united kingdom 1563 (Tactical Support) Flight

Royal Air Force


1563 Flt :

1942 to 2009    




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.


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Locations

YearsLocationICAO/FAA
2004/09IQ Basrah International AirportORMM
1981/93BZ Philip S W Goldson International Airport (PGIA)MZBZ
1964/72CY RAF AkrotiriLCRA
1963/64CY Nicosia (Lefkosia)LCNC


Models

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YearsModels
2004/09SA330 Puma
1981/93SA330 Puma
1963/72 Whirlwind     Whirlwind HAR.10




1563 Flt List of helicopters

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C/NVersionBuiltIn this OrgIn 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 : A&AEE Jul 1961 to Apr 1962; Westlands Apr 1962 to Sep 1966; CFS-H /W-H Sep+
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 : under restoration by Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group at Elvington +
: 05sep19 pictured at Aeroventure, Doncaster in 84 Squadron and UNFICYP colo+
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 1968
- XP399 : to Kestner Caravan Park, nr Kettering by Dec 1991
: Painted pink and displayed outside the Wheatsheaf, Rettendon, by Sep 1994,+
1042 sa330e 1970 XW199 : 1563 Flt 2009; PASF until c Sep 2009
1091 sa330e 1971 XW207 : still 33 Sq/CD by Apr 1978 to Jul 1983; 1563 Flt/CD Belize by Sep 1983; 33+
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 2009; PASF until c Sep 2009
1129 sa330e 1971 XW216 : 1563 Flt /CL Belize by 1988
1139 sa330e 1971 XW218 : w/o 15apr07 asg 1563 Flt then CAT5 accident in Iraq; It landed too close+
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
1591 sa330l 1978 ZE449 : 1563 Flt, in Iraq Jun 2009
Argentine Coast Guard PA-12 : PNA d/d 20oct80; apr/jun82 pictured at Stanley during Malvinas/Falklands+
Westland ZE449 : 2001 repaired by Westland at Weston Super Mare
1363 sa330h ZJ955 : ex SAAF 148. conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight
South African Air Force 148 : to UK as ZJ955
1374 sa330h ZJ956 : conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight, ex SAAF 172
South African Air Force 172 : SAAF; 1995 15Sqn.
: to UK as ZJ956
1474 sa330h ZJ957 : RAF d/d 08jan08, ex SAAF 169; conv Puma HC.1; to 1563 flight
South African Air Force 169 : SAAF; to UK as ZJ957



Operations

DatesOperation
oct-04mar-09IQ Operation Telic
16-nov-8524-nov-85CO Tragedia de Armero