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List of Army Air Corps aircraft units (United Kingdom)

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This is a list of British Army Army Air Corps aircraft units.

Current units

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Current Wings

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Current Brigades

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Current Regiments

[edit]
Regiment Founded
at		 Founded
on		 Location Notes
1 Regiment RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) [2]
2 (Training) Regiment Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop Flying Station [3]
3 Regiment Wattisham Flying Station [4]
4 Regiment Wattisham Flying Station [5]
5 Regiment Middle Wallop Flying Station [6]
6 Regiment (Reserve) RHQ at Middle Wallop Flying Station [7]
7 (Training) Regiment Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop Flying Station [3]
9 Regiment RAF Shawbury [8]

Current Squadrons

[edit]
Squadron Founded
at		 Founded
on		 Current
aircraft		 Unit Role Locations
used		 Notes
651 Squadron n/a 1 Regiment previously operated the Defender
652 (Wildcat Fielding) Squadron AgustaWestland Wildcat AH1 1 Regiment Aviation Reconnaissance
653 Squadron Boeing Apache AH-64E 3 Regiment Aviation Attack
656 Squadron Noble Field,
Kuala Lumpur
Sek Kong[9]		 1 September 1957
December 1969		 Boeing Apache AH-64E 4 Regiment Aviation Attack Kluang (1962)[10]
Kuching (1965)[11]
Seremban (1968)[12]		 Formerly No. 656 (Light Aircraft) Squadron AAC[13]
Became HQ No. 4 Wing AAC on 1 October 1965 - acting as Aviation HQ Borneo[14]
Formerly Hong Kong Aviation Squadron AAC (Feb - Dec 1969)[9]
Sioux & Scout Flights (1970-75)[9]
Sioux & Gazelle Flights (November 1975-77)[15][16]
Renamed 11 Flight (June 1977)[17]
658 Squadron Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW) Special Forces Support
659 Squadron AgustaWestland Wildcat AH1 1 Regiment Aviation Reconnaissance
660 Squadron Sek Kong 1 August 1978 Eurocopter Juno HT1 No. 1 Flying Training School RAF
2 Maritime Air Wing (2 MAW)		 Training Formerly No. 11 Flight AAC - Sioux & Scout [16]
661 Squadron AgustaWestland Wildcat AH1 1 Regiment Aviation Reconnaissance
662 Squadron Boeing Apache AH-64E 3 Regiment Aviation Attack
663 Squadron Boeing Apache AH-64E 3 Regiment Aviation Attack
664 Squadron Boeing Apache AH-64E 4 Regiment Aviation Attack
668 (Training) Squadron n/a 2 (Training) Regiment Groundcrew Training
670 Squadron Eurocopter Juno HT1 9 Regiment Training
671 Squadron n/a 7 (Training) Regiment Training
673 Squadron Boeing Apache AH-64E 7 (Training) Regiment Training
674 Squadron Grob Tutor T1 Army Aviation Centre Grading
675 (The Rifles) Squadron n/a 6 Regiment (Reserve) Groundcrew
676 Squadron n/a 2 (Training) Regiment Training
677 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Squadron n/a 6 Regiment (Reserve) Groundcrew
679 (The Duke of Connaught's) Squadron n/a 6 Regiment (Reserve) Groundcrew

Former Units

[edit]

Former Wings

[edit]
Wing Founded
at		 Founded
on		 Disbanded
at		 Disbanded
on		 Notes
No. 1 Wing AAC Detmold 1958 1989
No. 2 Wing AAC Northern Ireland 1958 1989
No. 4 Wing AAC Singapore[11] 1 October 1965 Singapore 11 January 1971[18] Previously No. 656 (Light Aircraft) Squadron AAC[14]
Co-located with HQ FARELF

Former Squadrons

[edit]
Squadron Founded
at		 Founded
on		 Disbandment
on		 Disbanded
at		 Last
unit		 Last
aircraft		 Notes
654 Squadron July 2014 [19]
655 Squadron 1 April 2014 Middle Wallop Flying Station 6 Regt Groundcrew
657 Squadron May 2018 RAF Odiham JSFAW Westland Lynx AH9A
665 Squadron 31 October 2024 JHC FS Aldergrove 5 Regt Westland Gazelle AH1 [20]
666 Squadron 1 April 2009 AAC Netheravon 7 Regt Gazelle AH.1
667 Squadron 2022 Medicina Lines Bell 212 AH1/AH3 [21]
669 Squadron 31 July 2016 Dishforth Airfield 9 Regt Lynx AH.9A
672 Squadron 31 July 2016 Dishforth Airfield 9 Regt Lynx AH.9A
678 (The Rifles) Squadron n/a 6 Regt Groundcrew (Reserve)

Former Flights

[edit]
Flight Founded
at		 Founded
on		 Disbanded
at		 Disbanded
on		 Aircraft
operated		 Locations
used		 Notes
1 Flight Hobart Barracks, Detmold, Germany 1 September 1957 JHC FS Aldergrove 2008 Formerly No. 1 Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1901 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[23][24]
2 Flight Ipoh, Perak, Malaya[25]
Netheravon
?		 1 September 1957
3 January 1966[26]
?		 ?
Seremban
Netheravon		 ?
March 1970
1992		 ?
Auster AOP.9, Scout
?		 Northern Ireland (1962)[27]
Sibu (1966)[26]
Seremban (1968)
[12]		 Formerly No. 2 Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1902 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[24]
3 Flight 1 September 1957 RAF Leuchars 2009 Scout Borneo (1965)[28] Formerly No. 3 Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1903 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[24]
4 Flight 1 September 1957 Formerly No. 4 Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1904 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[24]
5 Flight 1 September 1957 Formerly No. 5 Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]}
(Formerly: No. 1905 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[24]
6 Flight Middle Wallop 1 September 1957
1993		 RAF Shawbury 2009 Sycamore, Skeeter, Auster AOP.9[29]
Beaver & Alouette II[30]		 Formerly No. 6 Independent Depot/Liaison Flight AAC
Formerly No. 6 Independent Liaison Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1906 (Helicopter) Flight RAF)[24]
7 Flight Taiping, Malaya[25]
Berlin
Scout Base, Brunei[31]		 1 September 1957
?
?		 Terendak
Gatow, Berlin
Medicina Lines, Brunei		 December 1969[12]
1994[32]
1 August 2021		 Auster AOP.9, Scout
?
Bell 212		 Noble Field (1961)
Kluang (1961)[33]
Brunei Airport (1962[34]-February 1963[35]
Kuching (1963)[36]
Terendak (1968)[12]		 Formerly No. 7 Reconnaissance Flight AAC
Formerly No. 7 Liaison Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1907 Light Liaison Flight RAF)
(Formerly: No. 1907 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[24]
Formerly 'C' Flight
(Formerly 'C' Flight, 656 Squadron AAC)[32]
8 Flight Malta 1 September 1957 Stirling Lines 1 September 2013 Formerly No. 8 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1908 Independent Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[24]
9 Flight 1 September 1957
1968		 Formerly No. 9 Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1909 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[24]
10 Flight Cyprus 1 September 1957 Scout Long Pasia (1963)[37]
Kluang (1964)[38]
Netheravon (1967)[11]		 Formerly No. 10 Reconnaissance Flight AAC
Formerly No. 10 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1910 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[24]
11 Flight Sembawang, Malaya[25]
Kangaw Barracks (Sembawang)
Sek Kong[17]		 1 September 1957
1971
1977		 Sembawang
?
Sek Kong		 11 January 1971[18]
1975[39]
1 August 1978		 Auster AOP.9, Scout, Sioux Kluang (1962)[27]
Brunei Airport (February 1963)[35]
Kuching (1963)[36]
Serembang (1970)[40]
Singapore (1971)[9]		 Formerly No. 656 Squadron AAC[17]
Formerly No. 11 Reconnaissance/Liaison Flight AAC
Formerly No. 11 ANZUK Flight AAC[9]
Formerly No. 11 Liaison Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1911 Light Liaison Flight RAF)[24]
Formerly RE Air Troop, Jungle Warfare School[18]
Became No. 660 Squadron AAC[16]
12 Flight 1 September 1957 Elmpt Station, Germany 2009 Formerly No. 12 Independent Liaison Flight AAC
Formerly No. 12 Liaison Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1912 Light Liaison Flight RAF)[24]
13 Flight Northern Ireland 1 September 1957
1961		 Formerly No. 13 Liaison Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1913 Light Liaison Flight RAF)[24]
14 Flight Paroi, Seremban, Malaya[25] 1 September 1957 Seremban January 1970[40] Auster AOP.9, Beaver, Scout Kluang (1962)[27]
Brunei Airport (1962)[34]
Kluang (1963)[41]
Seremban (1968)[12]		 Formerly No. 14 Reconnaissance/Liaison Flight AAC
Formerly No. 14 Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1914 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[42]
15 Flight Cyprus 1 September 1957
1959		 Formerly No. 15 Independent Liaison Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1915 Independent Air Observation Post Flight RAF)
(Formerly: No. 1915 Light Liaison Flight RAF)[42]
16 Flight Noble Field, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya
?		 Late 1950s
?		 Klulang
Dhekelia, Cyprus		 1 October 1964[43]
1998		 Auster AOP.9
?		 Kluang (1962)[27] Formerly No. 16 Reconnaissance Flight AAC[10]
Became 4th Royal Tank Regiment Air Squadron[38]
?
17 Flight
18 Flight 1969 BAOR[44]
20 Flight Sha Tin, Hong Kong 1 September 1957 Auster (1965)[45] Sioux (October 1966)[46] Kai Tak (1962)[47]
Seremban (July 1966)[46]
Sek Kong (1969)[9]		 Formerly No. 20 Independent Reconnaissance Flight AAC[22]
(Formerly: No. 1900 Air Observation Post Flight RAF)[24]
21 Flight 1961 1967
22 Flight 1962
23 Flight 1969
24 Flight BAOR
25 Flight Belize 1987 Nanyuki, Kenya September 2015 Gazelle
Bell 212		 BATUK
26 Flight
27 Flight BAOR
29 (BATUS) Flight Suffield, Canada 1972 Suffield, Canada [Note 1] October 2021 [48] 5 Regiment AAC had administrative responsibility for 29 (BATUS) Flight.
132 Flight 1966 1974
'C' Flight, 656 Squadron AAC Scout Base, Seria, Brunei 1970 Sioux ( - 1978)
Scout (1978 - )		 [49]
UNFICYP Flight Cyprus 27 March 1964 Cyprus 30 September 1994 (Nicosia Airport, Cyprus)

Other units

[edit]
  • The Light Aircraft School RAF became the Army Air Corps Centre[22]
  • Air Platoon, Scots Guards - Sioux (1966)[50]
  • Air Troop, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards - Skeeter (1962)[38][11] Auster then Sioux (1965)[51]
  • Air Squadron, Life Guards - Sioux (1966)[26]
  • Air Squadron, 4th Royal Tank Regiment - Auster AOP.9 (1964) (previously 16 Flight)[38]
    • Air Troop - Seremban (1965)[52]
    • Air Troop - Brunei Airport (1965)[52]
  • Air Platoon, 40 Commando RM (1965)[11]
  • Air Troop, 42 Commando RM (1967)[53]
  • Air Platoon, 1st Battalion King's Somerset Light Infantry (1967)[53] - Sioux[12]
  • Air Troop, 249 Signals Squadron (1967)[53] Disbanded March 1969[12]
  • Air Platoon, 3rd Battalion, The Light Infantry - disbanded April 1969[12]
  • Air OP Troop, 14 Light Regiment RA - disbanded November 1969[12]
  • Air Troop, 25 Light Regiment RA - Sioux (1969)[9]
  • Air OP Troop, 40 Light Regiment RA - Sioux (1966)[54]
  • Air OP Troop, 45 Light Regiment RA (1965)[11]
  • Air Troop, 49 Light Regiment RA - Sioux (1965)[55]
  • Air OP Troop, 95 Commando Light Regiment RA (1967)[53]
  • Air Platoon, 1st Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders - Scout (1965)[43]
  • Air Platoon, 1st Battalion, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) - Sioux - Seria, Brunei (1967)[49]
  • Air Platoon, 6th Gurkha Rifles - Sek Kong (1965)[55]
  • Air Platoon, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Gurkha Rifles (1967)[53]
  • Air Platoon, 1st Battalion, 10th Gurkha Rifles - Sioux (1966)[46]
  • 30 Flight RASC - Beaver (8 April 1964 - 15 July 1965) - became 130 Flight RCT[43]
  • 130 Flight RCT - Beaver (1968)[12] - Middle Wallop (1970)[40]
  • 28 ANZUK Aviation Squadron - Sioux[18]
  • RE Air Troop, Jungle Warfare School, Johore - became 11 Flight AAC - Sioux[18]

Notes

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  1. ^ Placed in suspended animation

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ "British Army Launches First Ever Aviation Brigade". Forces Net. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  2. ^ "1 Regt AAC (@1_Regt_AAC) / Twitter".
  3. ^ a b "Aviation | The British Army".
  4. ^ "3 Regiment Army Air Corps (@CO_3RegimentAAC) / Twitter".
  5. ^ "4 Regiment Army Air Corps (@4RegimentAAC) / Twitter".
  6. ^ "JHC FS Aldergrove | Royal Air Force".
  7. ^ "Army Air Corps | The British Army".
  8. ^ "RAF Shawbury | Royal Air Force".
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 129.
  10. ^ a b Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 42.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 69.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 71.
  13. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 40.
  14. ^ a b Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 104.
  15. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 131.
  16. ^ a b c Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 135.
  17. ^ a b c Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 134.
  18. ^ a b c d e Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 73.
  19. ^ "654 Squadron's Last Parade Before Disbandment". Forces TV. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  20. ^ "VIDEO: British Army bids farewell to 665 Squadron and final Gazelles". Key Publishing. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  21. ^ "RAF Pumas to replace Bell helicopters in Brunei and Cyprus".
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 37.
  23. ^ "1901 (Air Observation Post) Flight". Helicopter History Site. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 130.
  25. ^ a b c d Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 45.
  26. ^ a b c Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 106.
  27. ^ a b c d Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 66.
  28. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 96.
  29. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 38.
  30. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 39.
  31. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 119.
  32. ^ a b Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 117.
  33. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 65.
  34. ^ a b Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 78.
  35. ^ a b Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 79.
  36. ^ a b Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 80.
  37. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 90.
  38. ^ a b c d Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 67.
  39. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 75.
  40. ^ a b c Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 72.
  41. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 83.
  42. ^ a b Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 131.
  43. ^ a b c Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 94.
  44. ^ Watson 2005, p. 57.
  45. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 102.
  46. ^ a b c Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 128.
  47. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 124.
  48. ^ "20241128 FOI22256 response.pdf". www.whatdotheyknow.com. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  49. ^ a b Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 114.
  50. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 68.
  51. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 95.
  52. ^ a b Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 101.
  53. ^ a b c d e Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 70.
  54. ^ Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 108.
  55. ^ a b Greenacre & Peters 2024, p. 126.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Greenacre, John; Peters, Mike (2024). Ops Normal - The Authorised Operational History of the AAC 1957-2017. Vol. 1 (1957-79). Warwick, UK: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-804515-34-1.
  • Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.
  • Watson, G; Rinaldi, R (2005). The British Army in Germany: An Organizational History 1947–2004. Tiger Lily Publications. ISBN 0-9720296-9-9.
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