The British Army Air Corps celebrate fifty years at Middle Wallop

The origins of the AAC can be traced back to the Second World War, when Winston Churchill recognised the benefits of an Army Air Corp and formed the Glider Pilots Regiment.

The regiment operated large wooden troop and vehicle assault gliders in several campaigns. After the war, the regiment was reduced to one squadron. It continued to operate alongside the Air Observation Post (AOP) units, which flew the Auster  aircraft for liaison and observation. In 1955, the AOP units evaluated helicopters for the first time, using the Saunders Roe Skeeter. These were very successful, and on 1st September 1957 the present AAC was formed, by absorbing the AOP units. Middle Wallop was chosen as the AAC Centre. The role of the new Corps was to carry out many now well-established battlefield tasks, such as artillery fire control, observation, reconnaissance, liaison and casualty evacuation. Today these tasks are taken for granted....