From Auster to Apache : the history of 656 Squadron RAF/AAC 1942-2012

474 Pages·2013·22.87 MB·English

by  Warner

First published in Great Britain in 2013 by
Pen & Sword Aviation
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
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Copyright © Guy Warner 2013
ISBN: 978-1-78159-098-0
EPUB ISBN: 978-1-47382-246-7
PRC ISBN: 978-1-47382-198-9
The right of Guy Warner to be identified as author of this work has
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Patents Act 1988.
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Contents
Foreword
Glossary
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1 England 1942–1943
Chapter 2 India and Burma 1943–1945
Chapter 3 Malaya, Java and Sumatra 1945–1947
Chapter 4 Malaya and Korea 1948–1960
Chapter 5 Malaya (Malaysia), Brunei and Borneo 1961–1969
Chapter 6 Hong Kong 1969–1977
Chapter 7 UK and Rhodesia 1978–1981
Chapter 8 The Falkland Islands 1982
Chapter 9 UK, Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo 1983–2002
Chapter 10 The Apache – UK, Afghanistan and Libya 2003–2012
Conclusion
Appendix 1 – Roll of Honour
Appendix 2 – Honours and Awards
Appendix 3 – OCs
Appendix 4 – Squadron Aircraft Types and Representative Serial Numbers
Appendix 5 – The Spirit of 656 in 1944
Appendix 6 – Memories of Peter Short – Malaya 1952–1955
Appendix 7 – Bumph 1954
Appendix 8 – Malaya – a view from REME 1958–1961
Bibliography
Foreword
By
General Sir John Learmont KCB, CBE
I
t is always a privilege to be invited to write a Foreword and it gives me great
pleasure to do so for Guy Warner’s timely book on 656 Squadron. It is timely
in the sense that although the Squadron is far from being the oldest Army
aviation squadron, it is unique in having a near continuous operational record
and it reaches the milestone of celebrating its 70th anniversary in early 2013.
The Air Observation Post (Air OP) concept was contentious when advocated
by its pioneer, Captain Charles Bazeley RA in 1938 and was fiercely resisted by
the Air Ministry. The idea of Royal Artillery officers flying rudimentary,
unarmed aircraft to control artillery fire was inspired, but took until 1941 to be
realized with the first Air OP Squadron, No 651. Yet the practice worked even
better than the concept and by the time 656 Squadron formed up at RAF Westley
in early 1943, the squadron establishment and concept of operations had been
tested, by 651 Squadron, in North Africa. However, 656 Squadron’s first Officer
Commanding, Major Denis Coyle DFC, MBE, RA, with whom, in later life, I
was privileged to serve in the 1950s, was made aware that his command would
not be deployed close to home, but in the more distant and uncertain
environment of the Burma Campaign, in support of 14th Army. On arrival in the
Far East, he was immediately faced with two major problems. Firstly there was a
complete lack of comprehension on how to deal with an RAF/RA aviation unit,
by both the Army and RAF administrations, which led him to make farsighted,
unilateral decisions. Secondly, whereas in other theatres, Air OP squadrons were
able to deploy a flight in support of a division, Denis Coyle’s only option was to
place his flights at the disposal of a corps, while sections of a single Auster and
pilot and his four man joint RAF/RA support team were regularly detached to
support divisions. Such was the effectiveness and popularity of these self-
sufficient sections that they became a modus operandi, and led to a close trust
and loyalty between pilots and divisional commanders.
Acts of great heroics and airmanship were conducted in the harshest of
conditions. Two pilots were to receive both the MC and DFC – which remains
unsurpassed – while nine DFCs were awarded in total. Towards the end of World
War II the Squadron deployed to Malaya, where it was to remain for the next
twenty-five years, providing intimate aviation support throughout the Malaya
Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation. During this period the Squadron
successfully dispatched sub-units/support to Java, Hong Kong, Korea, Brunei
and Borneo.
In 1957 the Squadron transferred to the newly formed Army Air Corps
(AAC), when it was retitled 656 Light Aircraft Squadron AAC. Gradually, ‘light
blue beret REME’ replaced RAF technicians, and airtroopers took over ground
crew duties. While there were major changes of personnel, the ethos and spirit
engendered by Major Coyle was retained. By the early 1960s the Squadron was
equipped with the wholly unreliable Scout helicopter – providing a challenge for
pilots and technicians alike – while it also retained a fixed wing capability with
the robust Beaver aircraft. In preparing to leave Malaysia, the Squadron Report
stated:
“So 656 Squadron flies out of Malaysia’s history. We are sad to be closing
down, for after all, this is the Aviation unit with the longest record of active
service; twenty-three out of twenty-seven years have been spent on opera
tions, from the Arakan to Imphal and on to Rangoon, from Java and Sumatra
to the Thai Border and all over East Malaysia – flying a total of over 250,000
hours on operations. All of us who served with 656 in any capacity are proud
to have done so.”
The Squadron’s total flying hours in an operational theatre is a record not
matched by any RN, AAC or RAF squadron to this day. From Malaysia the
Squadron moved to Hong Kong, where, for the next eight years, it was well
prepared to support operations to identify and capture illegal immigrants.
In 1978, 664 Squadron based in Farnborough was retitled 656 Squadron as
part of a larger AAC reorganization. Shortly afterwards it was deployed on Op
AGILA to support the Commonwealth Monitoring Group in
Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, in the build-up to free elections. I was the Deputy
Commander, so came into contact with many of the Squadron personnel on a
daily basis, and was a regular passenger in their Scout and Gazelle helicopters.
The Squadron’s contribution to the Operation was immense and I believe that
without the skill and professional expertise of the pilots, and the positive
leadership shown by those in command, the Operation would not have
succeeded. This was my first experience of working closely with Army Aviation,
prior to being appointed Colonel Commandant of the Army Air Corps in 1988, a
position which I was honoured to hold for the next six years.
In early 1982, the Squadron was tasked as the only AAC squadron to deploy
on Op CORPORATE to recover the Falkland Islands from the Argentinian
Forces. This operation provided no precedents, where innovation and courage
were essential to success. The Scout and Gazelle flights operated in the harshest
of conditions, providing close support – often under fire – to the advancing
forces. Their determination to recover casualties, regardless of the time of day or
night or weather conditions, is a testament to their sense of duty. Two pilots were
awarded the DFC.
During the 1990s, the Squadron continued to be deployed on operations,
particularly in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia in support of the Cessation of
Hostilities Agreement.
In 2003 the Squadron was selected to be the first AAC squadron to convert to
the Apache. the deployment of the Attack Helicopter was to be a severe test and
a major step-change which was critically observed by the RAF. Captain Piers
Lewis, later to become OC in 2012, found that the conversion was: ‘a real
change in gear, going from 2nd in a Gazelle to 5th in the Apache.’
The Squadron has subsequently deployed on three operational tours of
Afghanistan, and in 2011 operated five Apaches from HMS Ocean off the coast
of Libya during Op Ellamy. The Apache chapter reads like an adrenalin rush of
acronyms and with a pace of support and ‘kinetic’ operations which lends itself
to a generation which readily embraces modern digital technology and personal
challenges. Two MCs were awarded to aircrew which points back to similar
awards in 1945.
What this book brilliantly illustrates is that those with an intimate
understanding of operations on the ground are well placed to extend their skills
to become Army pilots. The story starts with young Royal Artillery officers
flying unarmed fixed wing aircraft in Burma, and brings us to the present
Apache Attack Helicopter operations flown by both genders. Yet the primary
task remains essentially unchanged; the direction of fire in support of ground
operations. At the time of this book’s publication, the Squadron has assumed the
role of national Transitional Intervention Capability in any future global
intervention. The story is far from over.
Such a history would not be complete without recognizing the sacrifice paid
by the twenty-five members who died on operations. They are recorded at
Appendix 1 and remembered with honour. The memory of those that have
served in the Squadron is preserved through its innovative Association, which
instigated this book project. It takes pride in being the only AAC squadron
association in existence. One of its members, and a former Officer Commanding,
Lieutenant General Sir Gary Coward KCB, CB, became the first Army Air
Corps officer to reach the rank of Lieutenant General and has recently been
appointed President of the Air OP Officers’ Association.
None of this would have been possible without the close support and
understanding of the technicians and ground crew. This bond was established in
Burma with the single aircraft sections and has been maintained through all
subsequent operations. What this book shows is that the Squadron’s successes
are not so much about the aircraft but about the soldiers. In all Army units there
are notable characters and 656 Squadron is no different. The first Officer
Commanding, Major Denis Coyle DFC, MBE, RA, engendered the ethos of the
Squadron, and although only twenty-five years old when he took command, he
displayed exceptional qualities of leadership and sheer steadfastness. His legacy
is immense and lasting. Others in an elite band of the most decorated Army
aviation pilots include Captain Ted Maslen-Jones MC, DFC, RA and Captain
(later Brigadier) Jimmy Jarrett, MC, DFC, RA (both Burma), Major ‘Warby’
Warburton DFC, MBE, CdeG, RA (Java, Korea and Malaya) and Captain (later
Lieutenant Colonel) Sam Drennan DFC, AFC, MBE, AAC (Falkland Islands).
Their professionalism, humour and companionship transcend the generations.
The full list of awards received by squadron personnel can be found at Appendix
2.
I commend this book to a wide audience, as it tells the story of a small but
very proud and distinguished aviation unit from Auster to Apache. I congratulate
Guy Warner on writing a compelling history encompassing seventy years of
dedicated service to the Crown by the air and ground crews of 656 Squadron.
This book is recommended reading for both the specialist and the general reader.