No. 684 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1946.
History The squadron was formed on 29 September 1943 at RAF Dum Dum near Calcutta, (then) British India, from the twin-engined elements of No. 681 Squadron RAF. It operated in the photo-reconnaissance role, first with 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.
Aircraft operated +Aircraft operated by no. 684 Squadron RAF, data fromFrom To Aircraft Variant September 1943 September 1945 North American Mitchell Mk.II (B-25C) September 1943 December 1943 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.II September 1943 February 1944 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI October 1943 February 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.IX February 1944 May 1946 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XVI May 1945 July 1945 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VI July 1945 September 1946 de Havilland Mosquito PR.34 July 1945 July 1946 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X December 1945 September 1946 Supermarine Spitfire PR.XI, PR.XIX
Squadron bases + Air bases and airfields used by no. 684 Squadron RAF, data fromFrom To Name Remark 29 September 1943 9 December 1943 RAF Dum Dum, Bengal, British India Formed here 9 December 1943 31 January 1944 RAF Comilla, Bengal, British India 31 January 1944 5 May 1944 RAF Dum Dum, West Bengal, British India 5 May 1944 11 October 1945 RAF Alipore, Bengal, British India Detachments at RAF Yelahanka, Karnataka, British India;RAF China Bay, Ceylon; RAF Cocos Islands and RAF Mingaladon, Burma 11 October 1945 27 January 1946 Tân Sơn Nhất Airfield, Saigon, Vietnam Detachment at RAF Seletar, Singapore 27 January 1946 August 1946 Don Muang Airfield, Bangkok, Thailand Detachments at RAF Seletar, Singapore and RAF Baigachi, Bengal August 1946 1 September 1946 RAF Seletar, Singapore Disbanded here
Commanding officers + Officers commanding no. 684 squadron RAF, data fromFrom To Name Sep 1943 Dec 1943 S/Ldr. B.S. Jones Dec 1943 Nov 1944 W/Cdr. W.B. Murray Nov 1944 Nov 1945 W/Cdr. W.E.M. Lowry, DFC Nov 1945 Apr 1946 W/Cdr. K.J. Newman, DFC and Bar (RNZAF) Apr 1946 Sep 1946 W/Cdr. J.R.H. Merrifield, DSO, DFC and Bar
See also List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
References
Notes
Bibliography
External links
No 671 – 1435 Squadron Histories History of 684 Squadron