Ops Normal: The Operational History of the Army Air Corps

Join former Army Air Corps officers John Greenacre and Mike Peters as they introduce their new authorised history of the unit’s operations.

Formed in 1957, the Army Air Corps has made a major contribution to the success of British Army operations.

From the moment of its establishment in the wake of the Suez Crisis, the Army Air Corps was immediately plunged into operations in Malaya, Cyprus and Northern Ireland. Throughout the following years, the Corps's aircraft and personnel continued to operate in Borneo, Aden, Hong Kong, Guyana and Belize.

In this talk, John Greenacre and Mike Peters will highlight the experiences of the men, women and aircraft that played a role in providing critical support to troops operating in jungles, deserts, mountains and cities across the globe. They will also explore the headwinds the Corps faced in its early years, contending with new and unfamiliar aircraft, challenges in recruitment, and organisational experiments that threatened its very existence.

About the speakers

John Greenacre is a former Army Air Corps officer and Gazelle pilot with over 23 years of service. He took part in operations in the Gulf, the Balkans and Northern Ireland, and served in Germany, Canada, the Falkland Islands and Kenya. He holds a PhD in History from Leeds University and is currently a lecturer at the University of Suffolk.

Mike Peters is a former Army Air Corps soldier and officer with 34 years of service in both aircrew and groundcrew roles. Mike deployed on operations in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is now a full-time historian and battlefield guide.