Royal Air Force No. 660 Squadron was formed at
RAF Old Sarum on 31 July 1943 Its identification symbol was
BG (August 1945 – April 1946).
Army Air Corps The squadron's numerical designation was first used by No. 660 Squadron RAF, a
Royal Air Force squadron which served from 31 July 1943 until 31 May 1946 operating from bases in England, France and Germany. Its duties and squadron number were transferred to the AAC upon the corps' formation on 1 September 1957. No. 660 Sqn was subsequently re-formed in October 1969 adopting the designation of No. 660 Aviation Squadron AAC. Based at
Topcliffe and equipped with
Westland (Agusta-Bell) Sioux AH.1 and
Westland Scout AH.1s, it formed part of
2 Regiment Army Air Corps (2 Regt. AAC). The squadron moved to
Salamanca Barracks, at Soest-Bad Sassendorf Airfield in 1971, becoming part of
4 Regt AAC the following year. In January 1973, it was renamed 660 Squadron AAC and in May 1974, while at Salamanca Barracks, it was the first unit to receive the
Westland Gazelle AH.1 for operational service in May 1974. A Scout Flight was later swapped with
No. 654 Squadron AAC in October 1977, making it an entirely Gazelle squadron. The squadron was then assigned to
3 Regt. AAC. On 1 April 1978, the squadron was re-designated as
No. 663 Squadron AAC (663 Sqn), and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the new squadron which was based at Salamanca Barracks. Later that same year, No. 660 Squadron was re-formed at
Sek Kong in
Hong Kong equipped with the Scout AH.1. Its roles included observation/reconnaissance and providing a troop-lift capability on the Hong Kong–Chinese border. It also provided anti-smuggling and immigration-control capabilities and supported Army exercises, being heavily involved in stemming the flood of illegal-immigrants from the
People's Republic of China (PRC). In 1984, the squadron had a complement of 12 Scouts and 80 men; of these, two Scouts and 18 men were based at
Seria in
Brunei. part of the 660 Sqn in
Kuala Belait, Brunei. The Army Air Corps in the
Far East had been centralised in 1969 when various flights, troops and
Gurkha air platoons were amalgamated, resulting in the re-formation of
No. 656 (Independent) Squadron AAC (656 Sqn) in October 1969. One Gurkha air platoon, based with the Gurkha battalion at Seria, remained as an air platoon for a while and then became C Flight 656 Sqn, then Brunei Detachment 660 Sqn in 1978, then C Flight 660 Sqn in 1979. The reorganization and increase in unit size required the squadron to be housed at Sek Kong. In the spring of 1970, the Sioux helicopters were supplemented by Scouts. The Siouxs were then phased out, with their last flights in Hong Kong being undertaken towards the end of 1974 when they were replaced by Gazelles. By the end of 1975 the Gazelle had been found unsuitable for Hong Kong, and they were returned to the UK, leaving the squadron with just its Scout helicopters. The Siouxs, reputed to be the last in the AAC, were flown in Brunei until 1978 when they were also exchanged with Scouts. 660 Sqn operated at Sek Kong until 1994, when it was disbanded as part of the preparations for the hand over of the
Hong Kong Crown Protectorate to the
People's Republic of China (PRC). The squadron, 50 years old at the time, was believed to be the last overseas unit using Scout helicopters.
Detachments ;24 January to 14 April 1970:
RAF Aldergrove in
Northern Ireland (NI) ;15 June to 17 October 1973: A small Scout and Sioux detachment stood-up for a four-month tour at
Long Kesh in NI. ;1 July to 31 October 1975: A detachment was provided for Long Kesh /
Ballykelly in NI. ==Current role==