No. 683 Squadron RAF

683 squadron was formed out of 'B' Flight of No. 69 Squadron on 8 February 1943{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=105.}} 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.

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.

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Bowman |first=Martin |title=Mosquito Photo-Reconnaissance Units of World War 2 |location=Oxford, UK |publisher= Osprey Publishing |year= 1999 |isbn=1-85532-891-7}}
• {{cite book |last=Bowyer |first= Chaz |author-link= Chaz Bowyer |title=Mosquito Squadrons of the Royal Air Force|location= Shepperton, Surrey, UK |publisher= Ian Allan Ltd. |year= 1984 |isbn=0-7110-1425-6}}
• {{cite book |last=Bowyer |first=Michael J.F. |first2=John D.R. |last2=Rawlings |title=Squadron Codes, 1937–56 |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd. |year=1979 |isbn=0-85059-364-6 }}
• {{cite book |last=Delve |first=Ken |title=The Source Book of the RAF |location= Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK |publisher=Airlife Publishing |year= 1994 |isbn=1-85310-451-5}}
• {{cite book |last1=Flintham |first1= Vic |first2= Andrew |last2=Thomas |title=Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938 |location=Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK |publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd. |year=2003 |isbn=1-84037-281-8}}
• {{cite book |last=Halley |first=James J. |title=The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988 |year=1988 |location=Tonbridge, Kent, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.|isbn=0-85130-164-9 }}
• {{cite book |last= Jefford |first= C.G. |title= RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 |year=2001 |edition=2nd |publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd. |location=Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK |isbn=1-85310-053-6 }}
• {{cite book |last=Rawlings |first= John D.R. |title=Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft |location=London |publisher= Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. |year= 1982 |isbn=0-7106-0187-5}}

{{Refend}}

• [http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/683squadron.cfm History of 683 Squadron]
• [http://www.rafcommands.com/Coastal/683C.html No. 683 Squadron RAF movement and equipment history]
• [http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn671-1435.htm Squadron Histories and more of Nos. 671–1435 Squadron on RAFweb] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130060328/http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn671-1435.htm |date=30 January 2010 }}

{{RAF squadrons}}

{{Royal Air Force}}

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683 Squadron

Category:Aircraft squadrons of the Royal Air Force in World War II

Category:Military units and formations established in 1944

Category:Reconnaissance units and formations of the Royal Air Force

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1953