No. 1563 Flight RAF

No. 1563 Flight RAF
Puma HC2 of No. 1563 Flight over Jerudong, Brunei in October 2022
Active1 – 18 March 1941[1]
18 January – 4 April 1942
1 Nov 1953 – 1 Oct 1958
1 Mar 1963 – 8 Sep 1967
18 Apr 1980 – 6 Jul 1993
2022 – May 2023
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
BranchUnited Kingdom Royal Air Force
TypeIndependent flight
RoleHelicopter medium-lift support
Part ofJoint Helicopter Command
AircraftWestland Puma HC2

No. 1563 Flight Royal Air Force (1563 Flt) was an independent flight of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The flight formerly operated the Westland Puma HC2 helicopters in Brunei Darussalam. It previously flew tactical support missions for locally garrisoned British Army units, as well as Belize Defence Force units in Belize. Between 1963 and 1972, it was stationed at RAF Akrotiri flying Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopters on support missions for locally garrisoned British Army and United Nations troops.

No. 1563 (Meteorological) Flight RAF

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No. 1563 (Meteorological) Flight RAF was formed in North Africa around December 1942, operating a variety of fixed-wing aircraft on meteorological observation duties, disbanding in May 1946.

No. 1563 (Helicopter) Flight RAF

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No. 1563 (Helicopter) Flight RAF was formed at RAF Akrotiri from elements of No. 103 Squadron RAF (103 Sqn) in 1963, flying Bristol Sycamore HAR.14 helicopters, initially, later flying Westland Whirlwind HAR.10s.[2] 1563 (Helicopter) Flt amalgamated with elements of No. 230 Squadron RAF (230 Sqn) on 19 January 1972, to become No. 84 Squadron RAF (84 Sqn), which, as of 2023, is still resident at RAF Akrotiri.

No. 1563 (Tactical Support) Flight

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British Forces Belize

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In 1975, with Guatemala in the grip of a bloody civil war, there was a real fear that Guatemalan forces might invade Belize, and at the very least widen their Caribbean coastline. To support the resident British Army garrison, a detachment of four Westland Puma HC.1 helicopters from No. 230 Squadron was sent to Belize international airport at Ladyville in November 1975. There they set about supporting the British Army role of deterring aggression from neighbours of Belize and supporting the jungle training task, as well as providing much needed search and rescue cover for the military and civilian population.[3]

Aircraft and crews proceeded to be deployed from No. 33 Squadron at RAF Odiham and No. 230 Squadron, generally with a ratio of 3:1 with three of the four aircraft, (needs checking), and crews being provided by No. 33 Squadron and the fourth crew from No. 230 Squadron due to their operational / training tempo in the European theatre. Thus, under normal manning, there would be three pilots and three crewmen from No. 33 Squadron and a pilot and crewman from No. 230 Squadron.

Puma helicopters of 1563 Flt were instrumental in securing diplomatic assurances for the future of Belize, after supporting Harrier aircraft of No. 1417 Flight taking part in air shows at La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, for the 69th and 70th anniversaries of the Guatemalan Air Force, in 1990 and 1991.

Iraq

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To support the Black Watch battle group, (part of UK 4 Armoured Brigade), in eastern Iraq, 1563 (Tactical Support) Flt was re-formed at Basrah International Airport. Flying Puma HC.1 helicopters, the flight was stood up in 2004, and disbanded again in October 2009.

Brunei

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The flight was re-formed in 2022 to support British Army Jungle Warfare Training School and the Gurkha battalion in Brunei Darussalam.[4][5][6]

In May 2023, 1563 Flight was disestablished, being replaced by the reforming No. 230 Squadron.[7]

No. 606 Squadron RAF was deployed to assist the move from temporary home base in Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba.[8] On 1 June 2023, the flight successfully moved into their permanent home base in Medicina Lines.[9] A year later, Pumas from No. 230 Squadron RAF took the place of 1563 Flight.[9]

No. 1563 Flight Royal Air Force
  • A yellow painted helicopter.
    Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 XP299 which was operated by 1563 Flt at RAF Akrotiri from June 1969 to April 1970.
  • A yellow Whirlwind in Cyprus.
    Whirlwind helicopter (XD184), previously of 1563 Flt and No. 84 Squadron, at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus.
  • A large helicopter in a jungle clearing.
    A Puma helicopter of 1563 Flt at Xunantunich.
  • A large helicopter in a jungle clearing.
    XW202 (CE), a Puma HC.1 of 1563 Flt in the Belizean Jungle, 14 August 1991.
  • A helicopter parked on a concrete platform.
    XW213 (CJ), a Puma HC1 of No. 1563 Flight on the helicopter operating platform at Williamson Hangar, Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport on 13 August 1991.

See also

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References

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Notes
  1. ^ Lake (1999).
  2. ^ "Service Aviation". Flight International: 341–342. 27 February 1964. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  3. ^ Cooper, Tom (1 September 2003). "Guatemala since 1954". Air Combat Information Group. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  4. ^ "RAF Benson". Facebook.com. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  5. ^ Perry, Dominic (25 January 2022). "RAF Pumas to replace Bell helicopters in Brunei and Cyprus". Flight Global. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Brunei | The British Army". Army.MoD.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Last week, on the 18th May, 230 Squadron officially re-mustered in Brunei marking its return to South East Asia". RAF Benson (Facebook). 24 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Members of 606 Squadron, a reserve unit from RAF Benson, have been working hard in Brunei helping 230 Tiger Squadron move to their new permanent base!". British Forces Broadcasting Service. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  9. ^ a b "BFBS Brunei | After 9 long months of driving back and forth to Rimba Air Base, today the Royal Air Force and the Pumas landed at their new permanent base in Medicina Lines". British Forces Broadcasting Service. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
Bibliography
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