History

Chinese General Han Hsin, in 200 BC, is reported to have flown the kite first, for military purpose that is to assess the accurate distance between his forces and besieged fortress, through length of rope, before Orville Wright took off in his 'Flyer' on December 7, 1903 at 10:35 for a flight of 120 feet in 12 seconds. The first powered, sustained and controlled flight in human history, although many others had been air borne in one way or the other. On June 26 1794, in the Battle of Fleurus, Captain Coutelle of France ascended in balloon Entrepreneunt, to guide French Guns.
In the Boer War, the tactics of placing guns in direct role had to be changed as they were susceptible to frontal attack , They were placed behind a cover, but than the problem raised as how to see the target, for this an observer was placed, and he used to guide the fire through flag signals and line communication.

First Great War (1914 – 1918)===
In the first Great War, the aircraft was a novelty and was initially used for the battle field surveillance, in the Battle of Tannenberg, in 1914, 125.000 Russian soldiers and 500 guns surrendered due to German Aerial reconnaissance, as the war progressed, aircraft of Royal Flying Corps which was established in 1912, were used for multiple functions, chiefly the adjustment of artillery fire, bombing, dogfight, aerial photography and weather data were inducted .

Pilots

Officers were carefully selected captains from Royal Regiment of Artillery; they had to be first class shots with field, medium and heavy guns and a great skill of pilot ability. They had the authority to call upon the concentrated fire of hundreds of guns. There was only one way telegraphy to the battery, who cold reply back using system of white cloth signals, sorties were long {two hours} ranging procedure was cumbersome but effective, one persistent danger was of flying on to own shell trajectory

Shoot Procedure

The pilot would arrive at the battery position. His aircraft would take 150 – 200 feet for take off and landing, he would be briefed by the battery commander. Pilot would get airborne and check his one way telegraphy/radio communication with battery who would reply back through flag signals
This system had inherent flaw, one it was time consuming, pilot belonged to another service, with little knowledge of tactical situation prevailing on ground, and he was briefed by the air liaison officer who in turn was briefed by chain of staff officers.

Royal Artillery In 1938, consisted of almost half the British Army, and they felt the need for a readily available aircraft, which would get airborne in minimum time and could communicate directly with the Guns."The battery Commanders, wanted to see a target out of sight behind a hill is compelled to call a upon a unit Operating from a distant landing ground, when five minutes in the air above his own battery position over a thousand feet up would meet all his needs" In 1938-39 tests and trials were carried out with French army, who were contemplating the same idea, It finally resulted in the formation of squadron 651 (AOP). In Feb 1940. It was the first flying OP unit of RAF. In 1941 the American adopted the same approach and established on 6 June 1942, a light aircraft as an organic part of all Field Artillery Battalions.

659 SQUADRON ARMY AIR CORPS was raised at Firbeck in Yorkshire, England on 30th April 1943. Its first Officer Commanding was Major E.O.V Prendergast RA and the Squadron was equipped with Mark III Austers and a single Tiger Moth. Squadron supported 8 corps against 16 SS Panzer division, it also took part in Normandy landing operation, Market Garden, Along with 658 Squadron 659 Squadron moved to India in October 1945 in response to extensive rioting and unrest pre-independence. The Squadron was involved in AOP training, but more importantly supported frontier forces in Waziristan often operating out of semi-jungle strips. In august 1947 on independence, the Squadron’s assets were absorbed into the Royal Pakistan Air Force on 14 August 1947.it was stationed at Lahore without any Muslim Aviator.

Aircraft

===AUSTER V
It was a three seater (side by side seats and one at the base) tail wheel aircraft with a British design. It had a very reliable American Lycoming Engine. It could cruise at 80 miles per hour, had no intercommunication and that the pilot had to strap on the slide seat. An army 62 set for communication with the guns, except the compass, it had no navigation aid. The instrument panel was basic. Instead of battery start, the propeller had to be swung by hand. Only a few technicians could swing and they used to be on great demand for cross country fights. It had minimum lights but one could do the night flying.

AUSTER VI

It was a twin seat (front and rear passenger seat), little heavier than Auster V, single control and had a battery start facility. It had cruising speed of 85 mile per hour, had the tail wheel and British Jipsy Major engine more powerful then Lycoming engine. Conversion on this aircraft was a problem. The instructor sitting in the front seat would demonstrate few circuits and landings to the student sitting in the rear passenger seat, then change the position. The student had no problem in take off but on landing most of the students would swing. The instructor sitting in rear was help less. The aircraft had the tendency to swing and students were shy to fly it.

AUSTER VD

By 1950, Lycoming engine was no longer in production and replacement of Auster V had to be procured. Air Headquarters technical authorities recommended a change of the Lycoming engine and replace it with Jipsy Major engine. The modification was done at Forward Repair Unit (FRU) Chaklala. It was named as Auster Mark V D.. The aircraft nose was heavy. Its spares were not available and no more aircraft was modified.

Auster Aiglet

In 1952, the Auster aircraft were procured. It was a commercial aircraft inducted for operational role. Its performance was similar to Auster VI. There were two seats in the front (side by side) and two at the back. Its power/weight ratio was not satisfactory but these remained in service till replaced by L-19 aircraft {It should be borne in mind that the training version of Aiglet was two seat dual control aerobatic aircraft,Aiglet had the basic frame similar to the earlier J-5,but it had horn balanced rudder and elevators. The two wings were clipped by 4 ft for greater rate of roll. fuselage width was increased by 4inch.

TIGER MOTH DH-82

DE HAVILLAND{ENGLAND}Tiger Moth was originally designed as a two seater light training biplane in the late 20. It had tandem open cockpits, and the two wings were staggered and swept back. RPAF inherited some of them on independence and later bought 24 in 48-49.Army pilots were trained on it as elementary flying under RPAF college Reaper was done on it,later these TIGERMOTHS were given to the university air squadrons where AOP pilots used to get the basic flying and then converted on to Austers in the AOP flt .These Tiger Moths were phased out from RPAF in 57 ,by that time L/19 were also on short finals

Technical Data

Max weight 1,825lbs
Span 29ft
Gypsy major engine air cooled thrust 130hp
Max speed 109 mph
Ceiling 13,600feet
Nav Aids VHF