| 656 Squadron AAC No. 656 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
 Apache pilot of 656 Sqn (2009) | |
| Active | 31 Dec 1942 – 15 Jan 1947 (RAF) 29 Jun 1948 – 1 Sep 1957 (RAF) 1 Sep 1957 – present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Aviation |
| Part of | 4 Regiment Army Air Corps |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Volans et videns ("Flying and seeing") |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack helicopter | Boeing AH64E Apache |
656 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps. It was chosen as one of the AAC new AgustaWestland 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.[1]
It was formerly No. 656 Squadron RAF, an air observation post unit of the Royal Air Force in India and Burma during the Second World War and afterwards in British Malaya. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadron of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957[2][3] With this it became 656 Light Aircraft Squadron Army Air Corps.
- ^ "Army Air Corps".
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 444.
- ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102–105.