No. 684 Squadron RAF

No. 684 Squadron RAF
Active29 September 1943 – 1 September 1946
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RolePhoto-Reconnaissance
Part ofNo. 231 Group RAF, Air Command South East Asia[1]
Motto(s)Latin: Invisus Videns
(Translation: "Seeing through unseen")[2][3]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA mask[2][3]
Squadron CodesNo 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

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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, first with 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

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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

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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

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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

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Delve 1994, pp. 77 and 83.
  2. ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 455.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Rawlings 1982, p. 247.
  4. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 148.
  5. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 233.
  6. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 105.
  7. ^ Bowyer 1984, p. 30.
  8. ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 456.
  9. ^ Bowyer 1984, p. 132.

Bibliography

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  • Bowman, Martin (1999). Mosquito Photo-Reconnaissance Units of World War 2. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-891-7.
  • Bowyer, Chaz (1984). Mosquito Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1425-6.
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • 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.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
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