The squadron was formed at RAF Andover, England, on 5 March 1945, the third air observation post squadron consisting of Canadian personnel to be formed at RAF Andover, after a 1944 parliamentary debate in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, resulted in the approval of three AOP squadrons to be added to the RCAF list, in support of the First Canadian Army. The squadron operated under the overall command of No. 70 Group, RAF Fighter Command.
Royal Canadian Artillery Major Dave Ely initially took command of each of the three squadrons, and was assisted by two RCAF Flight Lieutenants, D. Dougall (Acting Squadron Adjutant) and A.R. Woodhouse (Squadron Equipment officer). Major Ely was also assisted by nine AOP trained Royal Artillery Officers, who began training the squadron's other ranks.
In the last week of March 1945, 666 Squadron's aircraft – sixteen Auster Mark V's – began to arrive, along with the squadron's ground transport. On 7 May 1945, ten qualified Canadian AOP pilots were posted to the squadron, and from their ranks, Captain A.B. Stewart was elevated to Squadron Captain. In April, 666 began a succession of moves: on 17 April, to Alfriston Aerodrome; on 28 May, to Gilze-Rijen, the Netherlands; on 6 June, to be headquartered at Hilversum, from where the squadron's three subordinate Flights were dispersed to Dordrecht, Alkmaar, and Ede.
With the disbanding of 665 (AOP) Squadron, on 10 July 1945, many of the remaining personnel from that squadron were transferred to 666 Squadron. Tasking thereafter included VIP, Courier, and Communications Flight duties in support of the Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF). No. 666 Squadron RCAF in its turn was disbanded at Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, on 31 October 1945. The squadron had no motto or heraldic badge assigned to it.
^National Archives of Canada file C12430 pertains to the war history to 664 (RCAF)(AOP) Squadron, 665 (RCAF) and 666 (RCAF)(AOP) Squadrons. This original documentation fails to disclose any information that would indicate they were raised, manned or administered by the RAF, although the squadron was employed by 70 Group, RAF Fighter Command.
Blackburn, George. Where The Hell are the Guns?, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: McClelland & Stewart Publishing, 1997. ISBN0-7710-1504-6.
Fromow, Lt-Col. D.L. Canada's Flying Gunners: A History of the Air Observation Post of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Air Observation Post Pilots Association, 2002. ISBN0-9730055-0-5.
Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–88. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C. G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN1-84037-141-2.
Knight, Darrell. Artillery Flyers at War: A History of the 664, 665, and 666 ‘Air Observation Post’ Squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Bennington, Vermont, USA: Merriam Press, 2010. ISBN978-0-557-32963-2.
Parham, Major General H.J. and E.M.G. Belfield (with a foreword by Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, Master Gunner). Unarmed Into Battle: The Story of the Air Observation Post. Wiltshire: Picton Publishing, 1986.
Stewart, Major A.B. Battle History 666. Epe, the Netherlands, 1945. Republished by Abel Book Company, Calgary, 2006.
2 Non-standard code as unit using OW added L. Letters normally denoted parent Command, aircraft type (LLiberator transport, D Dakota etc), unit, and individual aircraft.
3VCXXA where VC was the civil code used by the RCAF replacing CF-, XX was the unit code and A was the aircraft ID letter
4XXnnn where XX was the unit code and nnn was the last 3 digits of the serial number. Unit code was replaced with "RCAF" in 1958
Canada
Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Artillery
