1563 (Tactical Support) Flight

Formed Dec 1942 as a fixed wing Meteorological Flight and spent most of WWII in North Africa, disbanding in Libya in May 1946.

Reformed as 1563 (Helicopter) Flight at Nicosia on 1 Aug 1963 from part of 103 Squadron with Sycamores and later, Whirlwinds. Disbanded 17 Jan 1972 at RAF Akrotiri and amalgamated with a detachment from 230 Squadron to become 84 Squadron.

Reformed again on 7 Jul 1981 from a Puma HC.1 element of 33 Squadron, in the Tactical Support role as part of BRITFORBEL, the UK commitment to the recently independent Belize and conducted joint exercises and jungle training missions with the resident British Army detachment, until withdrawal in Jul 1993.

Reformed in 2004 to support the Black Watch battle group (part of UK 4 Armoured Brigade) in eastern Iraq, until 2009.

Reformed in autumn 2022 in Brunei with Puma HC.2 to take on role of Jungle Training & Royal Gurkha Rifles support from AAC 667 Squadron.

Locations

Years	Location	ICAO/FAA
2022-	Seria heliport
2004/09	Basrah International Airport	ORMM
1981/93	Philip S W Goldson International Airport (PGIA)	MZBZ
1964/72	RAF Akrotiri	LCRA
1963/64	Nicosia (Lefkosia)	LCNC

Models

Years	Models
2022-	Puma Mk2
2004/09	SA330 Puma
1981/93	SA330 Puma
1963/72	Whirlwind	Whirlwind HAR.10

1563 Flt List of helicopters

C/N	Version	Built	In this Org	In other Org
wa110	har.2	1956	XJ764 : HAR.10 CFS (H); 22 Sq; 1564 Flt; 1563 Flt; 22 Sq; 84 Sq / T
13406	Sycamore 4	1956	XJ897 : 284 Sq; 103 Sq from Aug 1959; 1563 Flt from Aug 1963; CFS
13408	Sycamore 4	1956	XJ898 : 284 Sq; 103 Sq from Aug 1959; 1563 Flt from Aug 1963; Khormaksar SAR Flt; +
wa342	har10	1961	XP299 : 1563 Flt Jun 1969 to Apr 1970; 230 Sq /S Apr 1970 to Dec 1971; 22 Sq Dec 1+
wa361	har10	1962	XP345 : CFS(H)/W-L by Apr 1962; 202 Sq/M by Jul 1967; 1563 Flt; 84 Sq B Flt by Sep+	- XP345
wa386	har10	1962	XP398 : 225 Sq; 110 Sq; 103 Sq; 202 Sq; 1563 Flt to 84 Sq 1972.
wa387	har10	1962	XP399 : 1563 Flt by	- XP399
1042	sa330e	1970	XW199 : 1563 Flt ; PASF until c Sep
1091	sa330e	1971	XW207 CD : 1563 Flt/CD Belize by Sep 1983 CD : 33 Sq/CD by Oct 1984 to 1989; 1563 Flt/CD Belize by 1990; BFME/E by 1991; +
1095	sa330e	1971	XW208 : 1563 Flt by Feb 2006 : 1563 Flt by May 2007	XW208
1096	sa330e	1971	XW209 : 1563 Flt, in Iraq Jun 2009; to Kenya Jul 2009 (for 33Sq B Flt ?)
1106	sa330e	1971	XW211 : suffered CAT4 damage in Iraq with 1563 Flt on 15 Apr 2007, when No. 2 in t+
1111	sa330e	1971	XW212 : 240 OCU/FD by May 1984 still 1988; 240 OCU/ 1989; 1563 Flt/FD Belize by 19+ : 1563 Flt ; PASF until c Sep
1129	sa330e	1971	XW216 : 1563 Flt /CL Belize by
1139	sa330e	1971	XW218 : w/o asg 1563 Flt then CAT5 accident in Iraq; It landed too close to the+
1166	sa330e	1972	XW224 : 1563 Flt, in Iraq Jun 2009; to Kenya Jul 2009 (for 33Sq B Flt ?)
1175	sa330e	1972	XW226 : 230 Sq /DK by May 1984 still Jun 1987 still 1990; BFME/T by 1991; 230 Sq /+
1185	sa330e	1972	XW229 : 1563 Flt by May 2009; returned to UK 19 Jun 2009; 33 Sq by Jul 2009
1650	sa330e	1980	ZA938 : w/o Iraq
1591	sa330l	1978	ZE449 : 1563 Flt, in Iraq Jun 2009	PA-12 ZE449
1363	sa330h		ZJ955 : ex SAAF 148. conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight	148
1374	sa330h		ZJ956 : conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight, ex SAAF 172	172
1474	sa330h		ZJ957 : RAF d/d 08jan08, ex SAAF 169; conv Puma HC.1; to 1563 flight	169