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No 666 Sqn Personnel, aircraft and locations

[1945 | ]

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

Personnel Movements: Mar - Sep 1945

Rank Name Date Notes
March
Maj D R Ely  5 Mar 1945 Arrived on posting from No 665 Sqn and assumed command of No 666 Sqn
Flt Lt A R Woodhouse  5 Mar 1945 Attached from HQ RCAF for duty as Equipment Officer
Fg Off D Dougall  5 Mar 1945 Arrived on posting from No 62 Base for duty as Adjutant
Lt A Sturgis RA  9 Mar 1945 Attached from No 665 Sqn
AC1 W S Walker 13 Mar 1945 Postal Clerk, arrived on posting
April
Capt A St C MacPherson 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assumed command of 'A' Flight, the following day
Capt A D Carpenter 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assumed command of 'B' Flight, the following day
Capt R O Lundgren 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assumed command of 'C' Flight, the following day
Capt A W McLeod 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assigned to 'A' Flight, the following day
Capt O W Dier 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assigned to 'A' Flight, the following day
Capt R A Davies 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assigned to 'B' Flight, the following day
Capt P D A Harrison 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assigned to 'B' Flight, the following day
Lt D Swift RA 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assigned to 'B' Flight, the following day
Capt G W Andrews 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assigned to 'C' Flight, the following day
Capt J L Grainger 11 Apr 1945 Arrived on posting from No 43 OTU and assigned to 'C' Flight, the following day
Gnr O E Duesling 11 Apr 1945 Driver, seriously injured in a road accident
Capt F I Anderson RA 12 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment and assigned to Sqn HQ
Capt D R V Tate RA 12 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment
Lt P W Burgess MC, RA 12 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment and assigned to 'A' Flight
Lt S Harrison RA 12 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment and assigned to 'B' Flight
Lt B L L Reuss RA 12 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment and assigned to 'C' Flight
Lt R T Roberts RA 12 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment and assigned to 'B' Flight
Lt A S Villiers RA 12 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment and assigned to 'B' Flight
Lt P Yates RA 12 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment and assigned to 'A' Flight
Lt J E Baker RA 12 Apr 1945 Arrived on attachment and assigned to 'C' Flight
Capt P C A Hawkins RA 13 Apr 1945 Attached for duty as Squadron Captain
Lt A Sturgis 13 Apr 1945 Attached from No 665 Sqn as supernumerary
Capt F I Anderson RA 19 Apr 1945 Assumed command of HQ Flight
Capt R D W Maxwell RA 18 Apr 1945 Attached from the Depot RA, Woolwich
Lt P J Donnington RA 18 Apr 1945 Attached from the Depot RA, Woolwich
Lt R H Bunting RA 18 Apr 1945 Attached from the Depot RA, Woolwich
Lt D Swift RA 18 Apr 1945 Attached from the Depot RA, Woolwich
Fg Off G A Watson 19 Apr 1945 Attached from RCAF HQ for duty as Medical Officer
Lt P J Donnington RA 20 Apr 1945 Attached to 'A' Flight
Fg Off D Dougall 24 Apr 1945 Adjutant, promoted to Act Flt Lt, wef 5 Mar 1945
Capt R D W Maxwell RA 30 Apr 1945 Ceased to be attached from the Depot RA, Woolwich
Lt P J Donnington RA 30 Apr 1945 Ceased to be attached from the Depot RA, Woolwich
Lt R H Bunting RA 30 Apr 1945 Ceased to be attached from the Depot RA, Woolwich
Lt D Swift RA 30 Apr 1945 Ceased to be attached from the Depot RA, Woolwich
Lt D R V Tate RA 30 Apr 1945 Departed on posting
May
Lt B L L Reuss  5 May 1945 Admitted to a Canadian General Hospital at Cuckfield
BSM F Walker  5 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Gnr J J Cusack  5 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Gnr R J Routledge  5 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Gnr G R Young  5 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Gnr R W Bicknell  5 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Capt A B Stewart 16 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Capt S M Pinkerton 16 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Lt J M Doohan 16 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Lt C E Campbell 16 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Lt R E Russell 16 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Lt D H Gibson 16 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Lt W R MacIntyre 16 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Lt F B Cronk 16 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Lt P W Davis 16 May 1945 Arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
Lt S Harrison RA 18 May 1945 Ceased to be attached on posting to Depot RA
Lt R T Roberts RA 18 May 1945 Ceased to be attached on posting to Depot RA
Lt P Yates RA 18 May 1945 Ceased to be attached on posting to Depot RA
Lt J E Baker RA 18 May 1945 Ceased to be attached on posting to Depot RA
Capt P C A Hawkins RA 20 May 1945 Ceased to be attached on posting to Depot RA
Lt B L L Reuss RA 20 May 1945 Ceased to be attached on posting to Depot RA
Capt R R Johnston 22 May 1945 Admitted to hospital following a flying accident
Gnr R O Connors 22 May 1945 Admitted to hospital following a flying accident
LAC R H Wilmaring 26 May 1945 Admitted to 15 Canadian General Hospital following a traffic accident
Lt J C Hay 28 May 1945 Arrived on attachment
Lt R C Wannop 28 May 1945 Arrived on attachment
Lt A S Villiers RA 28 May 1945 Ceased to be attached on posting to Depot RA
Lt A Sturgis RA 28 May 1945 Ceased to be attached on posting to Depot RA
Lt P W Burgess MC, RA 28 May 1945 Ceased to be attached on posting to Depot RA
Gnr C N Cantrell 26 May 1945 Posted to No 1 CARU
June
Lt J M Doohan xx Jun 1945 Promoted to Capt
Lt C E Campbell xx Jun 1945 Promoted to Capt
Lt D H Gibson xx Jun 1945 Promoted to Capt
Lt R E Russell xx Jun 1945 Promoted to Capt
Lt W R MacIntyre xx Jun 1945 Promoted to Capt
Lt F B Cronk xx Jun 1945 Promoted to Capt
Lt P W Davis xx Jun 1945 Promoted to Capt
Maj D R Ely 12 Jun 1945 Departed on posting to No 1 Depot Wing, pending posting to the Far East
Capt A B Stewart 12 Jun 1945 Assumed command of No 666 Sqn
Capt A St C MacPherson 15 Jun 1945 Transferred from 'A' Flight to SHQ as Squadron Captain
Capt G W Andrews 15 Jun 1945 Assumed command of 'A' Flight
Capt O W Dier 18 Jun 1945 Departed on posting to No 1 Depot Wing, wef 15 Jun 1945
Capt J L Grainger 18 Jun 1945 Departed on posting to No 1 Depot Wing, wef 15 Jun 1945
Capt R E Russell 18 Jun 1945 Departed on posting to No 1 Depot Wing, wef 15 Jun 1945
Capt D H Gibson 18 Jun 1945 Departed on posting to No 1 Depot Wing, wef 15 Jun 1945
Capt P W Davis 18 Jun 1945 Departed on posting to No 1 Depot Wing, wef 15 Jun 1945
Capt P D A Harrison 21 Jun 1945 Arrived from the UK with a new aircraft
July
Flt Lt S M Bolton xx Jul 1945 Arrived on posting for duty as Engineering Officer
Capt A B Stewart 16 Jul 1945 Promoted to Act Maj
Lt J C Hay 16 Jul 1945 Promoted to Act Capt
Lt R C Wannop 16 Jul 1945 Promoted to Act Capt
Capt S M Pinkerton 18 Jul 1945 Appointed Squadron Education Officer
Capt R O Lundgren 26 Jul 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt G W Andrews 26 Jul 1945 Assumed duties of Sports Officer
Capt P D A Harrison 31 Jul 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
August
Capt A G Thomas  2 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting, wef 31 Jul 1945
Capt F A H Carberry  2 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting, wef 31 Jul 1945
Lt R Everett  2 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting, wef 31 Jul 1945
Lt R A S Perley  2 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting, wef 31 Jul 1945
BSM F Walker  4 Aug 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt A St C MacPherson  6 Aug 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt R A Davies 7 Aug 1945 Posted to X-5 List
Capt G Boundry 16 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting from X-4 List
Capt E F Creese 16 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting from X-4 List
Capt L H Harvey 16 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting from X-4 List
Capt R R Johnston 16 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting from X-4 List
Capt J F Mercier 16 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting from X-4 List
Capt J M Doohan 16 Aug 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Lt R J Fuller 17 Aug 1945 Arrived on posting from X-4 List
Capt S M Pinkerton 20 Aug 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt G W Andrews 23 Aug 1945 Posted to No 664 Sqn
Capt A D Carpenter 24 Aug 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
September
WO I Brackenbury  8 Sep 1945 Admitted to hospital
Sgt J F Johnstone  9 Sep 1945 Promoted to WO II
Capt G M Swan 10 Sep 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt E F Creese 12 Sep 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt A G Thomas 13 Sep 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt H H Wichett 13 Sep 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt F A H Carberry 13 Sep 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Lt R A S Perley 13 Sep 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt A W McLeod 14 Sep 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt W E Penneyer 14 Sep 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt D L Frenow 14 Sep 1945 Posted to CHHQ
October
Capt J N Liston 10 Oct 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt R L Marten 11 Oct 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Lt R Everett 11 Oct 1945 Promoted to Capt, wef 15 Sep 1945
Lt W I Pratt 11 Oct 1945 Promoted to Capt
Capt R N Jones 16 Oct 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt D G Rouse 20 Oct 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt R T Marchant 22 Oct 1945 Departed on posting, pending repatriation
Capt R Everett 29 Oct 1945 Posted to 12 Canadian Field Regiment
Capt W I Pratt 29 Oct 1945 Posted to 12 Canadian Field Regiment

Source - No 665 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2192)

Organisational Movements: Feb - Sep 1945

Date Notes
February
16 Feb 1945 The Equipment personnel of No 666 Sqn were attached to assist with the equipment being delivered in prior to its formation
March
 1 Mar 1945 3 x MT vehicles were delivered prior to formation (one more had arrived on 18 Jan 1945)
 5 Mar 1945 No 666 Squadron was formed at RAF Andover

The personnel attached to No 665 Sqn were posted to No 666 Sqn
 6 Mar 1945 Fitters and riggers were attached to No 43 OTU
 7 Mar 1945 Advance party of Army personnel arrived from No 1 CARU on posting, comprising: -
  • 1 x BSM
  • 3 x Sgts
  • 2 x Bdrs
  • 3 x Gnrs

3 x Auster Vs, TJ478, TJ479 and TJ480, were received from Taylorcraft Aircraft Ltd
Auster V
 7 Mar 1945 1 x Auster I, LB381 was received from No 665 Sqn
12 Mar 1945 Main party of Army personnel (76 x ORs) arrived on posting from No 1 CARU
14 Mar 1945 The squadron MT was collected as follows: -
  • 57 from No 1 VRD, Pepper Harrow
  • 21 from No 2 VRD, Telford
  •  4 from No 4 VRD
21 Mar 1945 3 x Auster Vs, TJ519, TJ520 and TJ522, were received from Taylorcraft Aircraft Ltd

2 x Wireless Mechanic arrived on posting
23 Mar 1945 1 x Auster V, TJ521, was received from Taylorcraft Aircraft Ltd
24 Mar 1945 1 x Auster V, TJ523, was received from Taylorcraft Aircraft Ltd
31 Mar 1945 Strength of the squadron on this date:  -
 
  Canadian Army RCAF
Officers 1 2
ORs 86 65
April
12 Apr 1945 Officers were assigned to Flights as shown in table above
16 Apr 1945 Advance party moved from RAF Andover for RAF Friston
17 Apr 1945 Main party moved from RAF Andover for Petworth Park en-route to RAF Friston
18 Apr 1945 Main party moved from Petworth Park and arrived at RAF Friston
24 Apr 1945 1 x Cook arrived on posting
30 Apr 1945 Strength of the squadron on this date:  -
 
  Canadian Army RCAF British Army
Officers 10 2  
Officers (Attached)   1 15
ORs 87 71  
May
27 May 1945 1 x new Auster V, TJ567, was collected from No 84 GSU
29 May 1945 Ground party departed RAF Friston for the Marshalling Area at RAF Hornchurch

Air party departed RAF Friston for RAF Andover
30 May 1945 1st ground party departed RAF Hornchurch, was loaded onto LSTs and set sail for Ostend
31 May 1945 1st ground party arrived at Ostend and disembarked, moving to a staging are near Bruges

2nd ground party departed RAF Hornchurch, was loaded onto LSTs and set sail for Ostend

Strength of the squadron on this date:  -
 
  Canadian Army RCAF British Army
Officers 19 2  
Officers (Attached) 2    
ORs 87 78  
June
 1 Jun 1945 2nd ground party arrived at Ostend and disembarked, moving to a staging are near Bruges
 2 Jun 1945 Ground party departed the staging area near Bruges and proceeded to RAF Gilze-Rijen, but was moved to a nearby staging camp
 3 Jun 1945 Air party departed RAF Andover for RAF Hawkinge and then crossed the Channel to Contrai before arriving at Gilze-Rijen
 6 Jun 1945 Squadron departed Gilze-Rijen for Hilversum, where the Flights were allocated as follows: -
  • 'A' Flight - 1st Canadian Division at Dardrecht
  • 'B' Flight - 1st Canadian AGRA at Maarssen
  • 'C' Flight - 3rd Division at Hilversum
20 Jun 1945 1 x new Auster V arrived from the UK
25 Jun 1945 SHQ and 'A' and 'B' Flights moved to Apeldoorn
30 Jun 1945 Strength of the squadron on this date:  -
 
  Canadian Army RCAF
Officers 15 2
ORs 86 78
July
19 Jul 1945 18 x ORs struck off strength on allocation to CAPF Draft
21 Jul 1945 12 x ORs struck off strength on allocation to CAPF Draft
31 Jul 1945 Strength of the squadron on this date:  -
 
  Canadian Army RCAF
Officers 13 3
ORs 64 65
August
24 Aug 1945 13 x Officers arrived on posting from No 664 Sqn, but the records are practically illigible
31 Aug 1945 Strength of the squadron on this date:  -
 
  Canadian Army RCAF
Officers 29 3
ORs 47 62
September
24 Sep 1945 Surplus equipment began to returned, pending disbandment
26 Sep 1945 All vehicles, except four Jeeps, were despatched for disposal
27 Sep 1945 Final four Jeeps, were despatched for disposal
30 Sep 1945 Strength of the squadron on this date:  -
 
  Canadian Army RCAF
Officers 20 3
ORs 53 59
October
31 Oct 1945 No 666 Sqn was disbanded

Source - No 665 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2192)

This entry was last updated on 07/11/25

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