In the late thirties Captain HC Bazeley RA, an enthusiastic amateur pilot and Secretary of the Royal Artillery Flying Club, advanced the idea that artillery could be best directed from the air by artillery officers trained as pilots, rather than by RAF pilots flying aircraft which had other combat roles besides observing for the guns. They would fly simple, unarmed light aircraft, depending for survival on being agile and inconspicuous and by flying, as far as possible, over areas held by friendly forces, but using height and freedom of movement to look into areas not visible to ground observers.

Bazeley’s ideas gained the support of Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) JH Parham and Brigadier HRS Massey, two other like minded members of the Flying Club. In 1939 Massey was Brigadier Royal Artillery Southern Command and was able to add weight to the Army’s case for the ‘Flying OP’ as it was called, in the face of some scepticism and opposition from the Air Ministry.

After tentative trials in 1938-1939 a flight was established for the purpose in 1940 (D Flight RAF). Bazeley, who had already been seconded to the RAF as an Army Co-operation pilot, was given command.

The D Flight Trial convinced most of the doubters and authority was given in 1941 for the formation of Air observation Post Squadrons. To overcome inter-service wrangling over ‘ownership’ of the squadrons a compromise was agreed. Squadrons were to be RAF units, each one commanded by a gunner major (pilot) with an RAF adjutant. The RAF would provide the aircraft (Auster) and the airmen to maintain them; the Army would supply vehicles, ground radios and soldiers to man them; all the pilots would be artillery officers, trained to fly by the RAF. The RAF would be responsible for technical flying matters but - a crucial point - the Army would command in the field. Later experience proved the need for observers in the rear seats of the aircraft to watch out for enemy fighters. As no official provision had been made for this, volunteers from the Squadrons' Army and RAF groundcrews carried out this duty when needed.

The first Squadron into action was No 651 commanded initially by Bazeley and then Major RWV Neathercoat. The Squadron fought throughout the North African campaign in 1942-43 where it amply proved the Air OP concept, often flying in the face of enemy air superiority. 651 was followed by the formation of 15 more squadrons during 1942-45, numbering 652-666. Of these 663 was mainly Polish manned and 664-666 were Canadian. The squadrons flew in every theatre of war and made a significant contribution to the use of artillery. Their outstanding attribute was their ability to put a skilled artillery observer into the air at short notice, fully aware of the tactical situation and the needs of the troops on the ground and able to direct the fire of every gun within range, using artillery wireless nets. By the end of hostilities air OP pilots had been awarded more than 90 DFCs.

The air OP organisation remained essentially unchanged until the mid fifties. The number of squadrons had been reduced after the war but those that remained contributed to every operational commitment, including Korea, the Malayan emergency and many lesser campaigns.

The war Office was now becoming increasingly aware of the value of light aircraft and the potential of helicopters in performing a variety of roles besides air OP, so that the pressure was mounting for the Army to have its own air arm. Eventually it was agreed that the Army should take over full responsibility for the air OP Squadrons together with the light liaison flights which had been formed from the former Glider Pilot Regiment and in 1957 these were all incorporated in a new Army Air Corps.

Direction of artillery fire remained an important role of the new corps and its squadrons retained the former air OP squadron numbers and crests, which are still in use today.

The main repository of air OP history is in the exhibits and archives of the Museum of Army Flying at the School of Army Aviation, Middle Wallop (Tel: 01980-674421)

The Museum shop stocks the following books on the subject:

Unarmed into Battle - Parham and Belfield

The definitive story of Air OP from its inception until the end of the war

(only limited stocks of this book remain).

Fire by Order - Maslen-Jones

A personal account of 656 Squadron’s part in the Burma campaign.

Memoires of an Air Observation Post Officer - Lyell

An account of his service in Air OP from 1940 until the end of the war, including 658 Squadron in NW Europe.

The Army in the Air - Farrar-Hockley

An authoritative history of the Army’s involvement in flying from early years until the present, including sections on Air OP.

The Association is officially recognised by the Royal Artillery Association and the Royal air Force Association.

The objects of the Association are:

1. To foster a spirit of comradeship between members of the Association and to maintain the spirit of co-operation between the Services.

2. To keep all officers who have served in Air OP in touch with each other by maintaining a register of members, issuing annual newsletters and organising events such as an annual dinner.

3. To maintain close liaison with the Army Air Corps (successor to the Air OP) its Association and the Museum of Army Flying.

4. To bring to the notice of the Royal Artillery Association or the Royal Air Force Association, as appropriate, cases which come to notice of hardship amongst members, their dependants, widows or children.

The following qualify for membership:

1. All officers of the British and Commonwealth forces who have qualified as Air OP pilots.

2. All officers of the British and Commonwealth forces who, though not qualified as Air OP pilots have served in the Air OP (for example, RAF squadron adjutants and equipment officers).

3. All Artillery officers of the British and Commonwealth forces who have qualified as Army pilots since the disbandment of the Air OP and the formation of the Army Air Corps in 1957.

Membership may also be offered by the Committee to those who though not qualified as above have some special interest or involvement in Air OP.

The Current membership stands at 449.

The Association is managed by a committee which meets annually, at present composed as follows:

The Vice Presidents act as Chairman for one year in rotation.

There is a life membership fee of £25 or an annual subscription of £2.50 payable on 1 Jan or 1 Jul each year.

The annual dinner takes place in the autumn. It is usually held in the Royal Artillery Mess, Woolwich, or occasionally, in the Army Air Corps Officers Mess at Middle Wallop or the Royal School of Artillery Officers Mess at Larkhill.

The Army Air Corps Association offers the use of their reserved enclosure and lunch marquee at annual air show events.

The Association Flag, shown below, is paraded when Association members march as a formed body at Remembrance Sunday or special anniversary events.

AOPOA FLAG

 Administration

The Secretary, AOPOA
RHQ AAC
HQ DAAvn
Middle Wallop
Stockbridge
Hants    SO20 8DY