Twelve squadrons were raised, three of which belonged to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and each performed vital duties in many theatres.

[9] One of their most successful exploits during the war was the capture of the Caen canal and Orne river bridges by coup de main, which occurred on 6 June 1944, prior to the Normandy landings.

The bridge was taken within ten minutes of the battle commencing and the men withstood numerous attempts by the Germans to re-capture the location.

[11] In 1958 the Saunders-Roe Skeeter 7 was introduced as the AAC's first helicopter, it was replaced by the Aérospatiale Alouette II and Westland Scout AH.1 during the early 1960s.

The Sioux was replaced from 1973 by the Westland Gazelle used for Airborne reconnaissance;[13] initially unarmed, they were converted to carry 68mm SNEB rocket pods in 1982, during the Falklands War.

The Scout was replaced from 1978 by the Westland Lynx, which was capable of carrying additional firepower in the form of door gunners.

[14] Basic rotary flying training was carried out on the Sioux in the 1970s, on the Gazelle in the 1980s and 1990s, and is currently conducted on the Eurocopter H145/H135 through No.

In 1989, the AAC commenced operating a number of Britten-Norman Islander aircraft for surveillance and light transport duties.

In 2006, British Apaches deployed to Afghanistan as part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force.

Elementary Flying Training is delivered at RAF Shawbury and Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop.

In service aircraft include the Airbus Helicopters H135 Juno,[34] the AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1,[35] the Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II, and the Boeing AH-64E Version 6 Apache.

[36] In May 2023, the Royal Air Force took over the helicopter support role in Brunei and thus, the Bell 212HP AH1, previously in service, was retired.