No. 684 Squadron RAF

No. 684 Squadron RAF
Active 29 September 1943 – 1 September 1946
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Type Inactive
Role Photo-Reconnaissance
Part of No. 231 Group RAF, Air Command South East Asia[1]
Motto Latin: Invisus Videns
(Translation: "Seeing through unseen")[2][3]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry A mask[2][3]
Squadron Codes No code(s) are known to have been carried[3][4][5]

No. 684 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1946.

History

The squadron was formed on 29 September 1943 at RAF Dum Dum near Calcutta, (then) British India from the twin-engined[3] elements of No. 681 Squadron RAF.[2] It operated in the photo-reconnaissance role with first the de Havilland Mosquito and the North American Mitchell, and later also with the Bristol Beaufighter and the Supermarine Spitfire. The squadron performed long range photo-reconnaissance in support of the Burma Campaign. Near the end of the war the squadron also performed high-speed courier flights. It was disbanded on 1 September 1946 at RAF Seletar, Singapore by being renumbered to No. 81 Squadron RAF.[2][6][7]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 684 Squadron RAF, data from[3][6][8]
From To Aircraft Variant
September 1943 September 1945 North American Mitchell Mk.II (B-25C)
September 1943 December 1943 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.II
September 1943 February 1944 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI
October 1943 February 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.IX
February 1944 May 1946 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XVI
May 1945 July 1945 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VI
July 1945 September 1946 de Havilland Mosquito PR.34
July 1945 July 1946 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X
December 1945 September 1946 Supermarine Spitfire PR.XI, PR.XIX

Squadron bases

Air bases and airfields used by no. 684 Squadron RAF, data from[3][6][8]
From To Name Remark
29 September 1943 9 December 1943 RAF Dum Dum, Bengal, British India Formed here
9 December 1943 31 January 1944 RAF Comilla, Bengal, British India
31 January 1944 5 May 1944 RAF Dum Dum, West Bengal, British India
5 May 1944 11 October 1945 RAF Alipore, Bengal, British India Detachments at RAF Yelahanka, Karnataka, British India;
RAF China Bay, Ceylon; RAF Cocos Islands
and RAF Mingaladon, Burma
11 October 1945 27 January 1946 Tân Sơn Nhất Airfield, Saigon, Vietnam Detachment at RAF Seletar, Singapore
27 January 1946 August 1946 Don Muang Airfield, Bangkok, Thailand Detachments at RAF Seletar, Singapore and RAF Baigachi, Bengal
August 1946 1 September 1946 RAF Seletar, Singapore Disbanded here

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 684 squadron RAF, data from[3][9]
From To Name
Sep 1943 Dec 1943 S/Ldr. B.S. Jones
Dec 1943 Nov 1944 W/Cdr. W.B. Murray
Nov 1944 Nov 1945 W/Cdr. W.E.M. Lowry, DFC
Nov 1945 Apr 1946 W/Cdr. K.J. Newman, DFC and Bar (RNZAF)
Apr 1946 Sep 1946 W/Cdr. J.R.H. Merrifield, DSO, DFC and Bar

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Bowman, Martin. Mosquito Photo-Reconnaissance Units of World War 2. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-85532-891-7.
  • Bowyer, Chaz. Mosquito Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. London: Ian Allan Ltd., 1984. ISBN 0-7110-1425-6.
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–88. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.

External links

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