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658 Squadron AAC No. 8 Flight AAC No. 658 Squadron RAF
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II in 2010
Active	30 April 1943 – 15 October 1946 (RAF) 1 September 2013 – Present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Army aviation
Role	Aerial reconnaissance Air assault Airlift Combat search and rescue Counterterrorism ISTAR Medical evacuation Special operations support
Size	Squadron
Part of	Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
Garrison/HQ	Stirling Lines
Nickname(s)	Blue Thunder
Motto(s)	Latin: Videmus Delemus (Translation: "We see and destroy")
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II

658 Squadron AAC is a special operations support squadron of the Army Air Corps (AAC) unit of the British Army that provides dedicated aviation support to the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS) for domestic counterterrorism (CT) and CSAR operations. The squadron is co-located with 22 SAS at Stirling Lines. The press has given the squadron, their helicopters, and the CT response force they enable, the nickname "Blue Thunder". The squadron is part of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.

History

658 Squadron RAF

No. 658 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during the Second World War. No.s 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, Nos. 664 to 666, were manned with Canadian personnel.

Its identification symbol was on a bezant, an eagle's head couped

No. 658 Squadron was formed at RAF Old Sarum on 30 April 1943 with the Taylorcraft Auster III and from March 1944 the Auster IV. The squadron role was to support the 21st Army Group and on 26 June 1944 it moved to France. Fighting in the break-out from Normandy it followed the army across the countries and into Germany. In October 1945 the squadron left for India, where it was disbanded on 15 October 1946.

The squadron number was transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps (AAC) on 1 September 1957.

658 Squadron AAC

No. 658 Squadron AAC was formed on 24 October 1969 at Minden as part of the 1 Division Aviation Squadron AAC. In 1978, squadron moved to Soest as part of 4 Regiment AAC and disbanded. The squadron reformed c. 1982 as part of 7 Regiment AAC based at Airfield Camp, Netheravon. In April 1995, the squadron became a Territorial Army unit part of 7 Regiment AAC (Volunteers).

On 1 April 2009, the squadron was disbanded at Netheravon.

8 Flight

8 Flight traces it lineage to the Royal Air Force No. 1908 AOP Flight formed on 31 December 1946, disbanded on 7 October 1955 and later reformed on 16 October that year.

On 1 September 1957, 8 Flight AAC was formed as 8 Reconnaissance Flight with the transfer of No. 1908 AOP Flight based at RAF Idris in Libya to the newly formed Army Air Corps. The flight relocated to Kenya where it was re-designated as 8 Flight AAC. The flight subsequently relocated to Aden operating the Westland Scout helicopter. The flight later deployed to Northern Ireland operating the Scout and Bell Sioux helicopters. In 1979, the flight was based at Airfield Camp, Netheravon. In 1984, the Agusta A109A/AM helicopter entered service with the flight. In 1984, the flight was part of 7 Regiment AAC. The flight operated a fleet of four A109As in civilian livery, two of which were captured from the Argentine forces in the Falklands War and allocated to the flight. In 1995, 7 Regiment re-roled as a Territorial Army unit 7 Regiment AAC (V). In 2000, the flight relocated to Stirling Lines.

In 2001, the flight was incorporated into the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW). The flight operated the Westland Gazelle AH1 helicopter c. 2007. In 2009, the flight converted from the A109A to four Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin helicopters in civilian livery. The flight operated the Gazelle AH1 c. 2012.

Present day

On 1 September 2013, 8 Flight AAC was re-designated as 658 Squadron AAC.

Role

The squadron provides dedicated aviation support to 22 SAS with domestic CT operations based at Stirling Lines. The helicopters have been filmed taking part in fast-roping exercises.

Operations

Just after midnight on 4 June 2017, the squadron landed a Dauphin on London Bridge to provide support to the Metropolitan Police Service in response to the London Bridge terrorist attack. On 21 December 2018, a Dauphin helicopter was forward-deployed in the early stages of Operation Buckthorn.

Aircraft operated

See also

• List of Army Air Corps aircraft units

References

Citations

1. ^ "658 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
2. ^ "658 Squadron AAC". Facebook. Army Air Corps. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
3. ^ Rogoway, Tyler (4 June 2017). "About That "Blue Thunder" Counter-Terror Chopper That Landed On London Bridge". The Drive. Retrieved 10 September 2022. tasked with supporting ... the Special Air Service ... on domestic counter-terror ops
4. ^ Thomas, James (25 August 2022). "Watch: SAS Blue Thunder helicopter filmed at Herefordshire airfield". Hereford Times. Retrieved 10 September 2022. There are reportedly six of these Dauphin helicopters for 658 Squadron Army Air Corps, and they're based at the SAS camp in Credenhill, supporting 22nd Special Air Service (22 SAS).
5. "This is why the SAS Blue Thunder helicopter is flying over Yorkshire today". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2022. The SAS aircraft is nicknamed 'Blue Thunder'
6. Demerly, Tom. "This wild viral video likely shows a UK 'Blue Thunder' special operator helicopter flying low through fog". Business Insider. Retrieved 10 September 2022. Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II, nicknamed "Blue Thunder" by the British tabloids
7. "SAS 'Blue Thunder' unit 'lands in London Bridge following atrocity'". The Independent. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2022. An elite SAS unit nicknamed 'Blue Thunder' is believed to have landed by helicopter on London Bridge...Blue Thunder, who act on orders from the Home Secretary, are a 70-man strong unit formed after the 2015 Paris attacks and trained in tackling domestic terror scenarios.
8. ^ "JSFAW – Responsibilities and Composition". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014.
9. ^ Halley 1988, p. 448.
10. "No 651 – 670 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.
11. ^ "Flight Histories – 1900 Series". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
12. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 104.
13. Halley 1988, pp. 444–451.
14. Jefford 2001, pp. 102–104.
15. "658 SQN Army Air Corps – History". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007.
16. ^ "658 Sqn Army Air Corps History". British Army. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
17. "658 Squadron". British Army units from 1945 on. 30 June 2019.
18. Hickey, Colonel Michael (2013). "Air Op and the Army Air Corps, Post WW II" (PDF). Royal Air Force Historical Society. 54. Windrush Group. ISSN 1361-4231. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
19. ^ "8 Flight AAC". British Army units from 1945 on. 10 February 2016.
20. The Likes of Leicester by Ross Mallock (2013), p. 37, at Google Books
21. Operation Banner: The British Army in Northern Ireland 1969–2007 by Nicholas van der Bijl at Google Books
22. Wheeler, Barry C (1979). Air Forces of the World. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 39. ISBN 9780684162867.
23. Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth (22 June 2008). "Helicopters – Column 1835W". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
24. ^ "Movements December 1984". Soesterberg Movements. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
25. ^ LZ (Spring 2012). "Airfield Camp, Netheravon 1912–2012" (PDF). Army Air Corps Journal. No. 52. pp. 40–42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2013.
26. Secretary of State for Defence Adam Ingram (27 June 2005). "Helicopters – Column 1207W". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
27. "World's Air Forces". Flight International. Flight Global. 30 November 1985.
28. Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth (1 October 2007). "Military Aircraft: Helicopters – Column 2351W". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
29. "8 Flight". Helicopter History Site. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
30. Secretary of State for Defence Quentin Davies (15 January 2009). "Military Aircraft: Helicopters – Column 883W". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
31. Tim Ripley (10 December 2008). "UK Army Air Corps received Dauphins". Jane's Defence Weekly. 45 (50): 10.
32. Ministry of Defence (19 February 2015). "Chapter 4 – Formations, Vessels, Aircraft and Vehicles of the Armed Forces". United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2012 (PDF). Aircraft Table 4.10. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
33. Gary Parsons (January 2014). "News briefs". AirForces Monthly. No. 310. Stamford: Key Publishing. p. 7. ISSN 0955-7091.
34. Thrower, Antony; Moloy, Thomas (18 March 2022). "SAS Blue Thunder helicopter circles over town under cover of darkness in footage". mirror. Retrieved 10 September 2022. Incredible footage of an SAS blue thunder helicopter training in the skies over a British town under the cover of darkness has been shared online. The amazing video, captured in Bury, showed the impressive machine hovering while figures were seen abseiling down from the aircraft. The exercise is known as 'fast-roping' and allows troops to land where a helicopter cannot.
35. Blakey, Ashlie (26 June 2019). "WATCH: Helicopters lead dramatic SAS-style training at fire station". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 September 2022. This is the dramatic moment helicopter crew members abseil SAS-style onto the roof of Manchester Central Fire Station. The incredible footage was captured on Wednesday evening. It is understood that two helicopters were involved in a training exercise. Nearby residents in Ancoats describe seeing two 'military-style' helicopters circling over the fire station. At least four people then descend from one of the choppers onto the flat roof of the building. The crew members climb down a rope using a technique known as fast-roping.
36. Worley, Will (4 June 2017). "London terror attack: SAS 'Blue Thunder' unit 'lands in London Bridge following atrocity'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
37. "Operation Buckthorn". Helis.com. Retrieved 10 September 2022. An initial move by 658 Sq Dauphin (c/s Titan 21) to Dover Coastguard operations centre was followed by...
38. Ripley, Tom (July 2015). "Britain's Flying Soldiers Back at home base". AirForces Monthly. No. 328. Stamford: Key Publishing. p. 78. ISSN 0955-7091.
39. ^ "UK Army Air Corps lose Dauphin in accident". HeliHub. 3 August 2023.
40. Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) Julian Brazier (4 March 2015). "Military Aircraft: Written question – 225371 – Aircraft Platforms table". www.parliament.uk. House of Commons. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
41. "Aircraft Data ZJ780, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6808". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.;"Aircraft Data ZJ781, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6813". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.;"Aircraft Data ZJ782, 2007 Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6816". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.;"Aircraft Data ZJ783, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6822". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
42. ^ "UK Mil Mode-S Allocations". Teesside Airport Movements. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
43. ^ "AS365N3 Dauphin 2 in Army Air Corps". Helis.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
44. "Aircraft Data ZJ785, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6823". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
45. "Aircraft Data ZJ787, Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin AH.1 C/N 6824". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.

Bibliography

• Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
• Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.

External links

• Army Air Corps Agusta A109 (archived 2001)

v t e Army Air Corps (units)
Airfields	Aldergrove Flying Station Stirling Lines Middle Wallop Flying Station Wattisham Flying Station RNAS Yeovilton
Regular units	Brigades 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team 1 Regiment No. 651 Squadron AAC No. 652 Squadron AAC No. 659 Squadron AAC No. 661 Squadron AAC 3 Regiment HQ Squadron No. 653 Squadron AAC No. 662 Squadron AAC No. 663 Squadron AAC 4 Regiment No. 656 Squadron AAC No. 664 Squadron AAC 5 Regiment No. 665 Squadron AAC
Army reserve units	6 Regiment No. 675 (The Rifles) Squadron AAC No. 677 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Squadron AAC No. 679 (The Duke of Connaught's) Squadron AAC
Training units	2 (Training) Regiment No. 668 (Training) Squadron AAC No. 676 Squadron AAC 7 (Training) Regiment No. 671 Squadron AAC No. 673 Squadron AAC 9 Regiment No. 670 Squadron AAC
Other	No. 660 Squadron AAC (No. 1 Flying Training School RAF) Apache Display Team Band of the Army Air Corps
Independent squadrons	No. 658 Squadron AAC (Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing)
Former display units	Army Historic Aircraft Flight Helicopter Display Team (Blue Eagles)
Category United Kingdom portal

v t e United Kingdom Special Forces
Director Special Forces (DSF)
HM Naval Service	Special Boat Service Special Boat Service (Reserve)
British Army	21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve) 22 Special Air Service Regiment 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve) Special Reconnaissance Regiment
Joint Services	18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing No. 658 Squadron AAC No. 7 Squadron RAF Special Forces Support Group
Selection	Joint Special Forces Selection (JSFS)
Related	Special operations-capable Army Special Operations Brigade Ranger Regiment UK Commando Force Reconnaissance units Pathfinder Platoon Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron Brigade Patrol Troop Mountain Leader Training Cadre Aviation units Maritime Interdiction Flight, 815 Naval Air Squadron Intelligence units Joint Support Group
Category

v t e Royal Air Force flying squadrons
currently active	1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 41 42 45 51 54 56 57 60 70 72 78 80 84 92 99 101 115 120 201 202 206 207 216 230 617
inactive	5 15 21 26 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 52 53 55 58 59 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 71 73 74 75 76 77 79 81 82 83 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 93 94 95 96 97 98 100 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 116 117 118 119 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 203 204 205 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 353 354 355 356 357 358 360 361 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 547 548 549 550 567 569 570 571 575 576 577 578 582 586 587 595 597 598 618 619 620 621 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 635 639 640 644 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 679 680 681 682 683 684 691 692 695
Australian Flying Corps units attached to the RAF during the First World War	67 (1 Sqn AFC) 68 (2 Sqn AFC) 69 (3 Sqn AFC) 71 (4 Sqn AFC)
Article XV (Commonwealth) air force units attached to the RAF during the Second World War	Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 466 467 Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) 485 486 487 488 489 490
squadrons formed from non-Commonwealth personnel during the Second World War	Argentine 164 Belgian 349 350 Czechoslovak 310 311 312 313 Dutch 320 (Netherlands) 321 (Netherlands) 322 (Dutch) French 326 327 328 329 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 Greek 13 335 336 Norwegian 330 331 332 333 334 Polish 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 315 316 317 318 663 United States 71 121 133 Yugoslav 351 352
Royal Auxiliary Air Force	Special Reserve 500 501 502 503 504 Auxiliary Air Force 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 622
Fleet Air Arm of the RAF (1924–1939)	712 715 718 800 801 802 803 810 811 812 813 814 820 821 822 823 824 825
Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGS)	current 611 615 621 622 626 631 632 637 644 645 661 former 612 613 614 616 617 618 623 624 625 633 634 635 636 642 643 662 663 664

• Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
• Army Air Corps aircraft squadrons
• Special forces of the United Kingdom
• Military units and formations established in 2013