Initially formed as an RCAF Air Observation Post unit with Auster IV and Auster V at Andover. After disbandment in Germany on 31 May 1946, it was reformed as an Auxilliary unit on 1 Sep 1949 managing Nos. 1964, 1965, 1969 and 1970 Flights - all of which disbanded again on 10 Mar 1957.
Reformed in the UK on 24 Oct 1969 as part of 3 Div Aviation Regiment supporting Airborne forces; indeed between 1971 and 1978 it was known as 664 Para Squadron.
It was re-assigned to British Army of the Rhine in 1978 as part of 4 Regiment. While stationed at Minden, the unit maintained a small detachment of Scout in Belize between Apr 1980 (relieving 656 Squadron) and 1982. In Jan 1983, 664 resumed its independence from Minden, in direct support of 1 (BR) Corps (itself at Bielefeld). Around 1989 the unit with its Gazelle AH.1 became part of 4 Regiment, until Mar 1992 when it returned to the UK.
It deployed to Camp Bastion (Afghanistan) between Aug and Nov 2006. The unit moved its Apache AH.1 from Dishforth to Wattisham and became part of 4 REGT on 31 Aug 2007, as part of the AAC restructuring to single model Regiments.
It was re-assigned to British Army of the Rhine in 1978 as part of 4 Regiment. While stationed at Minden, the unit maintained a small detachment of Scout in Belize between Apr 1980 (relieving 656 Squadron) and 1982. In Jan 1983, 664 resumed its independence from Minden, in direct support of 1 (BR) Corps (itself at Bielefeld). Around 1989 the unit with its Gazelle AH.1 became part of 4 Regiment, until Mar 1992 when it returned to the UK.
It deployed to Camp Bastion (Afghanistan) between Aug and Nov 2006. The unit moved its Apache AH.1 from Dishforth to Wattisham and became part of 4 REGT on 31 Aug 2007, as part of the AAC restructuring to single model Regiments.
Between 28 and 30 Aug 2018, prepared for Oman deployment with Exercise Archers Alastor, holding live firing at the Holbeach Air Weapons Range on The Wash and forward re-arming at the disused RAF Sculthorpe. Detached at least 2 Apache AH.1 to Oman around Oct 2018 to RAFO Musannah for Exercise Saif Sareea 3.
During May 2022, four of the unit Apache deployed to Skopje in Northern Macedonia for the NATO Exercise Swift Response.
In the 1970s 664 Squadron was the Parachute Squadron based at Farnborough in support of the Parachute Regiment. The squadron had 6 Bell 47 Sioux AH1 and 6 Westland Scout AH1 helicopters.
The a/c at that time were Sioux AH-1: XT163,XT164,XT250,XT553,XT562,XT800. Scout AH-1: XR636,XR639,XR616,XR618,XP853 - the latter replacing XR636 which was written off in a fatal crash in Northern Ireland on 12 April 1974
News about 664 Squadron |
Royal Navy Exercise Saif Sareea 3 off Oman
28-Oct-18 - Largest Royal Navy task group in the Middle East in 15 years taking part in region’s biggest war game of 2018, Saif Sareea 3, off Oman #SaifSareea
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664 Squadron Operations |
Dates | Operation | |
---|---|---|
2018-oct | 2018-oct | Exercise Saif Sareea 3 |
2014-jan | 2014-sep | Operation Herrick |
2012-may | 2012-sep | Operation Herrick |
2010-may | 2010-sep | Operation Herrick |
2008-may | 2008-sep | Operation Herrick |
2007-may | 2007-sep | Operation Herrick |
2006-sep | 2007-jan | Operation Herrick |
2006-jun | 2006-nov | Operation Telic |