1942 to 2014


united kingdom 654 Squadron

Army Air Corps






Reformed during Aug 1958 at Hildesheim, the unit flew Skeeter AOP.12 until at least 1964. Reformed again on 1 Oct 1969 at Herford as part of the centralisation strategy from 24 Flight and the Air Troops of 26 Engineer Regt and 14/20 Kings Hussars.

Served two five month tours in Northern Ireland between Nov 1974 and Mar 1975, and Jul to Nov 1976. Most of the unit was relocated closer to 4 Regiment HQ in Feb 1977 in preparation for the introduction of 3 Regiment for 31 Dec 1977, with B Flt arriving at Soest in Oct 1977. Four of the unit Lynx were detached at this time to Northern Ireland for a 4 month roulement, operating from Armagh and Enniskillen. It then swapped a Flt with co-located 660 Squadron to become an entirely Scout unit and came under 4 REGT control on 6 Dec 1977. It was renumbered 653 Squadron on 1 Apr 1978.

In Dec 1990, the unit initially deployed from Germany to Al Jubail for its participation in Operation Desert Storm, eventually returning to Detmold in Mar 1991. It completed a 6 month deployment to Bosnia Herzegovina in Jun 1997, having deployed in Dec 1996. A 2 Gazelle Flt deployed to Pristina between May and Nov 2000 to support NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo.

Disbanded 10 Jul 2014, reducing 4 REGT to 2 squadrons as part of Army 2020 strategy.



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  Locations


YearsLocationICAO/FAA
2010/11AF Camp Bastion OAZI
2000YU Pristina KosovoBKPR
1995/14AAC WattishamEGUW
1990/91SA Al JubailOEJB
1978/95DE DetmoldEDLJ
1977/78DE SoestEDLZ
1977/78Enniskillen St AngeloEGAB
1976Long Kesh closed 1979
1974/75Long Kesh closed 1979
1969/77DE Herford
1958/69DE HildesheimEDVM


helicopter   Models


Years Models
1977/?? Lynx
??/14 WAH-64 Apache
??/07 SA341B Gazelle AH.1












654 Squadron List of helicopters


C/N VersionBuiltIn this Org In other Org
S2/5074 Skeeter 7 1958 XL762 : dd AAC Sep 1958. Spent various amounts of time with; 651 Sq; 654 Sq; 22 Fl+
- XL762
S2/5075 Skeeter 7 1958 XL763 : AOP.12 del AAC Sep 1958; 2 Div; 654 Sq; Air Troop 15/19 Hussars; SoC 23 Ma+
S2/5078 Skeeter 7 1958 XL765 : 651 Sq 2 Feb 1959; trials at Middle Wallop between Jul and Oct 1961; 654 S+
- XL765
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
S2/5109 Skeeter 7 1959 XM555 : to 654 Sq by Aug 1959
S2/5110 Skeeter 7 1959 XM556 : to 654 Sq Sep 1959
- XM556
S2/5112 Skeeter 7 1959 XM557 : 1 Wing; 652 Sq; 654 Sq; 4 Flt; 652 Sq; 17 Flt; 26 Regt
- XM557
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 654 Sq at Hildesheim by Aug 1961
wa589 Sioux 1967 XT827 : Westland built AH.1; del Jul 1967; 654 Sq / D; SoC by 1974
f.9699 ah.1 1967 XV124 : 654 Sq; 653 Sq; 656 Sq; Wroughton; Middle Wallop; Arborfield; Ipswich; Ta+
1178 ah.1 1974 XW897 : AAC Gazelle AH.1 built by Westland; 1994 670Sqn./Z; 1996 670Sqn./Z; 1998 6+
1303 ah.1 1975 XX393 W : noted at Middle Wallop
1443 ah.1 1976 XX449 : AAC Gazelle AH1 built by Westland; 2007 654Sqn.
QinetiQ XX449
- G-CMME
- ZU-RIG
1454 ah.1 1976 XX453 : AAC Gazelle AH1 built by Westland; 1999 652Sqn.; 2007 654Sqn.
QinetiQ XX453
- G-CMMF
1484 ah.1 1976 XX460 : 654 Sq by
: noted at Queen's Parade
- G-CMMB
011 ah1 1977 XZ171 : AH.7 654 Sq, 4 REGT during Jul 1999
Ministry of Defence (MoD) XZ171
038 ah1 1977 XZ177 : AH.7 654 Sq, 4 REGT during Jul 1999
Royal Marines XZ177
- XZ177
075 ah1 1978 XZ187 : 654 Sq; 651 Sq; 655 Sq; 667 Sq; 655 Sq; 667 Sq; 655 Sq; to Fleetlands
077 ah1 1978 XZ188 : 651 Sq; Lynx Conv Flt; 655 Sq; 665 Sq; 655 Sq; 662 Sq; 654 Sq
133 ah1 1979 XZ214 : AAC; 1992 type:AH.7 654Sqn.; 2007 type:AH.7 657Sqn.
139 ah1 1979 XZ217 : AAC; 1991 654Sqn desert c/s
Westland XZ217
160 ah1 1980 XZ613 : 654 Sq; 657 Sq; A&AEE; 665 Sq; 655 Sq; Middle Wallop
178 ah1 1980 XZ643 : AH.7 654 Sq, 4 REGT during Jul 1999
322 ah7 1986 ZE378 : AH.7 654 Sq, 4 REGT during Jul 1999




  654 Squadron Operations


Dates Operation
2013-sep2014-jan AF Operation Herrick
2012-jan2012-may AF Operation Herrick
2010-sep2011-jan AF Operation Herrick
2008-sep2009-jan AF Operation Herrick
2003-jul2003-nov IQ Operation Telic
2000-may2000-nov Y2 KFOR (kosovo force)
1996-dec-151997-jun-17 BA SFOR (stabilisation force)
1990-dec1991-mar IQ Operation Desert Shield/Storm





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