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.
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.
Locations | |
| Years | Location | ICAO/FAA |
| 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 | Login to Edit | |
| Years | Models | |
| 2004/09 | SA330 Puma  | |
| 1981/93 | SA330 Puma | |
| 1963/72 | Whirlwind Whirlwind HAR.10 | |
1563 Flt List of helicopters | Help Us | |
| 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 : under restoration by Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group at Elvington + : pictured (pic2) XP345 Preserved at the South Yorkshire Aviation Museum; Un+ : pictured (pic1) at Aeroventure, Doncaster in 84 Squadron and UNFICYP colou+ | ||
| 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 : to Kestner Caravan Park, nr Kettering by Dec 1991 : noted Rettendon Gatwick : Painted pink and displayed outside the Wheatsheaf, Rettendon, by Sep 1994,+ | |||
| 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 : main fuselage section arrived by lorry during Feb 2018 : Mar18 undergoing restoration at Newark Air Museum : by Aug 2019, the engine housing and other upperworks had been refitted : restoration work on XW208 assisted by re-use of spares from XW225. | |||
| 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 : PNA d/d 20oct80;
apr/jun82 pictured at Stanley during Malvinas/Falklands+ ZE449 : at Westland Training Centre by Mar 1990 : repaired by Westland at Weston Super Mare | ||
| 1363 | sa330h | ZJ955 : ex SAAF 148. conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight |  148 : to UK as ZJ955 | |||
| 1374 | sa330h | ZJ956 : conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight, ex SAAF 172 | 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 | 169 : SAAF; to UK as ZJ957 | |||
Operations | |
| Dates | Operation | |
| oct-04 | mar-09 | Operation Telic |
| 16-nov-85 | 24-nov-85 |  Tragedia de Armero |
