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Information about Army Air Corps

This article is about the avitation component of the British Army. For the United States Army equivalent, see United States Army Aviation Branch.
For the 1926-1942 U.S. Army organization, see .


Army Air Corps

Cap Badge of the Army Air Corps
Active1942–1949, 1957–present
CountryUK
BranchBritish Army
TypeArmy aviation branch
RoleBattlefield support and reconnaissance
Size8 regiments, 2 independent squadrons, 5 independent flights
Garrison/HQ1 Regiment: Gütersloh, Germany
2 Regiment: Middle Wallop
3 Regiment: Wattisham
4 Regiment: Wattisham
5 Regiment: RAF Aldergrove
6 Regiment: TA Reserve
7 Regiment: TA Reserve
9 Regiment: Dishforth
MarchQuick: Recce Flight
Slow: The Thieving Magpie
Battle honoursFalkland Islands 1982, Wadi al Batin, Gulf 1991, Al-Basrah, Iraq, 2003
Commanders
Colonel-in-ChiefHRH The Prince of Wales
Colonel of
the Regiment		General Sir Francis Richard Dannatt, KCB, CBE, MC
Insignia
Roundels
Aircraft flown
AttackLynx, Apache AH Mk 1
PatrolLynx
ReconnaissanceGazelle AH1, Islander AL1
TrainerEurocopter Squirrel AS350BB
TransportBell 212HP, Lynx, Agusta A109A, Islander AL1


The Army Air Corps is a component of the British Army. There are eight regiments of the AAC as well as five Independent Flights and two Independent Squadrons deployed in support of British Army operations across the world. They are located in Britain, Belize, Brunei, Canada, and Germany. The AAC provides the organic offensive air elements of 16th Air Assault Brigade.

History of the AAC

The first Army Air Corps

The Army first took to the sky when the requirement for observation aircraft was realised during the First World War, with the creation of the Royal Flying Corps.

Between the wars, the Army used RAF co-operation squadrons, though a true army presence did not occur until WWII.

At the beginning of WWII, Royal Artillery officers, with the assistance of RAF technicians, flew Auster observation aircraft under RAF-owned Air Observation Post Squadrons. Twelve such squadrons were raised—three of which belonged to the RCAF—and each performed vital duties in a wide array of missions in many theatres.

In early WWII, Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, announced the establishment of a new branch of army aviation, the Army Air Corps, formed in 1942. The corps initially comprised the Glider Pilot Regiment and the Parachute Battalions (subsequently the Parachute Regiment), and the Air Observation Post Squadrons. In 1944, the re-formed SAS Regiment was added to the Corps.

One of their most successful exploits during the war was the attack on Pegasus Bridge, which occurred on 6 June, prior to the landings at Normandy. Once the three gliders landed, some roughly which incurred casualties, the pilots joined the Glider-borne troops (Ox's & Bucks Light Infantry) to act as infantry. The Bridge was taken within ten minutes of the battle commencing and the men there withheld numerous attempts by the Germans to re-capture the location. They were soon reinforced and relieved by soldiers from Lord Lovat's 1 Special Service Brigade, famously led by piper Bill Millin. It was subsequently further reinforced by units of the British 3rd Division.

The AAC was broken up in 1949, with the SAS returning to its independent status, while the Parachute Regiment and Glider Pilot Regiment came under the umbrella of the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps. The pilots who had once flown gliders in WWII soon had to re-role into flying powered aircraft, becoming part of the Air Observation Post Squadrons.

The present Army Air Corps

In 1957 the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps was renamed as The Parachute Corps, with the Glider Pilot Regiment, as well as the Air Observation Squadrons amalgamated into a new unit, the Army Air Corps.
British Army Arms and Services

Combat Arms
Royal Armoured Corps
Infantry
Guards Division
Scottish Division
King's Division
Queen's Division
Prince of Wales' Division
Royal Irish Regiment
Parachute Regiment
Brigade of Gurkhas
The Rifles
Army Air Corps
Special Air Service Regiment
Combat Support Arms
Royal Regiment of Artillery
Corps of Royal Engineers
Royal Corps of Signals
Intelligence Corps
Combat Services
Royal Army Chaplains Department
Royal Logistic Corps
Army Medical Services
Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Dental Corps
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Queen Alexandra's Royal
Army Nursing Corps
Corps of Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers
Adjutant General's Corps
Army Legal Services Branch
Royal Military Police
Military Provost Staff Corps
Small Arms School Corps
Army Physical Training Corps
General Service Corps
Corps of Army Music
From 1970, nearly every army brigade had at least one Aviation Squadron that usually numbered twelve aircraft. The main rotor aircraft during the 1970s were the Scout and Sioux general purpose helicopters. Their power though was soon bolstered by the introduction of the Westland Lynx helicopter in 1977 as well as the unarmed Gazelle. A further boost in the Army Air Corp’s capability came in the form of the Apache Mk 1 attack helicopter. In 2006, British Apaches deployed to Afghanistan as part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force mission there. In July 2007 an order was placed for 4 Beechcraft King Air 350s for use in the surveillance role in Afghanistan, the type being much more capable than the Islanders currently used.

Present Day Units

Regiments

  • 1 Regiment, Army Air Corps
  • 652 Squadron (until September 1957 No. 652 Squadron RAF)
  • 661 Squadron
  • 2 (Training) Regiment, Army Air Corps
  • 668 (Training) Squadron
  • 670 (Training) Squadron
  • 671 (Training) Squadron
  • 673 (AH Training) Squadron
  • 676 (Training) Squadron
  • 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps
  • 653 Squadron
  • 662 Squadron
  • 663 Squadron
  • 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps
  • 654 Squadron
  • 656 Squadron formerly No. 656 Squadron RAF
  • 664 Squadron
  • 5 Regiment, Army Air Corps
  • 655 Squadron
  • 665 Squadron
  • 1 Flight
  • 6 (Volunteer) Regiment, Army Air Corps
  • 677 Squadron (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry)
  • 7 (Volunteer) Regiment, Army Air Corps
  • 658 Squadron
  • 666 Squadron
  • 3 Flight
  • 6 Flight
  • 9 Regiment, Army Air Corps
  • 659 Squadron
  • 669 Squadron
  • 672 Squadron

Independent Squadrons and Flights

Independent Flights: Independent Squadrons:
  • 651 Squadron
  • 657 Squadron
Enlarge picture
An Army Air Corps Auster AOP.5 Air Observation Post. One example is maintained by the Army Historic Aircraft Flight

Other units

  • 660 Squadron (Defence Helicopter Flying School)
  • 667 Squadron (Development and Trials)
  • 674 Squadron (Defence Elementary Flying Training School)
  • The Band Of The Army Air Corps
  • Army Air Corps Historic Aircraft Flight
  • The Army Air Corps Blue Eagles Display Team
  • The Army Air Corps Parachute Display Team
  • 105 Squadron Army Cadet Force

Current Aircraft of the AAC

Historic Aircraft Flight

See also List of aircraft of the Army Air Corps

Enlarge picture
An Army Air Corps Apache. The WAH-64D is a licence-built version of the Boeing AH-64D Apache "Longbow"

Other information

Order of Precedence

Preceded by:
Line Infantry and Rifles		British Army Order of PrecedenceSucceeded by:
Royal Army Chaplains' Department

See also

External links


Lists of Aircraft | Aircraft manufacturers | Aircraft engines | Aircraft engine manufacturers | Airlines | Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation
Aviation Branch of the United States Army is the administrative organization within the Army responsible for doctrine, manning and configuration for all aviation units.
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The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with unification of the governments and armed forces of England and Scotland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.
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Guetersloh.


Gütersloh

Coat of arms Location

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Over Wallop, Nether Wallop

European Parliament
List of places: UK • England • Hampshire

Middle Wallop is the local name given to an area between the two Parishes of Over Wallop and Nether Wallop.
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RAF Wattisham (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGUW) was a Royal Air Force station south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England.

World War II

RAF use

Wattisham
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RAF Wattisham (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGUW) was a Royal Air Force station south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England.

World War II

RAF use

Wattisham
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RAF Aldergrove is a Royal Air Force station situated 18 miles north-west of Belfast. It adjoins Belfast International Airport, sometimes referred to simply as Aldergrove which is the name of the surrounding area.
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The Territorial Army (TA) is the principal and Volunteer reserve force of the British Army, the land armed forces branch of the United Kingdom, and composed mostly of part-time soldiers paid at the same rate, while engaged on military activities, as their Regular
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The Territorial Army (TA) is the principal and Volunteer reserve force of the British Army, the land armed forces branch of the United Kingdom, and composed mostly of part-time soldiers paid at the same rate, while engaged on military activities, as their Regular
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Dishforth is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is near RAF Dishforth, a local Army Air Corps helicopter base. The village is close to the A1(M) and the A168.
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La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie) is a melodramma or opera semiseria in two acts by Gioacchino Rossini. The libretto was by Giovanni Gherardini after La pie voleuse by JMT Badouin d'Aubigny and Louis-Charles Caigniez.
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A battle honour is a military tradition practiced in the Commonwealth countries of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand and is an official acknowledgement rewarded to military units for their achievements in specific wars or operations of a military campaign.
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Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur), also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands, South Georgia
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City of Hafar Al-Batin

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname: The Capital of the Spring
Coordinates:
Country Saudi Arabia
Province
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Pars Sea.[5]

Naming dispute



Since the 1960s with the rise of Arab nationalism (Pan-Arabism), starting with Gamal Abdel Nasser's Arab Republic of Egypt, some Arab countries, including the ones bordering the Persian Gulf, have adopted the term "Arabian
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19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1960s  1970s  1980s  - 1990s -  2000s  2010s  2020s
1988 1989 1990 - 1991 - 1992 1993 1994

Year 1991 (MCMXCI
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Iraqi (under Saddam Hussein):
375,000+ regular forces.
Post-Baathist government, multi-sided conflict:
Sunni Insurgents
Unknown
Mahdi Army
~60,000[6][7]
al Qaeda/others
1,300+[8] Coalition
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The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George;<ref name="sur" /> born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
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A ground-attack aircraft is an aircraft that is designed to operate in direct support of ground forces such as infantry, tanks and other fighting vehicles. Their use is therefore tactical rather than strategic, operating at the front of the battle rather than against targets deeper
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Type Helicopter
Manufacturer Westland/AgustaWestland
Maiden flight 21 March 1971
Introduced 1978
Status Active service
Primary users Army Air Corps (British Army)
Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) French Navy German Navy

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Type Attack helicopter
Manufacturer Westland (under licence)
Introduced January 2001
Status Active service
Primary user British Army Air Corps
Produced 1998-2004
Number built 67
Developed from
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A patrol bomber, or patrol aircraft, is an fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate for long times over water in an anti-shipping or anti-submarine role.

The first aircraft that would now be identified as patrol bombers were flown by the Royal Naval Air Service during
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Type Helicopter
Manufacturer Westland/AgustaWestland
Maiden flight 21 March 1971
Introduced 1978
Status Active service
Primary users Army Air Corps (British Army)
Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) French Navy German Navy

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Surveillance aircraft are military aircraft used for monitoring enemy activity, usually carrying no armament. This article concentrates on military aircraft used in this role, though a major civilian aviation activity is reconnaissance and ground surveillance for mapping, traffic
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Type Utility/Attack helicopter
Manufacturers Aérospatiale
Westland Aircraft
SOKO
Maiden flight 7 April 1967
Introduced 1973
Status Active
Primary users French Army
British Army
Serbian Air Force

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Type Utility aircraft/Airliner
Manufacturer Britten-Norman
Designed by John Britten
Maiden flight 1965
Number built 1200+
Variants Trislander
Defender

The Britten-Norman Islander (also known as the BN-2
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A trainer is a training aircraft used to develop piloting, navigational or weapon-aiming skills in flight crew.

Civilian pilots are normally trained in a light aircraft, with 2 or more seats to allow for student and instructor.
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Type Light utility
Manufacturer Aérospatiale
Eurocopter Group
Maiden flight 26 June 1974
Introduced 1975
Produced 1975 to date
Unit cost ~US$2.4M (AS350 B2)
~US$2.7M (AS350 B3)
~US$3.9M (AS355 NP VFR)
~US$4.
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A cargo aircraft is an airplane designed and used for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. This role demands a number of features that makes a cargo aircraft instantly identifiable; a "fat" looking fuselage, a high-wing to allow the cargo area to sit near the
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Type Helicopter
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter
Introduced 1968
Primary user CHC Helicopter
Developed from Bell 204/205
Variants UH-1N Twin Huey
Bell 412 The Bell 212 Twin Huey
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