Active 1 Sept 2013 – Present Branch Army Air Corps Garrison/HQ Credenhill Barracks | Country United Kingdom Type Joint unit | |
Role Special forces aviation support | ||
No. 658 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps.
Contents
The squadron is now operational after the expanding of No. 8 Flight AAC.
8 Flight AAC
No. 8 Flight AAC was formed on 1 September 1957 as No. 8 Independent Reconnaissance Flight AAC in Asia before shortly moving to Kenya.
During the mid-1960s the flight was renamed to No. 8 Flight AAC and operated in Aden in connection with No. 653 Squadron AAC.
The original flight was a detachment of aircraft and personnel from 653 (Netheravon) and 666 (Topcliff) Squadrons AAC with 2 Scout helicopters. There were two pilots and 3 REME Technicians supporting the SAS Team.
In 1998 the flight moved to AAC Netheravon gaining Agusta A109As before moving to Credenhill Barracks around the year 2000 with Westland Gazelle AH.1 being added. During 2008/09 Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II replaced the A109A's. Two of the Agustas were captured from the Argentine forces in the Falklands War in 1982 as war prizes and the other two were bought new.
Current use
8 Flight was renamed No. 658 Squadron AAC on 1 September 2013.