Army Air Corps Middle Wallop

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Army Air Corps Middle Wallop is a British Army base near the Hampshire village of Middle Wallop. The base hosts 2 Regiment Army Air Corps and the School of Army Aviation. The role of 2 Regiment is training and so AAC Middle Wallop is the base where most Army Air Corps pilots begin their careers.

[edit] History

The base was opened as RAF Middle Wallop, a training school for new pilots in 1940. It was originally intended for bomber use however with the Battle of Britain being fought, No. 609 Squadron RAF, flying the Supermarine Spitfire, was moved to Middle Wallop. It kept some of its originally intended use when No. 604 Squadron were based at Middle Wallop on the 13 August. They flew the Blenheim, a light bomber.

In 1945 RAF Middle Wallop was transferred to Royal Navy use and was re-named HMS Flycatcher. However in 1946 the Royal Air Force occupied Middle Wallop again and the following year No. 227 Operational Conversion Unit was moved to the airfield.

In 1957, when British Army aviation became independent of the RAF, Middle Wallop transferred to the Army Air Corps. It became the school of Army Aviation, to which it has remained to the present date.