:''This is about the component of the British Army. For the United States version see United_States_Army_Air_Corps.''
{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name=Army Air Corps
|image=
|caption=
|dates=1942-1949, 1957-present
|country=UK
|allegiance=
|branch=British_Army
|type=Army aviation support
|role=Battlefield support and reconnaissance
|size=8 regiments, 3 independent squadrons, 6 independent flights
|command_structure=
|current_commander=
|garrison=1 Regiment - Gütersloh, Germany
2 Regiment - Middle_Wallop
3 Regiment - Wattisham
4 Regiment - Wattisham
5 Regiment - RAF_Aldergrove
9 Regiment - Dishforth |ceremonial_chief=HRH The Prince of Wales |ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel-in-Chief |colonel_of_the_regiment= General Sir Francis Richard Dannatt, KCB, CBE, MC |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |march=Quick - ''Recce Flight''
Slow - ''Thievish Magpie'' |mascot= |battles= |notable_commanders= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours=Falkland_Islands 1982, Wadi_al_Batin, Gulf 1991, Al-Basrah, Iraq, 2003 }} The '''Army Air Corps''' is a component of the British_Army. There are seven regiments of the '''AAC''' as well as six Independent Flights and one Independent Squadron deployed in support of British_Army operations across the world. They are located in Britain, Belize, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus 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 Parachute_Regiment, the Glider_Pilot_Regiment and the Air Observation Post Squadrons. In 1944, the newly formed SAS Regiment was added to the order of battle. 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 Paras' 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 a Bagpiper. 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=== {{British Army Arms}} 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'''. From 1970, nearly every army brigade had at least one Aviation Squadron that usually numbered twelve aircraft. The main rotor aircraft during the 70s 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. ==Present Day Units== ===Regiments=== *'''1 Regiment, Army Air Corps''' **652 Squadron **661 Squadron *'''2 Regiment, Army Air Corps''' **651 Squadron **670 Squadron **671 Squadron *'''3 Regiment, Army Air Corps''' **653 Squadron **662 Squadron **663 Squadron *'''4 Regiment, Army Air Corps''' **654 Squadron **659 Squadron **669 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''' **656 Squadron **664 Squadron **672 Squadron Image:auster.aop9.tw511.arp.jpg AOP.5 Air Observation Post. One example is maintained by the Army Historic Aircraft Flight]] ===Independent Squadrons and Flights=== *657 Squadron *660 Squadron (Defence Helicopter Flying School) *667 Squadron *674 Squadron (Defence Elementary Flying Training School) *7_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (Brunei) *8_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (SAS) *12_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (Germany) *16_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (British_Forces_Cyprus) *25_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (Belize) *29_Flight_British_Army_Training_Unit_Suffield_(BATUS) (Alberta, Canada) *Army Air Corps Historic Aircraft Flight Image:ApacheWAH64.jpg ==Current Aircraft of the AAC== *Westland Gazelle Mk 1 - Mk 3 *Westland_Lynx (Mk 1, Mk 7, Mk 9) *Apache Mk 1 *Britten-Norman_Islander *Bell_212 :See also List_of_aircraft_of_the_Army_Air_Corps ==Other information== *'''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. Thus far, the honours awarded to the AAC are: ** Falkland_Islands 1982, Wadi_al_Batin, Gulf 1991, Al-Basrah, Iraq 2003 *'''Colonel-in-Chief''' ** Lieutenant-General HRH The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, QSO, PC, ADC *'''Marches''' ** quick: Recce Flight ** slow: Thievish Magpie ==Order of Precedence== {{start box}} {{order of precedence | before= Line Infantry and Rifles| title= Infantry Order of Precedence| after= Royal_Army_Chaplains'_Department }} {{end box}} ==External links== *Army Air Corps *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 *The Museum of Army Flying *The Army Air Corps Association *Army Air Corps - regiments.org entry, with history and more web links ==See also== *Museum_of_Army_Flying *Glider_Pilot_Regiment *List_of_Army_Air_Corps_aircraft_squadrons *British_Army *United_States_Army_Air_Corps *List_of_air_forces {{airlistbox}} Category:British_administrative_corps
2 Regiment - Middle_Wallop
3 Regiment - Wattisham
4 Regiment - Wattisham
5 Regiment - RAF_Aldergrove
9 Regiment - Dishforth |ceremonial_chief=HRH The Prince of Wales |ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel-in-Chief |colonel_of_the_regiment= General Sir Francis Richard Dannatt, KCB, CBE, MC |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |march=Quick - ''Recce Flight''
Slow - ''Thievish Magpie'' |mascot= |battles= |notable_commanders= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours=Falkland_Islands 1982, Wadi_al_Batin, Gulf 1991, Al-Basrah, Iraq, 2003 }} The '''Army Air Corps''' is a component of the British_Army. There are seven regiments of the '''AAC''' as well as six Independent Flights and one Independent Squadron deployed in support of British_Army operations across the world. They are located in Britain, Belize, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus 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 Parachute_Regiment, the Glider_Pilot_Regiment and the Air Observation Post Squadrons. In 1944, the newly formed SAS Regiment was added to the order of battle. 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 Paras' 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 a Bagpiper. 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=== {{British Army Arms}} 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'''. From 1970, nearly every army brigade had at least one Aviation Squadron that usually numbered twelve aircraft. The main rotor aircraft during the 70s 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. ==Present Day Units== ===Regiments=== *'''1 Regiment, Army Air Corps''' **652 Squadron **661 Squadron *'''2 Regiment, Army Air Corps''' **651 Squadron **670 Squadron **671 Squadron *'''3 Regiment, Army Air Corps''' **653 Squadron **662 Squadron **663 Squadron *'''4 Regiment, Army Air Corps''' **654 Squadron **659 Squadron **669 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''' **656 Squadron **664 Squadron **672 Squadron Image:auster.aop9.tw511.arp.jpg AOP.5 Air Observation Post. One example is maintained by the Army Historic Aircraft Flight]] ===Independent Squadrons and Flights=== *657 Squadron *660 Squadron (Defence Helicopter Flying School) *667 Squadron *674 Squadron (Defence Elementary Flying Training School) *7_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (Brunei) *8_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (SAS) *12_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (Germany) *16_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (British_Forces_Cyprus) *25_Flight_Army_Air_Corps (Belize) *29_Flight_British_Army_Training_Unit_Suffield_(BATUS) (Alberta, Canada) *Army Air Corps Historic Aircraft Flight Image:ApacheWAH64.jpg ==Current Aircraft of the AAC== *Westland Gazelle Mk 1 - Mk 3 *Westland_Lynx (Mk 1, Mk 7, Mk 9) *Apache Mk 1 *Britten-Norman_Islander *Bell_212 :See also List_of_aircraft_of_the_Army_Air_Corps ==Other information== *'''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. Thus far, the honours awarded to the AAC are: ** Falkland_Islands 1982, Wadi_al_Batin, Gulf 1991, Al-Basrah, Iraq 2003 *'''Colonel-in-Chief''' ** Lieutenant-General HRH The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, QSO, PC, ADC *'''Marches''' ** quick: Recce Flight ** slow: Thievish Magpie ==Order of Precedence== {{start box}} {{order of precedence | before= Line Infantry and Rifles| title= Infantry Order of Precedence| after= Royal_Army_Chaplains'_Department }} {{end box}} ==External links== *Army Air Corps *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 *The Museum of Army Flying *The Army Air Corps Association *Army Air Corps - regiments.org entry, with history and more web links ==See also== *Museum_of_Army_Flying *Glider_Pilot_Regiment *List_of_Army_Air_Corps_aircraft_squadrons *British_Army *United_States_Army_Air_Corps *List_of_air_forces {{airlistbox}} Category:British_administrative_corps