Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox military unit

The Army Air Corps (AAC) is the aviation arm of the British Army, first formed in 1942 during the Second World War by grouping the various airborne units of the British Army. Today, there are eight regiments (seven Regular Army and one Reserve) of the AAC, as well as two independent flights and two independent squadrons deployed in support of British Army operations around the world. Regiments and flights are located in the United Kingdom, Kenya, and Canada. Some AAC squadrons provide the air assault elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, through Joint Aviation Command.

History

Template:British Army Template:Further

Precursors

Template:See also

The British Army first took to the sky during the 19th century with the use of observation balloons.<ref>Farrar-Hockley 1994, p. 9.</ref> In 1911 the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers was the first heavier-than-air British military aviation unit.<ref>Farrar-Hockley 1994, p. 17.</ref> 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.<ref>Farrar-Hockley 1994, p. 41.</ref> Between the wars, the army used RAF co-operation squadrons.<ref>Rawlings 1984, pp. 255–259.</ref> 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 squadrons were raised, three of which belonged to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and each performed vital duties in many theatres.<ref>Rawlings 1984, p. 259.</ref><ref>Halley 1988, pp. 444–451.</ref><ref>Jefford 2001, pp. 102–105.</ref>

First formation: 1942–1949

In 1942, Winston Churchill announced the establishment of a new branch of army aviation, the Army Air Corps. The corps initially comprised the Glider Pilot Regiment and the Parachute Battalions (subsequently the Parachute Regiment), Air Landing Regiments, and the air observation post squadrons. In March 1944, the SAS Regiment was added to the corps.<ref name=nam>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

One of their most successful exploits during the war was the capture of the Caen canal and Orne river bridges by {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, which occurred on 6 June 1944, prior to the Normandy landings. 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 withstood numerous attempts by the Germans to re-capture the location. They were soon reinforced and relieved by soldiers from the 1st Special Service Brigade (Lord Lovat).<ref>Template:Cite book.</ref> The AAC was disbanded in 1949, with the SAS regaining independent status, while the Parachute Regiment and Glider Pilot Regiment came under the umbrella of the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps.<ref name=nam/>

Second formation: 1957–present

A Westland Lynx AH.7 of the Army Air Corps taking off from a desert road south of Basra Airport, Iraq, November 2003
Eight Apache attack helicopters of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps during Exercise Talon Gravis, 2019.

In 1957 the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps was split, with the Parachute Regiment becoming an independent formation, while the Glider Pilot Regiment was merged with the Air Observation Squadrons of the Royal Artillery into a new unit, the Army Air Corps.<ref>Farrar-Hockley 1994, pp.179, 187–194.</ref>

In 1958 the Saunders-Roe Skeeter 7 was introduced as the AAC's first helicopter, it was replaced by the Aérospatiale Alouette II and Westland Scout AH.1 during the early 1960s. The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver AL.1 was introduced during the 1960s along with the Agusta/Westland Sioux AH.1 in 1964.Template:Sfn

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 reconnaissance;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>"Profile of a UK forces' mainstay." BBC News, 9 September 2004.</ref>

Basic rotary flying training was carried out on the Sioux in the 1970s, on the Gazelle in the 1980s and 1990s, and is currently conducted on the Eurocopter H145/H135 through No. 1 Flying Training School RAF.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Fixed-wing types in AAC service have included the Auster AOP.6 and AOP.9 and Beaver AL.1 in observation and liaison roles. In 1989, the AAC commenced operating a number of Britten-Norman Islander aircraft for surveillance and light transport duties.<ref name="Janes2016">Template:Cite news</ref> The corps operated the DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 in a training role until its replacement by the Slingsby T67 Firefly in the 1990s. The Firefly was replaced by the Grob Tutor in 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Cold War

During the Cold War the majority of Army Air Corps units were based in Germany and part of the British Army of the Rhine. At the beginning of 1989 the Army Air Corps structure was as follows:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Army Air Corps, Middle Wallop Flying Station

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

War on Terror

A further boost in the Army Air Corps' capability came in the form of the AgustaWestland Apache AH.1 attack helicopter, introduced in 2004. In 2006, British Apaches deployed to Afghanistan as part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force. In 2004, Britten-Norman Defender fixed wing aircraft were purchased for Afghanistan and Iraq.<ref name="Janes2016"/>

End of fixed-wing flying, 2019–2021

In April 2019, 651 Squadron personnel and aircraft, the Islander and Defender, were transferred from 5 Regiment to No. 1 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing Royal Air Force.<ref name="Janes2019">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> 651 Squadron continued to operate the aircraft until they were retired from service on 30 June 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

End of aviation support to BATUS

In October 2021, 29 (BATUS) Flight was placed in suspended animation, with the UK no longer providing BATUS with aviation support.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Current structure and deployment

Mascot

The Army Air Corps adopted their first Corps Mascot – Zephyr, a bald eagle – in October 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Training

The training of future Army Air Corps aircrew is delivered by the joint service UK Military Flying Training System. Elementary Flying Training is delivered at RAF Shawbury and Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Training Units, Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop

Personnel

The strength of the Army Air Corps is about 2,000 regular personnel, of which 500 are officers. However, the AAC draws an additional 2,600 personnel from the Royal Logistic Corps, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Adjutant General's Corps.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Therefore, total related Army Air Corps personnel is around 4,600.<ref>THE ARMY AIR CORPS (AAC) Template:Webarchive, armedforces.co.uk</ref>

  • Army Air Corps personnel on parade, 2011
    Army Air Corps personnel on parade, 2011
  • An Army Air Corps aircrew in 2016, wearing the newly issued flying uniform in Multi-Terrain Pattern which replaces the former one-piece flight suit
    An Army Air Corps aircrew in 2016, wearing the newly issued flying uniform in Multi-Terrain Pattern which replaces the former one-piece flight suit

Aircraft

Template:Further

Since 2019, the AAC solely operates rotary-wing aircraft operationally. Some fixed-wing aircraft are flown with the historic flight. The AAC uses the same designation system for aircraft as the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm. The sole fixed-wing trainer is the Grob Tutor, used for Army Flying Grading.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="674 Sqn AAC – standing down">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Circa 2023, AAC aviators fly four types of helicopter, and within each type there are usually several marks/variants which carry out different roles. Pilots train with No. 1 Flying Training School<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> at 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 aircraft include the Airbus Helicopters H135 Juno,<ref name="Royal Air Force">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1,<ref name="Wildcat">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II, and the Boeing AH-64E Version 6 Apache.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In May 2023, the Royal Air Force took over the helicopter support role in Brunei and thus, the Bell 212HP AH1, previously in service, was retired.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In October 2023, the Gazelle helicopter was retired from service, after 49 years in the British Army.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In March 2024, the final Apache AH.1 was formally withdrawn from service. The AH-64E was declared "operationally ready" on the same day.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Command and units

Template:British Army Arms Template:Further

Template:Location map+

Below is the current structure of the Army Air Corps:<ref>Army 2020 Template:Webarchive</ref>

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> (Reserve)

      • RHQ/HQ Squadron, Middle Wallop Flying Station
      • No. 677 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Squadron, Bury St. Edmunds
      • No. 679 (The Duke of Connaught's) Squadron, Portsmouth/Middle Wallop
      • Aviation Specialist Group, Middle Wallop

Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing

Independent units

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:

Alliances

Order of precedence

Template:S-start Template:Order of precedence Template:S-end

See also

Template:Portal

References

Template:Reflist

Bibliography

Template:Refbegin

  • Farrar-Hockley, General Sir Anthony. The Army in the Air: The History of the Army Air Corps. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd., 1994. Template:ISBN.
  • Template:Cite book
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. Template:ISBN.
  • Jefford, C.G. 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). Template:ISBN.
  • Mead, Peter. Soldiers in the Air: The Development of Army Flying. London: Ian Allan Ltd., 1967. Template:OCLC
  • 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. Template:ISBN)
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. Template:ISBN.

Template:Refend

Template:Sister project

Template:Army Air Corps Template:British Army navbox Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Army_Air_Corps_(United_Kingdom)&oldid=259870"