Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
Army Air Corps | |
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![]() Cap Badge of the Army Air Corps. | |
Active | 1942–1949 1957–present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Army aviation |
Role | Battlefield support, reconnaissance |
Size | 2,000 personnel Approx. 200 aircraft[1] |
Garrison/HQ | 1 Regiment: Yeovilton 2 Regiment: Middle Wallop 3 Regiment: Wattisham 4 Regiment: Wattisham 5 Regiment: Aldergrove 6 Regiment: Army Reserve 7 Regiment: Middle Wallop 9 Regiment: Dishforth |
March | Quick: Recce Flight Slow: Thievish Magpie |
Battle honours | Falkland Islands 1982 Wadi al Batin, Gulf 1991 Al-Basrah, Iraq 2003 |
Commanders | |
Colonel-in-Chief | HRH The Prince of Wales |
Colonel of the Regiment | General The Rt Hon. The Lord Dannatt KCB CBE MC |
Insignia | |
Tactical Recognition Flash | ![]() |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | Apache AH1 |
Patrol | Lynx AH7/AH9A |
Reconnaissance | Gazelle AH1 Islander AL1 Wildcat AH1 |
Trainer | Eurocopter Squirrel AS350BB Tutor T1 |
Transport | Bell 212HP Lynx AH7/AH9A AS365N3 Dauphin II Islander AL1 |
The Army Air Corps (AAC) is a component of the British Army, first formed in 1942 during the Second World War. There are eight regiments (7 Regular Army and 1 Reserve) of the AAC as well as four Independent Flights and two Independent Squadrons deployed in support of British Army operations across the world. They are located in Britain, Brunei, Canada, and Germany. The AAC provides the offensive air elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade through Joint Helicopter Command.
History
First formation: 1942–1949
The British Army first took to the sky during the 19th century with the use of observation balloons.[2] In 1911 the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers was the first heavier-than-air British military aviation unit.[3] The following year, the Battalion was expanded into the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps which saw action throughout most of the First World War until 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force.[4]
Between the wars, the Army used RAF co-operation squadrons.[5]
At the beginning of the Second World War, Royal Artillery officers, with the assistance of RAF technicians, flew Auster observation aircraft under RAF-owned Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadrons. Twelve such squadrons were raised[6][7][8] —three of which belonged to the RCAF— and each performed vital duties in a wide array of missions in many theatres.
Early in the war, 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 SAS Regiment was added to the Corps.
One of their most successful exploits during the war was Operation Deadstick, including the attack on Pegasus Bridge, which occurred on 6 June 1944, prior to the landings on Normandy. Once the three gliders landed, some roughly which incurred casualties, the pilots joined the glider-borne troops (Ox & Bucks Light Infantry) to act as infantry. The bridge was taken within ten minutes of the battle commencing and the men there withstood 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 the gliders soon had to transfer to flying powered aircraft, becoming part of the RAF Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadrons, several of which were manned by reserve personnel.
Second formation: 1957–present
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Army_Air_Corps_Lynx_linking_up_with_RAF_regiment_vehicle_patrol._MOD_45142954.jpg/220px-Army_Air_Corps_Lynx_linking_up_with_RAF_regiment_vehicle_patrol._MOD_45142954.jpg)
In 1957 the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps was renamed to The Parachute Regiment, while the Glider Pilot Regiment and the Air Observation Squadrons amalgamated into a new unit, the Army Air Corps.[9]
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 Westland Scout and Bell Sioux general purpose helicopters. The Sioux was replaced from 1973 by the Westland Gazelle used for Airborne recce,[10] initially unarmed, they were converted to carry 68mm SNEB rocket pods in 1982, during the Falklands War. The Scout was replaced from 1978 by the Westland Lynx, which was capable of carrying additional firepower in the form of door gunners.
Basic rotary flying training was carried out on the Bell Sioux in the 1970s, the Westland Gazelle in the 1980s and 1990s and is currently conducted on the Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel.
Fixed-wing types in AAC service have included the Auster AOP.6 and AOP.9 and DHC-2 Beaver AL.1 in the observation and liaison roles. Since 1989, the AAC have operated a number of Britten-Norman Islander and Defender aircraft for surveillance and light transport duties. The corps operated the DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 in the training role until its replacement by the Slingsby T67 Firefly in the 1990s. The Firefly was replaced by the Grob Tutor in 2010.
A further boost in the Army Air Corps' capability came in the form of the Westland Apache AH.1 attack helicopter. In 2006, British Apaches deployed to Afghanistan as part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force.
Today
Personnel
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Army_Air_Corps_Soldiers_on_Parade_at_Middle_Wallop_MOD_45153461.jpg/170px-Army_Air_Corps_Soldiers_on_Parade_at_Middle_Wallop_MOD_45153461.jpg)
The strength of the Army Air Corps is believed to be some 2,000 Regular personnel, of which 500 are officers. However, the AAC draws an additional 2,600 personnel from the Royal Logistic Corps and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Therefore, total related Army Air Corps personnel is around 4,600.[11]
Aircraft
The AAC operates fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The AAC uses the same designation system for aircraft as the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm. Two types of fixed-wing aircraft are operated by the Corps, primarily for reconnaissance purposes: the Britten-Norman Islander AL1[12] and the Britten-Norman Defender AL1/AL2/T3. The Defenders are also employed in the command and communication role with limited use in transporting personnel. Additionally, AAC pilots use the fixed-wing Grob Tutor for Elementary Flying Training (at Army Flying Grading & DEFTS).
Today the larger section of the AAC is the rotary-wing part. Its aviators fly four types of helicopter, and within each type there are usually several marks/variants which carry out different roles. Pilots designated for rotary-wing service train at the Defence Helicopter Flying School, RAF Shawbury. The School is a tri-Service organisation consisting of civilian and military instructors that take the student from basic flying through to more advanced flying such as instrument flying, navigation, formation flying and captaincy. In service rotary-wing aircraft include: the Bell 212HP AH1,[13] the Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II,[14] the Eurocopter Squirrel HT2,[15] the Westland Gazelle AH1,[16] the Westland Lynx AH9A[17] and the AgustaWestland Apache AH1.[18]
Structure
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Arms of the British Army |
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Combat Arms |
Combat Support Arms |
Combat Services |
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Regiments
- 1 Regiment operates the Lynx/Wildcat
- 2 (Training) Regiment, Army Air Corps
- 668 (Training) Squadron (until November 1945 No. 668 Squadron RAF)
- 676 Squadron
- 3 Regiment operates the Apache as part of Joint Helicopter Command
- 653 Squadron is to be an Operational Training Squadron from 2015.[19]
- 662 Squadron
- 663 Squadron
- 4 Regiment operates the Apache as part of Joint Helicopter Command
- 5 Regiment operates the Gazelle and the Defender
- 651 Squadron (until September 1957 No. 651 Squadron RAF)
- 665 Squadron (until July 1945 No. 665 Squadron RCAF)
- 6 Regiment is the Army Reserve component of the AAC
- 7 (Training) Regiment
- 670 (Training) Squadron (until July 1946 No. 670 Squadron RAF)
- 671 (Training) Squadron (until July 1946 No. 671 Squadron RAF)
- 673 (AH Training) Squadron (until October 1945 No. 673 Squadron RAF)
- 9 Regiment operates the Lynx
- 659 Squadron (until August 1947 No. 659 Squadron RAF)
- 669 Squadron (until November 1945 No. 669 Squadron RAF)
- 672 Squadron (until July 1946 No. 672 Squadron RAF)
Independent units
- 7 Flight (Brunei)
- 25 Flight (AAC Middle Wallop)
- 29 (BATUS) Flight (Alberta, Canada)
- 660 Squadron (part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School)
- 667 Squadron (Development and Trials)
- 674 Squadron (Defence Elementary Flying Training School)
- The Band Of The Army Air Corps
- Army Flying Grading
- Army Historic Aircraft Flight
- The Army Air Corps Blue Eagles Display Team
- The Army Air Corps Parachute Display Team
Former units
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British Army of the British Armed Forces |
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Components |
Administration |
Overseas |
Personnel |
Equipment |
History |
Location |
United Kingdom portal |
Future
In the future, the current regiments will be consolidated into the following structure:[20]
Aviation Reconnaissance Force
- 1 Regiment AAC, RNAS Yeovilton | Wildcat AH.1
- 659 Squadron
- 661 Squadron
- 669 Squadron
- 672 Squadron
- 652 Squadron (OCU)
- 5 Regiment AAC, Aldergrove | Gazelle/Defender
- 651 Squadron
- 665 Squadron
16 Air Assault Brigade, Wattisham | Apache AH.1
- 3 Regiment AAC
- 662 Squadron
- 663 Squadron
- 653 Squadron (OCU)
- 4 Regiment AAC
- 656 Squadron
- 664 Squadron
Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
- RAF Odiham | Lynx AH.9A
- 657 Squadron
- Credenhill Barracks | Dauphin II/Gazelle AH.1
- 658 Squadron
Army Reserves[21]
- 6 Regiment AAC
- RHQ/HQ Squadron, Bury St. Edmunds
- 675 Squadron, Taunton/Yeovil
- 677 Squadron, Bury St. Edmunds
- 678 Squadron, Milton Keynes/Luton
- 679 Squadron, Portsmouth/Middle Wallop
- Aviation Specialist Group, Middle Wallop
1 and 9 Regt AAC will merge under one headquarters (1 Regt AAC) and re-locate to RNAS Yeovilton to form a large regiment equipped with the new AgustaWestland Wildcat helicopter not before Oct 15. The Regular component of Army Air Corps capability will consist of two regular aviation regiments equipped with Apache, one large regular aviation regiment equipped with Wildcat, and one regular manned aerial surveillance regiment,[22] although the Gazelle out-of-service date is currently 2018 and it has not yet been confirmed whether or how the capability will be replaced.[23] All five squadrons from 1 and 9 AAC. will remain. Four squadrons will be the front line Lynx Wildcat squadrons, one (652 Squadron) will become the Wildcat Operational Conversion Squadron.[24] There will be two frontline squadrons of Apache helicopters in both 3 and 4 Regiment AAC, with 3 Regiment also parenting the Apache OCU, 653 Squadron. One Regiment will be at high readiness at any one time. One of the squadrons will be attached to HMS Ocean and/or the new Template:Sclass- aircraft carriers for expeditionary operations. Another will be attached to the lead armoured battlegroup.[25]
Training
The Army's training structure will remain broadly the same. Training of future Army Air Corps aircrew will be delivered by the joint service UK Military Flying Training System. Elementary Flying Training will continue to be delivered at RAF Cranwell, alongside Royal Navy students.
Training Units, Middle Wallop
- 7 (Training) Regiment AAC
- 670 Squadron - Operational Training
- 671 Squadron - Lynx/Gazelle/Bell 212 (Future uncertain, given retirement of Gazelle and Lynx fleets)
- 673 Squadron - Apache Conversion to type
- Defence Elementary Flying Training School, RAF Cranwell | Tutor T.1
- 674 Squadron
- Defence Helicopter Flying School, RAF Shawbury | Squirrel HT.1
- 660 Squadron
Battle honours
The Army Air Corps is classed, in UK military parlance, as a "Combat Arm". It therefore carries its own guidon and is awarded battle honours. The honours awarded to the AAC are:
- Normandy Landings 1944
- Merville Battery 1944
- Rhine 1945
- North West Europe 1944 - 45
- Sicily 1943
- Pegasus Bridge
- Arnhem 1944
- Southern France
- Falkland Islands 1982
- Wadi al Batin 1991
- Gulf 1991
- Al-Basrah
- Iraq 2003
Order of precedence
See also
- List of airfields of the Army Air Corps
- Museum of Army Flying
- List of Army Air Corps aircraft squadrons
- Australian Army Aviation
- Army Aviation Corps (India)
- Joint Helicopter Command
- Army aviation
- List of air forces
- Aircrew brevet
References
- ^ "World Air Forces" (PDF). Flight International. 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1994, p. 9.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1994, p. 17.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1994, p. 41.
- ^ Rawlings 1984, pp. 255-259.
- ^ Rawlings 1984, p. 259.
- ^ Halley 1988, pp. 444-451.
- ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 102-105.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1994, pp.179, 187-194.
- ^ "Gazelle - British Army Website". Army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ THE ARMY AIR CORPS (AAC), armedforces.co.uk
- ^ "Islander". mod.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Bell 212 - British Army Website". Army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ "Photos: Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 Aircraft Pictures". Airliners.net. 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
- ^ "Squirrel". mod.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Gazelle". mod.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Westland Lynx". mod.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Attack Helicopter". mod.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "The Eagle" (PDF). Autumn 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ^ Army 2020 Archived April 18, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Army 2020 Reserve Structure & Basing" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-05-30.
- ^ "Army to reduce by 23 units - British Army Website". Army.mod.uk. 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
- ^ "Army Air Corps future structure". UK Armed Forces Commentary. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
- ^ Tim Ripley, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly (2013-10-13). "British Army helicopters leave Germany - IHS Jane's 360". Janes.com. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
- ^ Anonymous (8 July 2014). "654 Squadron's Last Parade Before Disbandment". forces.tv. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
Bibliography
- Farrar-Hockley, General Sir Anthony. The Army in the Air: The History of the Artmy Air Corps. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd., 1994. ISBN 0-7509-0617-0.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Mead, Peter. Soldiers in the Air: The Development of Army Flying. London: Ian Allan Ltd., 1967. OCLC 464211829
- Parham Major General H.J. & Belfield E.M.G. Unarmed Into Battle: The Story of the Air Observation Post. Warren & son, for the Air O.P. Officers' Association, Winchester, 1956. (Second edition: Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK: Picton Publishing Ltd., 1986. ISBN 978-0-948251-14-6)
- Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official site
- School of Army Aviation
- Army Air Corps Historic Aircraft Flight official webpage
- The Blue Eagles - Army Air Corps Helicopter Display Team official webpage
- The Silver Eagles - Army Air Corps Freefall Parachute Display Team official webpage
- Army Air Corps group pool of images on Flickr
- Army Air Corps in Germany private webpage