Formed at Old Sarum on 1 May 1942 as an Air Observation Post (AOP) unit and joined army units for the D-Day landings, spotting for artillery, until the end of World War II. It served 1 (British) Corps in Germany after the war and by Apr 1949 was stationed at the ex-Luftwaffe base at Detmold (ETUD). By Apr 1951, still at Detmold, it oversaw the Austers of 1904, 1905 and 1909 Flights and by 1953, also included 1901 Flight at Detmold (transferring in from 657 Sq in 1952) and 1912 Flight at Buckeburg.
In Dec 1969 it reformed from 27 Flight and the Air Troops of 27 (Medium) Regt, Royal Artillery and 2 Division Engineers. Between Aug and Dec 1977, the unit contributed 3 of its airframes for what turned out to be the last Sioux AH.1 detachment to Northern Ireland. By 1979, it was based at Bünde as part of 2 Regiment, flying the Lynx and the Scout. By 1986 it was flying Lynx and Gazelle from Hildesheim for 1 Regiment. By Mar 2006, it was stationed at Princess Barracks with the Lynx AH.7, still with 1 Regiment.
In Dec 1969 it reformed from 27 Flight and the Air Troops of 27 (Medium) Regt, Royal Artillery and 2 Division Engineers. Between Aug and Dec 1977, the unit contributed 3 of its airframes for what turned out to be the last Sioux AH.1 detachment to Northern Ireland. By 1979, it was based at Bünde as part of 2 Regiment, flying the Lynx and the Scout. By 1986 it was flying Lynx and Gazelle from Hildesheim for 1 Regiment. By Mar 2006, it was stationed at Princess Barracks with the Lynx AH.7, still with 1 Regiment.
In December 69 it comprised a flt of Sioux and a flight of Scout in support of 2 Division. Based in Birdwood Barracks Bunde
In the winter of 1974 half of the Sqn were deployed to Long Kesh in Northern Ireland for a 4 month tour, together with 659 Sqn, who operated Sioux. During this time the O. C., Major Gill, was killed whilst flying a Sioux on a mission, caused by hitting wires when flying low level. The Sqn again deployed to Long Kesh in December 1975 for a further 4 month tour, once again taking 6 Scouts. I believe we were with 662 Sqn, with their Sioux. During this tour S.SGT Brian Jackson and Air Gunner Kevin Ford were both killed when their Scout crashed in the Mourn Mountains while using Night Sun on a support mission. I was part of both tours with 652 as an Aircraft Technician.
1974-1977, When 652 were in Bunde they were actually operating Scout and Sioux Helicopters then the Sioux was replaced by the Gazelle,I was stationed at Birdwood Barracks with 652 from 1974 to 1977 then transferred to the REME
October 2013, 652 Sqn AAC became 652 (Wildcat Fielding) Sqn AAC. Now based at RNAS Yeovilton, 652(WF) Sqn AAC has the responsibility to Field, Evaluate and develop the AW159 Wildcat AH Mk 1 (BRH - Battlefield Recce Helicopter). Once Fielding and Evaluation is complete (mid to end of 2014), 652 Sqn will become 652 (Operational Conversion) Sqn AAC responsible for training all AAC and Royal Marine Wildcat aircrew and groundcrew.
Hi There Not sure who wrote the following piece. S.SGT Brian Jackson was my father. Loved living in Bunde back then, living in the Blocks of flats about a mile from the barracks. I was just 13 when he died. It's the first time I have seen an article which mentions my father and the location where it happen. mother was always a bit cagey when it came to the facts.
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Models 652 Squadron List of helicopters |
| C/N | Version | Built | In this Org | In other Org | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2/5074 | Skeeter 7 | 1958 | XL762 : AOP.12. Appeared at 1958 SBAC Farnborough Air Show. : dd AAC Sep 1958. Spent various amounts of time with; 651 Sq; 654 Sq; 22 Fl+ | - XL762 | |||
| S2/5086 | Skeeter 7 | 1958 | XL770 : 654 Sq; 652 Sq; 15/19 Hussars; soc May 1968 | ||||
| S2/5094 | Skeeter 7 | 1959 | XL809 : AOP.12 Feb 1959 to AAC; 652 Sq; 654 Sq; 22 Flt; 652 Sq; 26 Regt; SoC 12 De+ | - PH-SRE - PH-HOF - G-BLIX - XL809 | |||
| S2/5096 w/o 1967 | Skeeter 7 | 1959 | XL811 : to AAC. 651 Sq, 652 Sq, 17 Flt., Air Troop 9/12 Lancers. w/o in accident 1+ | - XL811 | |||
| S2/5109 | Skeeter 7 | 1959 | XM555 : to 652 Sq by Jun 1964 to c Oct 1965, including some time with 5 Flt | ||||
| S2/5112 | Skeeter 7 | 1959 | XM557 : 1 Wing; 652 Sq; 654 Sq; 4 Flt; 652 Sq; 17 Flt; 26 Regt | - XM557 | |||
| S2/5119 | Skeeter 7 | 1959 | XM564 : dd Dec 1959 to Army Air Corps; 652 Sq, CFS, 12 Flt, 652 Sq, Air Troop/2 RT+ | - XM564 | |||
| S2/7150 | Skeeter 7 | 1960 | XN344 : 652 Sq by Oct 1960; 654 Sq by Apr 1962 | ||||
| S2/7151 | Skeeter 7 | 1960 | XN345 : 1 Wing; 655 Sq; 654 Sq; 17 Flt; 652 Sq; 17 Flt; 26 Regt | - XN345 | |||
| S2/7153 w/o 1965 | Skeeter 7 | 1960 | XN347 : to 652 Sq at Detmold Oct 1960 | ||||
| S2/7157 | Skeeter 7 | 1960 | XN351 : 651 Sq, 652 Sq, 3 RTR Air Troop, Wroughton, Shuttleworth Collection. | - XN351 | |||
| S2/7158 | Skeeter 7 | 1960 | XN352 : to 652 Sq by Jul 1962 | ||||
| f.9487 | ah.1 | 1963 | XP886 : 651 Sq; 660 Sq; 652 Sq | ||||
| 1564 w/o 1983 | ab47g-3b | 1964 | XT102 : AAC 652 Sq by Aug 1977. Sold 1978. | - G-BGHN | |||
| wa439 | Sioux | 1967 | XT550 D : AAC 652 Sq / D unk | ||||
| wa447 Scrapped | Sioux | 1967 | XT558 : AAC 652 Sq by Aug 1977. | ||||
| wa522 | Sioux | 1966 | XT815 : AAC 652 Sq by Aug 1977. To OE-AXX. | - OE-AXX | |||
| f.9697 | ah.1 | XV122 50K : participated in Exercise Spearpoint 80 with BAOR | |||||
| wa715 w/o 1975 | Sioux | 1969 | XW195 : dd 1969, w/o 18 Dec 1975 at Crossmaglen with 652 Sq | ||||
| 1454 | ah.1 | 1976 | XX453 : noted at Gutersloh. : AAC Gazelle AH1 built by Westland; 1999 652Sqn.; 2007 654Sqn. : 652 Sq, visited RAF Bruggen 14 Jul 1999 |  XX453 - G-CMMF | |||
| 1464 | ah.1 | 1976 | XX455 : noted at Gutersloh. | - XX455 - G-GRAK | |||
| 038 | ah1 | 1977 | XZ177 : AH.1 AETW MW by Mar 1978, still May 1979; 652 Sq by 1985 | XZ177 - XZ177 | |||
| 047 | ah1 | 1978 | XZ179 : noted at Gutersloh. | XZ179 XZ179 - G-NCKS | |||
| 056 | ah1 | 1978 | XZ181 : AAC; 1984 652Sqn; 1992 663Sqn /H | ||||
| 115 w/o 2000 | ah1 | 1979 | XZ207 : noted at Gutersloh. | ||||
| 116 | ah1 | 1979 | XZ208 : AAC; 1984 652Sqn | XZ208 | |||
| 1682 | ah.1 | 1977 | XZ338 : noted at Gutersloh. |  301 - VH-OIZ XZ338 - G-CHZF | |||
| 1697 | ah.1 | 1977 | XZ342 : noted at Gutersloh. | ||||
| 152 | ah1 | 1979 | XZ608 : AAC; 1984 652Sqn | ||||
| 154 | ah1 | 1979 | XZ609 : noted at Gutersloh. | XZ609 | |||
| 214 w/o 2000 | ah1 | 1981 | XZ662 : AAC; 1991 652Sqn | ||||
| 234 w/o 1985 | ah1 | 1981 | XZ671 : AAC; 652 Sqn w/o 24jan85 | ||||
| 1798 | ah.1 | ZA729 : 652 Sq by Sep 1984 | |||||
| 285 w/o 2007 | ah1 | 1983 | ZD276 : 652 Sq; 661 Sq; 656 Sq; 671 Sq; 655 Sq | ZD276 ZD276 | |||
| 491 | ah.1 | ZZ393 : pictured (pic2) with 652 Sq during the Commando Assault finale at RNAS Ye+ | ZZ393 | ||||
652 Squadron Operations |
| Dates | Operation | |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-oct | 2010-jan |  Operation Herrick |
| 2007-may | 2007-oct |  Operation Telic |
| 2004-sep | 2005-mar | Operation Telic |
