British Army
660 Squadron
660 Squadron, defence helicopter flying school
Established 1943
Part of Defence Helicopter Flying School
Formed at Old Sarum in Jul 1943 as an Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadron with fixed wing Auster IIIs. Moved to France in Jul 1944, changed to Auster Vs and moved to Belgium in Sep 1944 and on into Germany in Mar 1945. Disbanded May 1946.
Reformed in 1969 at Topcliffe with Sioux AH.1 and Scout AH.1s as part of BAOR 2nd Division Aviation Regiment and moved to Soest in 1971. In 1972, 660 Aviation Squadron moved under 4th Division Aviation Regiment in Germany. During 1973, the unit provided a small Scout and Sioux detachment for a 4 month tour in Northern Ireland. The unit was the first to receive the Gazelle AH.1 for operational service in May 1974 at Soest. It swapped a Scout Flt with 654 Squadron in Oct 1977 to become an entirely Gazelle unit and came under 3 REGT control on 6 Dec 1977. Redesignated as 663 Squadron on 1 Apr 1978.
A new 660 Squadron was formed in Hong Kong with Scout AH.1 in 1978 and then moved to the New Terriotories (Sek Kong) until Dec 1993, when it was disbanded as part of the preparations for the hand over of the Crown Protectorate to the Chinese. Most of the 10 Scouts were sold and returned to UK for scrapping / spares recovery although one or two were scrapped in theatre.
Reformed again in Apr 1997, 660 Army Aviation Squadron forms the Single Engine Basic Rotary Wing Squadron of the tri-service Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury, equipped with the Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1.
Reformed in 1969 at Topcliffe with Sioux AH.1 and Scout AH.1s as part of BAOR 2nd Division Aviation Regiment and moved to Soest in 1971. In 1972, 660 Aviation Squadron moved under 4th Division Aviation Regiment in Germany. During 1973, the unit provided a small Scout and Sioux detachment for a 4 month tour in Northern Ireland. The unit was the first to receive the Gazelle AH.1 for operational service in May 1974 at Soest. It swapped a Scout Flt with 654 Squadron in Oct 1977 to become an entirely Gazelle unit and came under 3 REGT control on 6 Dec 1977. Redesignated as 663 Squadron on 1 Apr 1978.
A new 660 Squadron was formed in Hong Kong with Scout AH.1 in 1978 and then moved to the New Terriotories (Sek Kong) until Dec 1993, when it was disbanded as part of the preparations for the hand over of the Crown Protectorate to the Chinese. Most of the 10 Scouts were sold and returned to UK for scrapping / spares recovery although one or two were scrapped in theatre.
Reformed again in Apr 1997, 660 Army Aviation Squadron forms the Single Engine Basic Rotary Wing Squadron of the tri-service Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury, equipped with the Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1.
Stationed in Soest Germany during the time that they received the Scout AH.1 when the airfield was only a small unit. The 660 emblem that was on the wall below the control tower was hand paint. Airtrooper (Atpr) Rothwell
1974, I was posted to 660 Squadron AAC, Soest, BFPO 106 from 70 AC Workshops REME, Middle Wallop. Lived on Salamanca Barracks (Block 50 from memory) and Sgts Mess. I was a REME Aircraft Tech (Airframe
Also detachments at Long Kesh in 1975 with 658 Sqdn and in 1976 with 654 Sqdn. Scouts in 1975, Gazelles in 1976. Gazelles in 1975 were XW 892, 893, 896, 897, 899, 900 Scouts 1975/1976 included XV135, XR595, XT620, XP894, XT617
Hi My name is Dave Cutting. Nickname blue. I served with 660 from October 74 till March 77. We did 2x tours in Ireland in 75 and 76. Taking Scouts in 75 and Gazelles in 76. Would be great to meet up with some of the guys again. Cheers
Locations
| 1969-1971 | EGXZ | RAF Topcliffe |
| 1971-1978 | EDLZ |  Flugplatz Soest Bad-Sassendorf |
| 1973 | Long Kesh | |
| 1978-1994 | VHSK |  Sek Kong |
| 1997- | EGOS | RAF Shawbury |
Models
| 1969-1977 | Scout AH.1 |
| 1969-1975 | Sioux |
| 1974-1978 | SA341B Gazelle AH.1 |
| 1978-1994 | Scout AH.1 |
| 1997-2018 | AS350BB Ecureuil |
Operations
| 15 Jun 19731973 | 15 Oct 19731973 | Operation Banner |