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.
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.
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.
^"Service Aviation". Flight International: 341–342. 27 February 1964. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
^Cooper, Tom (1 September 2003).
"Guatemala since 1954". Air Combat Information Group. Archived from
the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
^"RAF Benson". Facebook.com. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
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.
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.
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.
^"Service Aviation". Flight International: 341–342. 27 February 1964. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
^Cooper, Tom (1 September 2003).
"Guatemala since 1954". Air Combat Information Group. Archived from
the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
^"RAF Benson". Facebook.com. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.