Formed Dec 1942 as a fixed wing Meteorological Flight and spent most of WWII in North Africa, disbanding in Libya in May 1946.
Reformed as 1563 (Helicopter) Flight at Nicosia on 1 Aug 1963 from part of 103 Squadron with Sycamores and later, Whirlwinds. Disbanded 17 Jan 1972 at RAF Akrotiri and amalgamated with a detachment from 230 Squadron to become 84 Squadron.
Reformed again on 7 Jul 1981 from a Puma HC.1 element of 33 Squadron, in the Tactical Support role as part of BRITFORBEL, the UK commitment to the recently independent Belize and conducted joint exercises and jungle training missions with the resident British Army detachment, until withdrawal in Jul 1993.
Reformed in 2004 to support the Black Watch battle group (part of UK 4 Armoured Brigade) in eastern Iraq, until 2009.
Reformed in autumn 2022 in Brunei with Puma HC.2 to take on role of Jungle Training & Royal Gurkha Rifles support from AAC 667 Squadron.
Reformed as 1563 (Helicopter) Flight at Nicosia on 1 Aug 1963 from part of 103 Squadron with Sycamores and later, Whirlwinds. Disbanded 17 Jan 1972 at RAF Akrotiri and amalgamated with a detachment from 230 Squadron to become 84 Squadron.
Reformed again on 7 Jul 1981 from a Puma HC.1 element of 33 Squadron, in the Tactical Support role as part of BRITFORBEL, the UK commitment to the recently independent Belize and conducted joint exercises and jungle training missions with the resident British Army detachment, until withdrawal in Jul 1993.
Reformed in 2004 to support the Black Watch battle group (part of UK 4 Armoured Brigade) in eastern Iraq, until 2009.
Reformed in autumn 2022 in Brunei with Puma HC.2 to take on role of Jungle Training & Royal Gurkha Rifles support from AAC 667 Squadron.
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1563 Flt List of helicopters |
C/N | Version | Built | In this Org | In other Org | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
wa110 w/o 1976 | har.2 | 1956 | XJ764 : HAR.10 CFS (H); 22 Sq; 1564 Flt; 1563 Flt; 22 Sq; 84 Sq / T | ||||
13406 | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ897 : 284 Sq; 103 Sq from Aug 1959; 1563 Flt from Aug 1963; CFS | ||||
13408 | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ898 : 284 Sq; 103 Sq from Aug 1959; 1563 Flt from Aug 1963; Khormaksar SAR Flt; + | ||||
wa342 | har10 | 1961 | XP299 : 1563 Flt Jun 1969 to Apr 1970;
230 Sq /S Apr 1970 to Dec 1971;
22 Sq Dec 1+ | ||||
wa361 | har10 | 1962 | XP345 : CFS(H)/W-L by Apr 1962; 202 Sq/M by Jul 1967; 1563 Flt; 84 Sq B Flt by Sep+ | - XP345 | |||
wa386 | har10 | 1962 | XP398 : 225 Sq; 110 Sq; 103 Sq; 202 Sq; 1563 Flt to 84 Sq 1972. | ||||
wa387 | har10 | 1962 | XP399 : 1563 Flt by | - XP399 | |||
1042 | sa330e | 1970 | XW199 : 1563 Flt ; PASF until c Sep | ||||
1091 Scrapped | sa330e | 1971 | XW207 CD : 1563 Flt/CD Belize by Sep 1983 CD : 33 Sq/CD by Oct 1984 to 1989; 1563 Flt/CD Belize by 1990; BFME/E by 1991; + | ||||
1095 | sa330e | 1971 | XW208 : 1563 Flt by Feb 2006 : 1563 Flt by May 2007 | XW208 | |||
1096 | sa330e | 1971 | XW209 : 1563 Flt, in Iraq Jun 2009;
to Kenya Jul 2009 (for 33Sq B Flt ?) | ||||
1106 w/o 2011 | sa330e | 1971 | XW211 : suffered CAT4 damage in Iraq with 1563 Flt on 15 Apr 2007, when No. 2 in t+ | ||||
1111 | sa330e | 1971 | XW212 : 240 OCU/FD by May 1984 still 1988; 240 OCU/ 1989; 1563 Flt/FD Belize by 19+ : 1563 Flt ; PASF until c Sep | ||||
1129 | sa330e | 1971 | XW216 : 1563 Flt /CL Belize by | ||||
1139 w/o 2007 | sa330e | 1971 | XW218 : w/o asg 1563 Flt then CAT5 accident in Iraq; It landed too close to the+ | ||||
1166 | sa330e | 1972 | XW224 : 1563 Flt, in Iraq Jun 2009;
to Kenya Jul 2009 (for 33Sq B Flt ?) | ||||
1175 | sa330e | 1972 | XW226 : 230 Sq /DK by May 1984 still Jun 1987 still 1990; BFME/T by 1991; 230 Sq /+ | ||||
1185 w/o 2015 | sa330e | 1972 | XW229 : 1563 Flt by May 2009; returned to UK 19 Jun 2009; 33 Sq by Jul 2009 | ||||
1650 w/o 2007 | sa330e | 1980 | ZA938 : w/o Iraq | ||||
1591 w/o 2009 | sa330l | 1978 | ZE449 : 1563 Flt, in Iraq Jun 2009 | PA-12 ZE449 | |||
1363 | sa330h | ZJ955 : ex SAAF 148. conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight | 148 | ||||
1374 | sa330h | ZJ956 : conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight, ex SAAF 172 | 172 | ||||
1474 | sa330h | ZJ957 : RAF d/d 08jan08, ex SAAF 169;
conv Puma HC.1; to 1563 flight | 169 |
1563 (Tactical Support) Flight Operations |
Dates | Operation | |
---|---|---|
2004-oct | 2009-mar | Operation Telic |
1985-nov-16 | 1985-nov-24 | Tragedia de Armero |