The Avro 652 was a commercial aircraft designed and built for an Imperial Airways requirement in 1933 which wanted a light bimotor transport. The Avro 652 became famous thanks to a request of the Air Ministery to have a new coastal reconnaissance plane already designed and present on the market. Ordered the following year, the prototype flew in January 1935. Adapted for military use, the Avro 652A Anson I entered service with the RAF in 1936, where its performances made it an excellent training plane that was also sold to other countries. It was also produced in Canada and after the war it was utilized by Commonwealth and US forces. It remained in service with RAF for over 36 years, until 1968.

The total number of Avro 652 with the Fleet Air Arm totalled 2, both having been impressed and transferred from the RAF, as ex G-ACRM and ex G-ACRN.  The first to be received by the Fleet Air Arm was Avro 652 DG655 on 9 July 1941 to 811 torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadron at Lee on Solent. It was soon followed by a second impressed Avro 652. They remained with the squadron till March 1942 when payed off.

            Fleet Air Arm history

         Total FAA 1939-1945:            2
            First delivered to RN:             September 1941
            Last with RN                        1942
            First squadron 1939-1945:       881 squadron

Created 3-4-1999, Modified 3-4-2000

 

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