, 8 June 1982. XR628 had taken cover as two pairs of A-4 Skyhawks from Grupo 5 approached, these aircraft later attacked the RFA LSLs Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram at Bluff Cove. Once the threat had passed the pilot SGT R Kalinski PARA began to climb away, the main gearbox failed at the main input drive and the aircraft made a forced landing at the lakeside in around four feet of freezing cold water. The two crew and three passengers, STAFF/SGT Ward NCO AAC Sigs, R D Braithwaite & Airtrooper Colin Badgery (LMG Gun group) - all of whom were Army Air Corps personnel - were picked up by another 656 Sqn Scout piloted by Capt J G Greenhalgh and his crewman air gunner later that day. The aircraft was eventually recovered and airlifted to Fitzroy by Seaking on 11 June, but was subsequently written off on its return to the UK. Following research at the National Archive, Kew, it has been determined that XR628 was the same aircraft that was shot down, 26 May 1964, carrying 3 Para CO Lt Col Farrar-Hockley.