No. 669 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 669 Squadron RAF was a glider
squadron of the Royal Air Force
active during the Second World War.
, India
as a glider squadron, with the intention of being used for airborne operations by South East Asia Command
. However, after a short period it was redesignated No. 671 Squadron RAF
, due to an earlier mix-up of squadron designations and bases.
The squadron was reformed anew the next day, with the same role and at the right base, and continued to train, as part of No. 343 Wing RAF, until the surrender of Japan, when it became surplus to requirements. The squadron was disbanded on 10 November 1945 at Fatehjang
, British India.
Military glider
Military gliders have been used by the military of various countries for carrying troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military transport planes, e.g...
squadron of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
active during the Second World War.
History
No. 669 Squadron RAF was formed on 16 November 1944 at Bikram, PatnaBikram, Patna
Bikram is a town and an assembly constituency in Paliganj subdivision of Patna district in the Indian state of Bihar.-Politics:Bikram assembly constituency is part of Pataliputra .Bikram assembly constituency covers Naubatpur and Bikram community development blocks, and Kaoria, Bindaul, Kunwa,...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as a glider squadron, with the intention of being used for airborne operations by South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II.-Background:...
. However, after a short period it was redesignated No. 671 Squadron RAF
No. 671 Squadron RAF
No. 671 Squadron RAF was a glider squadron of the Royal Air Force active during the Second World War.-History:671 Squadron was formed at Bikram, Patna in India as a glider squadron on 1 January 1945 by renumbering No. 669 Squadron RAF, with the intention of being used for airborne operations by...
, due to an earlier mix-up of squadron designations and bases.
The squadron was reformed anew the next day, with the same role and at the right base, and continued to train, as part of No. 343 Wing RAF, until the surrender of Japan, when it became surplus to requirements. The squadron was disbanded on 10 November 1945 at Fatehjang
Fateh Jang
Fateh Jang is a town and the tehsil headquarters of Attock District in the Punjab province of Pakistan...
, British India.
Present
The squadron today is represented by 669 Squadron of 9 Regiment, Army Air Corps.Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1944 | December 1944 | Waco Hadrian Waco CG-4 The Waco CG-4 was the most widely used United States troop/cargo military glider of World War II. It was designated the CG-4 by the United States Army Air Forces, and named Hadrian in British military service.... |
|
| June 1945 | July 1945 | Waco Hadrian | |
| July 1945 | November 1945 | de Havilland Tiger Moth De Havilland Tiger Moth The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft... |
Mk.II |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 16 November 1944 | 31 December 1944 | Bikram Bikram, Patna Bikram is a town and an assembly constituency in Paliganj subdivision of Patna district in the Indian state of Bihar.-Politics:Bikram assembly constituency is part of Pataliputra .Bikram assembly constituency covers Naubatpur and Bikram community development blocks, and Kaoria, Bindaul, Kunwa,... , Bihar Bihar Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India.... , British India |
| 1 January 1945 | 19 March 1945 | Basal, Punjab Punjab region The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi... , British India |
| 19 March 1945 | 27 May 1945 | Belgaum Belgaum Belgaum is a city and a municipal corporation in Belgaum district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad.... , Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava... , British India |
| 27 May 1945 | 23 June 1945 | Upper Topa Camp, Punjab, British India |
| 23 June 1945 | 6 July 1945 | Basal, Punjab, British India |
| 6 July 1945 | 10 November 1945 | Fatehjang Fateh Jang Fateh Jang is a town and the tehsil headquarters of Attock District in the Punjab province of Pakistan... , Punjab, British India |