9 Regiment Army Air Corps

9 Regiment Army Air Corps
Active	November 1971 - December 1982 June 1989 – 2016 April 2018–
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Army Air Corps
Size	Regiment
Part of	No. 1 Flying Training School RAF
Garrison/HQ	RAF Shawbury
Commanders
Honorary Colonel	Major Tim Peake CMG[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	The Regimental emblem is the Army Air Corps Cap Badge with the Roman numeral 'IX' beneath.

9 Regiment Army Air Corps is a regiment of the Army Air Corps (AAC), that currently serves as the Battlefield Helicopter Wing of No. 1 Flying Training School RAF (formerly the Defence Helicopter Flying School).

History

Between 1971 and 1989 the Headquarters of the regiment was based at Hobart Barracks, Detmold, Germany until moving to Dishforth. Initially between 1971 and 1976 both 655 and 669 Squadrons were part of the regiment at Detmold.[2][3] In 1977 655 was replaced by 659 Squadron and the squadrons stayed together until 1982,[2] [4][5] when 654 Squadron joined.^[citation needed]

The Regiment was declared combat ready with the AgustaWestland Apache AH.1 during May 2005.[6]

In 2016, the regiment merged with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps, based at RNAS Yeovilton.[7]

In April 2018, the regiment was re-formed and tasked with role of the Battlefield Helicopter Wing of the re-shaped Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury under the UK MFTS contract. It thus became a Tri-Service organisation under No. 22 Group RAF and comprising a squadron from both the Army Air Corps, and the RAF. It conducts Advanced Rotary Wing Training for Pilots and Crewmen who have completed Basic Rotary Wing Training in the sister wing, 2 Maritime Air Wing. Together, both of these units make up No. 1 Flying Training School RAF, the former DHFS.^[citation needed]

Structure

The regiment consists of:

• No. 60 Squadron RAF, at RAF Shawbury, (Airbus Juno HT1)[8]
• No. 670 Squadron, Army Air Corps, at RAF Shawbury, (Airbus Juno HT1)[9]

See also

• List of Army Air Corps aircraft units

References

1. "'Delighted And Honoured': Tim Peake Becomes Honorary Colonel Of Army Air Corps Regiment". Forces News. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
2. Watson 2005, p. 80.
3. Watson 2005, p. 111.
4. Watson 2005, p. 88.
5. Watson 2005, p. 94.
6. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. January 2023. p. 73.
7. "Cadets Enjoy Exhilarating Half Term Thanks to Army Air Corps | Forces TV". Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
8. "Scores attend Shropshire funeral of tragic RAF war hero who died with no family". Shropshire Star. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
9. "IN FOCUS: British Army fights to influence helicopter training choices". Flight Global. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2020.

Further reading

• Watson, G; Rinaldi, R (2005). The British Army in Germany: An Organizational History 1947-2004. Tiger Lily Publications. ISBN 0-9720296-9-9.