656 Sqn

This was formed as an Air Observer Post squadron with the flying personnel being provided by the Army, usually Royal Artillery, whilst the servicing personnel were a mix of RAF and Army personnel

Rank	Name	Date	Notes
December 1942
Capt	D W Coyle	31 Dec 1942	Attached from No 653 Sqn
Capt	I N R Shield	31 Dec 1942	Attached from No 653 Sqn
January 1943
Plt Off	A Eaton	5 Jan 1943	Arrived on posting from RAF Netheravon for duty as Adjutant
Capt	D W Coyle	6 Jan 1943	Ceased to be attached from No 653 Sqn on posting to No 656 Sqn and assumed command
Capt	I N R Shield	6 Jan 1943	Ceased to be attached from No 653 Sqn on posting to No 656 Sqn
Capt	F G Fowler	8 Jan 1943	Arrived on posting from No 653 Sqn
Capt	D W Coyle	9 Jan 1943	Promoted to Act Maj, wef 6 Jan 1943
Capt	R V Waters	20 Jan 1943	Arrived on posting from RAF Depot 'Y' List
Plt Off	M E Fryer	21 Jan 1943	Arrived on posting from Equipment Officers' School for duty as Equipment Officer
February
Capt	E W Maslen-Jones	7 Feb 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	R V Waters	13 Feb 1943	Attached to No 10 FIS for course
Flt Sgt	McCarthy	18 Feb 1943	Arrived on posting for duty as Engineer Officer (WO post)
Capt	Deacon	22 Feb 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	Humphreys	22 Feb 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	Jarrett	22 Feb 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	R T Jones	22 Feb 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	McLinden	22 Feb 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	Price	22 Feb 1943	Arrived on posting
March
Flt Sgt	Mason	6 Mar 1943	Flt Sgt Discipline, proceeded on Eastern Command WT course at Dorking
Plt Off	Ashforth	17 Mar 1943	Arrived on posting as supernumerary for duty as Equipment Officer
Capt	Boys	21 Mar 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	Cheshire	21 Mar 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	Cross	21 Mar 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	Hughes	21 Mar 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	Huttenbach	21 Mar 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	Kingston	21 Mar 1943	Arrived on posting
Capt	Moffat	21 Mar 1943	Arrived on posting
April
Lt	Hadley	11 Apr 1943	Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU as supernumerary pending formation of a new squadron
Lt	McMath	11 Apr 1943	Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU as supernumerary pending formation of a new squadron
Capt	Cheshire	26 Apr 1943	Attached to Corps Intelligence School for course
Capt	Cheshire	30 Apr 1943	Ceased to be attached to Corps Intelligence School for course
May
Plt Off	A Eaton	5 May 1943	Adjutant, attached to RAF School of Administration for No 74 War Course (Senior Admin)
Capt	McMath	5 May 1943	Assumed duties of Adjutant
Capt	Hughes	11 May 1943	Sustained fractured spine in flying accident
Maj	D W Coyle	26 May 1943	Attached to School of Artillery for Counter Battery Exercise (4 days)
2nd Lt	Brand	27 May 1943	Attached from 105 HAA Regiment for instruction
Capt	Cheshire	31 May 1943	Attached to 61 Recce Regiment (1 week)
June
Plt Off	A Eaton	2 Jun 1943	Adjutant, ceased to be attached to RAF School of Administration
2nd Lt	Brand	7 Jun 1943	Ceased to be attached from 105 HAA Regiment on being found medically unfit for flying training
Capt	Kingston	15 Jun 1943	Attached to 2 Corps Intelligence Course
L/Bdr	Williams	15 Jun 1943	Attached to Hygiene and Sanitation Course (Water Duties) at Aldershot
Capt	Kingston	19 Jun 1943	Ceased to be attached to 2 Corps Intelligence Course
L/Bdr	Williams	22 Jun 1943	Ceased to be attached to Hygiene and Sanitation Course (Water Duties) at Aldershot
July
Lt	M P Gregg	16 Jul 1943	Arrived on posting as 1st reinforcement
Lt	E P Southern	16 Jul 1943	Arrived on posting as 1st reinforcement
Capt	Humphreys	27 Jul 1943	Posted to No 659 Sqn
Plt Off	Ashforth	28 Jul 1943	Equipment Officer, posted to RAF Catterick but remained attached
Plt Off	Oliver	31 Jul 1943	Arrived on posting from RAF Catterick for duty as Equipment Officer, wef 28 Jul 1943
August
All personnel in transit from UK to Middle East
September
Sgt	Pratt	14 Sep 1943	Taken ashore and admitted to hospital
AC1	Housley	14 Sep 1943	Taken ashore and admitted to hospital
Capt	I N R Shield	26 Sep 1943	Appointed 2nd i/c No 656 Sqn
Capt	McLinden	26 Sep 1943	Appointed Acting Flight Commander
Capt	Deacon	26 Sep 1943	Appointed Acting Flight Commander
Capt	Kingston	26 Sep 1943	Appointed Acting Flight Commander
Capt	Jarrett	26 Sep 1943	Appointed 'Assistant' Equipment Officer
Capt	Henshaw	26 Sep 1943	Appointed 'Assistant' Equipment Officer
Capt	F G Fowler	26 Sep 1943	Appointed Training Officer
Capt	Price	26 Sep 1943	Appointed Training Officer
Capt	R T Jones	26 Sep 1943	Attached to No 2 EFTS to assist with the training of reinforcement pilots
Capt	Cheshire	26 Sep 1943	Attached to No 2 EFTS to assist with the training of reinforcement pilots
Capt	E W Maslen-Jones	26 Sep 1943	Appointed to assist with OTU training of pilots from EFTS
October
Flt Lt	J F Smyth	5 Oct 1943	Arrived on posting from UK for duty as Medical Officer, wef 29 Sep 1943
November
Fg Off	Douglas	3 Nov 1943	Attached from No 1 EFTS for flying instructor duties
Capt	R T Jones	15 Nov 1943	Attached to No 1 EFTS for modified Flying Instructors' Course
December
Capt	Deacon	6 Dec 1943	Attached to Royal Bombay S & M Group for Short Explosives Course (7-8 Dec 1943)
Capt	Jarrett	6 Dec 1943	Attached to Royal Bombay S & M Group for Short Explosives Course (7-8 Dec 1943)
Fg Off	Douglas	7 Dec 1943	Ceased to be attached from No 1 EFTS for flying instructor duties
Capt	Shield	9 Dec 1943	Attached to Royal Bombay S & M Group for Short Explosives Course (10-11 Dec 1943)
Capt	Maslen-Jones	9 Dec 1943	Attached to Royal Bombay S & M Group for Short Explosives Course (10-11 Dec 1943)
Capt	Boys	13 Dec 1943	Attached to Royal Bombay S & M Group for Short Explosives Course (14-15 Dec 1943)
Capt	Day	13 Dec 1943	Attached to Royal Bombay S & M Group for Short Explosives Course (14-15 Dec 1943)
Capt	Cheshire	13 Sep 1943	Ceased to be attached to No 2 EFTS to assist with the training of reinforcement pilots
Capt	J Munro	13 Oct 1943	Arrived on posting from No 2 EFTS
Lt	W Boyd	13 Oct 1943	Arrived on posting from No 2 EFTS
Lt	S H Harrison	13 Oct 1943	Arrived on posting from No 2 EFTS
Flt Lt	J F Smyth	14 Dec 1943	Medical Officer, posted to No 319 MU on removal of MO from Establishment

Source - No 656 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2176)

Organisational Movements: Dec 1942 - Dec 1943

Date	Notes
December 1942
31 Dec 1942	No 656 Sqn was formed at RAF Westley, Bury St Edmunds The following personnel had arrived on posting by this date: - 30 x Army ORs 4 x RAF ORs
January 1943
15 Jan 1943	1 x Tiger Moth, T6897, taken over from No 652 Sqn

27 Jan 1943	3 x Fitter FMAs departed on posting for Fitter II conversion course First Auster I, LB379, arrived on delivery

31 Jan 1942	Strength of the squadron on this date: - 4 x Army officers 2 x RAF officers 76 x Army ORs 58 x RAF ORs
February
16 Feb 1943	1 x Auster I, LB385 arrived
19 Feb 1943	1 x Auster I, LB348 arrived from No 654 Sqn 1 x Auster I, LB370 was delivered by ATA
20 Feb 1943	1 x Auster III, MZ122, arrived

21 Feb 1943	2 x Auster IIIs, MZ121 and MZ123, arrived
22 Feb 1943	First batch of MT arrived on allotment
23 Feb 1943	Further batch of MT arrived on allotment
27 Feb 1943	1 x Auster I, LB377, arrived 1 x Auster III, MZ125, arrived
28 Feb 1942	Strength of the squadron on this date: - 11 x Army officers 2 x RAF officers 77 x Army ORs 68 x RAF ORs
March
3 Mar 1943	'B' Flight participated in Operation 'Spartan'
4 Mar 1943	'C' Flight moved to RAF Stapleford Tawney
12 Mar 1943	'B' Flight returned to Westley
14 Mar 1943	Squadron moved from RAF Westley to RAF Stapleford Tawney
April
No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB
May
No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB
June
No relevant entries recorded in this month's ORB
July
1 Jul 1943	First half of squadron proceeded on embarkation leave
14 Jul 1943	First half of squadron returned from embarkation leave
15 Jul 1943	Second half of squadron proceeded on embarkation leave
29 Jul 1943	Second half of squadron returned from embarkation leave
31 Jul 1943	Mobilisation was completed
August
1 - 7 Aug 1943	Squadron occupied with packing, and preparing equipment for move overseas
8 Aug 1943	First half of squadron MT returned to the Depot at Slough
11 Aug 1943	proceeded to Theydon Bois Station
12 Aug 1943	Squadron entrained and proceeded to Liverpool Squadron embarked on 'Monarch of Bermuda' at Liverpool
13 Aug 1943	Ship lay at anchor in the Mersey
14 Aug 1943	Ship departed the Mersey for the Clyde
15 Aug 1943	Ship arrived in the Clyde and anchored at Gourock
16 Aug 1943	Ship departed the Clyde in convoy
30 Aug 1943	Ship arrived at Suez having made first crossing of Mediterranean since June 1940
31 Aug 1943	Squadron transhipped to 'Ascania'
September
2 Sep 1943	Ship departed Suez
7 Sep 1943	Ship arrived in Aden
8 Sep 1943	Ship departed Aden in a small convoy
14 Sep 1943	Ship arrived in Bombay
15 Sep 1943	Personnel disembarked in Bombay and transported to Transit Camp at Worli
21 Sep 1943	Advance party proceeded to RAF Juhu
27 Sep 1943	Reconnaissance party proceeded to RA Depot, Deolali
28 Sep 1943	Unloading of G1098 equipment commenced at Bombay docks and transported to RAF Juhu
30 Sep 1943	Advance party proceeded from RAF Juhu to RA Depot, Deolali
October
1 Oct 1943	Main body of squadron moved from BRD Worli to RA Depot, Deolali by rail
4 Oct 1943	Training commenced at RA Depot, Deolali
11 Oct 1943	Flight stores and SHQ equipment transported from BRD Worli to RA Depot, Deolali Rear party remained at RAF Juhu to assemble aircraft on arrival
November
2 Nov 1943	4 x crated Auster IIIs arrived at RAF Juhu from the UK 1 x Tiger Moth arrived at RAF Juhu on loan from No 2 EFTS
3 Nov 1943	'C' Flight and some SHQ staff proceeded to Jungle Camp at Vada 3 x Tiger Moth arrived at RAF Juhu on loan from No 1 EFTS
4 Nov 1943	1 x Tiger Moth flown from RAF Juhu to Deolali to commence training
5 Nov 1943	2 x Tiger Moths flown from RAF Juhu to Deolali
6 Nov 1943	First Auster III was test flown following erection
10 Nov 1943	First MT vehicles received (10 x 3-ton trucks)
15 Nov 1943	'C' Flight returned from Jungle Camp at Vada 'B' Flight proceeded to Jungle Camp at Vada
17 Nov 1943	9 x 3-ton trucks received
21 Nov 1943	First Auster III was flown from RAF Juhu to Deolali
25 Nov 1943	'B' Flight returned from Jungle Camp at Vada 'A' Flight proceeded to Jungle Camp at Vada
17 Nov 1943	9 x 15 cwt trucks and 10 x motor-cycles collected from Kirkee
December
1 Dec 1943	Advance party proceeded to Barrackpore to make arrangements to receive crated Austers from Calcutta
5 Dec 1943	'A' Flight returned from Jungle Camp at Vada Signals personnel and part of Maintenance Flight moved to Deolali from RAF Juhu
6 Dec 1943	2 x officers and 6 x NCOs attached to Royal Bombay S & M Group for Short Explosives Course (7-8 Dec 1943)
7 Dec 1943	3 x Tiger Moths returned to No 1 EFTS
8 Dec 1943	WO Engineer and 7 x BORs proceeded to Barrackpore to erect aircraft from the UK
9 Dec 1943	2 x officers and 6 x NCOs attached to Royal Bombay S & M Group for Short Explosives Course (10-11 Dec 1943) Advance party arrived at Calcutta
10 Dec 1943	Erection of Auster aircraft commenced at Barrackpore Racecourse
13 Dec 1943	17 x RA Drivers attached from RA Depot, pending posting 2 x officers and 6 x NCOs attached to Royal Bombay S & M Group for Short Explosives Course (14-15 Dec 1943) Workshop Lorry collected from Kirkee
16 Dec 1943	20 x MT vehicles were received
18 Dec 1943	Rear party moved from RAF Juhu to Deolali
20 Dec 1943	8 x Auster IIIs successfully erected, one found to have been damaged in transit
31 Dec 1943	'B' Flight declared to be an independent Flight under 33 Corps and to move to RAF Juhu

Source - No 656 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2176)