No. 651 Squadron RAF

No. 651 Squadron RAF
Active	1 Aug 1941 – 1 Nov 1955 1 Nov 1955 – 1 Sep 1957
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Air Observation Post Squadron
Motto(s)	Latin: Dirige (Translation: "Direct" (as in "direct towards/pointing the way"))
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry	A seashell fired
Squadron codes	MA (1944 – 45, HQ Flight) MB (1944 – 45, 'A' Flight) MC (1944 – 45, 'B' Flight) MD (1944 – 45, 'C' Flight)
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	Bristol Sycamore
Reconnaissance	Taylorcraft Auster Stinson Vigilant Auster AOP.6

No. 651 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force in Italy and North Africa during the Second World War and afterwards in Egypt. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were Air Observation Post units working closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons – Nos. 664, 665 and 666 – were RCAF AOP squadrons manned by Canadian and British personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

No 651 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire, on 1 August 1941. It went into action in November of that year, during Operation Torch in North Africa. It later served in Italy, North Africa, and finally Egypt from 1945 where it remained until 1 November 1955. On that same day, No. 657 Squadron RAF was re-numbered to 651 Squadron at RAF Middle Wallop, it now flew Sycamore helicopters as well as Austers. On 1 September 1957 the squadron was transferred to the Army Air Corps and became No. 651 Squadron AAC. The original squadron is represented today by 651 Squadron of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.

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