Formation and wartime history in Polish Aviation Museum Volunteer
Polish Army officers had been sent by ship to South Africa in June 1944 for initial training as pilots and then for operational training in the very low-level AOP role. The squadron was officially formed at
San Basilio in Italy on 14 August 1944 The squadron headquarters was at
RAF Hooton Park, Wirral, Cheshire with dispersed flights at
RAF Ringway,
RAF Llandow, South Wales, and
Wolverhampton (Pendeford) – the latter flight moving on to
Castle Bromwich Aerodrome near
Birmingham. For the next eight years, No. 663 flew very low-level 'spotting' sorties in co-operation with
Territorial Army artillery units, often based for the weekend in a friendly farmers field – for example near
Tarporley, Cheshire. No. 1952 Reserve Air Observation Post Flight was formed within 663 Squadron along with No. 1953 Reserve Air Observation Post Flight, No. 1954 Reserve Air Observation Post Flight and No. 1955 Reserve Air Observation Post Flight. The squadron disbanded on 10 March 1957, at the same time as all other Royal Auxiliary Air Force flying units.
Army Air Corps history and operations The unit was reformed as an army air unit called
663 Aviation Squadron in October 1969 at
Netheravon, Wiltshire. Its allocated mission was to support army formations in the
Salisbury Plain area. The unit's initial equipment was the
Bell Sioux AH.1 helicopter, with these being later replaced by the
Westland Scout AH.1 turbine helicopter. On 1 January 1973 the unit was renamed
No. 663 Squadron AAC. The Squadron again disbanded in July 1977. Following a restructuring of Army Air Squadrons, 660 Squadron was redesignated as 663 Squadron, part of
3 Regiment Army Air Corps. From 1993 it has been based at the
AAC Wattisham near Stowmarket, Suffolk. In recent years it has replaced its
Westland Gazelles with Westland-assembled
Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. ==Aircraft operated==