No. 683 Squadron RAF
# No. 683 Squadron RAF

No. 683 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and from August 1950 to November 1953.

## History

### Formation and World War II

683 squadron was formed out of 'B' Flight of No. 69 Squadron on 8 February 1943 at RAF Luqa on Malta, as a photo-reconnaissance squadron operating the Spitfire fighter in the photo-reconnaissance role. The squadron added the Mosquito Mk.VI to its strength in May 1943, but they were only operated for a month. The squadron was involved in photo-reconnaissance mission over Sicily and Italy and later over Yugoslavia. The squadron moved to San Severo in Italy and continued in support of the US 5th Army. As the war continued it was involved in both tactical and strategic reconnaissance, and was involved survey flight across southern Europe. In September 1944, the squadron re-equipped with Spitfire PR.XIX photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Detachments from the squadron were based at a wide range of bases all across the Italian theatre of operations, with the squadron finally disbanding on 22 September 1945 at San Severo, Italy.

### Post war

The squadron was re-formed on 1 November 1950 at RAF Fayid, Egypt with the Avro Lancaster PR.1 and the Vickers Valetta C.1. It was tasked with the survey and mapping of Arabia and East Africa. In January 1952 the squadron moved to RAF Khormaksar, Aden to cover both Aden and Somaliland. Another move to RAF Habbaniya, Iraq allowed the squadron to survey and map the Persian Gulf. With the survey and mapping role completed the squadron was disbanded at Habbaniya on 30 November 1953.

## Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 683 Squadron RAF, data from :

| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
| - | - | - | - |
| February 1943 | July 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | PR.Mk.IV |
| February 1943 | March 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | PR.Mk.IX |
| April 1943 | September 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | PR.XI |
| May 1943 | June 1943 | de Havilland Mosquito | PR.Mks.IV & VI |
| September 1944 | September 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | PR.XIX |
| November 1950 | November 1953 | Avro Lancaster | PR.1 |
| November 1950 | November 1953 | Vickers Valetta | C.1 |

## Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 683 Squadron RAF, data from :

| From | To | Base | Remark |
| - | - | - | - |
| 8 February 1943 | 22 November 1943 | RAF Luqa, Malta | |
| 22 November 1943 | 20 December 1943 | RAF El Aouina, Tunisia | |
| 20 December 1943 | 21 September 1945 | RAF San Severo, Italy | Dets. all over Italy |
| 1 August 1950 | 26 February 1951 | RAF Fayid, Egypt | |
| 26 February 1951 | 23 April 1951 | RAF Kabrit, Egypt | |
| 23 April 1951 | 24 September 1951 | RAF Eastleigh, Kenya | Dets. at Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika |
| 24 September 1951 | 12 December 1951 | RAF Kabrit, Egypt | Det. at RAF Shaibah, Iraq |
| 12 December 1951 | 22 May 1952 | RAF Khormaksar, Aden | Det. at RAF Habbaniya, Iraq |
| 22 May 1952 | 30 November 1953 | RAF Habbaniya, Iraq | Det. at RAF Sharjah, Trucial States |

## Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 683 squadron RAF, data from :

| From | To | Name |
| - | - | - |
| February 1943 | October 1943 | W/Cdr. A. Warburton, DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar |
| October 1943 | August 1944 | S/Ldr. H.S. Smith, DFC |
| August 1944 | April 1945 | S/Ldr. R.T. Turton, DFC |
| April 1945 | September 1945 | S/Ldr. E.R. Pearson, DFC |
| November 1950 | 1952 | S/Ldr. I.D.N. Lawson |
| 1952 | November 1953 | S/Ldr. N.N. Ezekiel |
