No. 691 Squadron RAF
Active1 December 1943 – 11 February 1949
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RoleAnti-aircraft cooperation
Part ofNo. 70 Group RAF, Air Defense of Great Britain (1943–1944)[1]
No. 11 Group RAF, Fighter Command (1944–1949)[2]
Motto(s)Latin: Volamus Ut Serviamus
(Translation: "We fly to serve")[3]
Insignia
Squadron BadgeIn front of a sword and anchor in saltire, a popinjay[3]
Squadron Codes5S (Dec 1943 – Feb 1949)[4][5]

No. 691 Squadron RAF was an Anti-aircraft cooperation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1949.

History

The squadron was formed on 1 December 1943 at RNAS Roborough from 1623 (anti-aircraft co-operation) Flight.[3][6][7] It was tasked with anti-aircraft co-operation duties in the Plymouth area operating a variety of aircraft in this role. Most of the work was to fly as training targets for Royal Navy ships. The squadron moved a number of times from the end of the war to RAF Exeter, RAF Weston Zoyland, RAF Fairwood Common, and finally to RAF Chivenor. Its existence ended there when it was renumbered to No. 17 Squadron RAF on 11 February 1949.[3][8]

Aircraft operated

A Miles Martinet. Aircraft as this were used as target tug by no. 691 squadron
Aircraft operated by no. 691 Squadron RAF, data from[3][8][9]
From To Aircraft Variant
December 1943 March 1945 Fairey Barracuda Mk.II
December 1943 April 1945 Boulton Paul Defiant Mks.I & II
December 1943 March 1944 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I
December 1943 February 1949 Airspeed Oxford Mks. I & II
March 1944 April 1945 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
April 1945 May 1947 Vultee Vengeance Mk.IV
July 1945 August 1945 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb
August 1945 February 1949 Miles Martinet
August 1945 February 1949 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI
November 1945 February 1949 North American Harvard Mk.IIb

Squadron bases

Air bases and airfields used by no. 691 Squadron RAF, data from[3][8][9]
From To Name Remark
1 December 1943 21 February 1945 RNAS Roborough, Devon Formed here
21 February 1945 1 August 1945 RAF Harrowbeer, Devon
1 August 1945 31 January 1946 RAF Exeter, Devon
31 January 1946 4 October 1946 RAF Fairwood Common, Glamorgan (now County of Swansea), Wales
July 1946 4 October 1946 RAF Weston Zoyland, Somerset Detachment
4 October 1946 11 February 1949 RAF Chivenor, Devon Disbanded here

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Delve 1994, p. 72.
  2. ^ Delve 1994, p. 79.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Halley 1988, p. 457.
  4. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 95–96.
  5. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, pp. 57, 146 and 233.
  6. ^ Delve 1994, p. 159.
  7. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 129.
  8. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 105.
  9. ^ a b Rawlings 1982, p. 258.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

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