No. 684 Squadron RAF

No. 684 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1946.

No. 684 Squadron RAF
Active29 September 1943 – 1 September 1946
Country 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]

History

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 with first 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
Aircraft operated by no. 684 Squadron RAF, data from[3][6][8]
FromToAircraftVariant
September 1943September 1945North American MitchellMk.II (B-25C)
September 1943December 1943de Havilland MosquitoMk.II
September 1943February 1944de Havilland MosquitoMk.VI
October 1943February 1945de Havilland MosquitoMk.IX
February 1944May 1946de Havilland MosquitoMk.XVI
May 1945July 1945Bristol BeaufighterMk.VI
July 1945September 1946de Havilland MosquitoPR.34
July 1945July 1946Bristol BeaufighterMk.X
December 1945September 1946Supermarine SpitfirePR.XI, PR.XIX

Squadron bases
Air bases and airfields used by no. 684 Squadron RAF, data from[3][6][8]
FromToNameRemark
29 September 19439 December 1943RAF Dum Dum, Bengal, British IndiaFormed here
9 December 194331 January 1944RAF Comilla, Bengal, British India
31 January 19445 May 1944RAF Dum Dum, West Bengal, British India
5 May 194411 October 1945RAF Alipore, Bengal, British IndiaDetachments at RAF Yelahanka, Karnataka, British India;
RAF China Bay, Ceylon; RAF Cocos Islands
and RAF Mingaladon, Burma
11 October 194527 January 1946Tân Sơn Nhất Airfield, Saigon, VietnamDetachment at RAF Seletar, Singapore
27 January 1946August 1946Don Muang Airfield, Bangkok, ThailandDetachments at RAF Seletar, Singapore and RAF Baigachi, Bengal
August 19461 September 1946RAF Seletar, SingaporeDisbanded here

Commanding officers
Officers commanding no. 684 squadron RAF, data from[3][9]
FromToName
Sep 1943Dec 1943S/Ldr. B.S. Jones
Dec 1943Nov 1944W/Cdr. W.B. Murray
Nov 1944Nov 1945W/Cdr. W.E.M. Lowry, DFC
Nov 1945Apr 1946W/Cdr. K.J. Newman, DFC and Bar (RNZAF)
Apr 1946Sep 1946W/Cdr. J.R.H. Merrifield, DSO, DFC and Bar

See also

References

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

Bibliography
  • 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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