Official X account for the Authors of Ops Normal - The Authorised Operational History of the Army Air Corps 1957-2017
Over The Battlefield
Joined September 2018
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Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
Next week I will leading the first in a series of WWII battlefield tours focused on the use of Airborne Forces. The Drop Zone 1 tour includes Op Market Garden. This book by John C. McManus examines the massive Allied operation from the American perspective - Recommended.
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
The Little Bird That Landed
When Super 61 went down in Mogadishu on October 3, 1993, another helicopter landed nearby.
It was an MH-6 Little Bird, callsign Star 41, flown by CW3 Karl Maier and CW4 Keith Jones of the 160th SOAR. Their aircraft carried troops rather than the miniguns and rockets of an AH-6 gunship.
Jones left the helicopter to reach the survivors. Maier stayed in the cockpit, providing covering fire with his personal weapon while Jones brought wounded SSG Daniel Busch aboard. They evacuated Busch and SGT Jim Smith from the crash site.
Busch had survived the crash and fought to defend the wreckage before being evacuated. He later died of his wounds.
Thirty-three years later, the downed Black Hawks remain the defining image of that battle. Star 41 deserves it's place as well.
AAC File Image: U.S. Air Force Photo by TSGT Carly Kavish, 1st Combat Camera Squadron.
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
Tony Buholtz was from Miami, Florida, and became an Army helicopter pilot with A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
He flew the OH-6A Loach, the tiny scout helicopter that went looking for the enemy at low level so the rest of the air cavalry could react.
On March 22, 1969, Tony was flying OH-6A 67-16482, call sign Apache White, in Tay Ninh Province when the helicopter was hit by ground fire and crashed. Crew chief SP5 Robert Patrick Ilsley and observer PFC James David Wright Jr. were also killed. Tony was 21 years old.
His record included the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. That is a remarkable combat record for a man who never reached 22.
So remember 1LT Tony Lee Buholtz not only for the Loach that went down over Tay Ninh, but for the young man from Miami who climbed into one of the most dangerous helicopters in Vietnam and kept going back up.
#TheVietnamWar #AirCavalry #1stCavalryDivision #VietnamVeterans
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
I do not know much about the new AW159 Wildcat and its Martlet missiles, but I do remember a time when its ancestor, the Westland Lynx, armed with TOW missiles, was the backbone of NATO defenses in Central Europe; had the balloon gone up, British Army Lynx attack helicopters would have been there, ready to take on the Soviet tank hordes.
🇬🇧 A new helicopter for the British forces in the next major update! The AW159 Wildcat HMA2 will be equipped with Martlet missiles (up to x20!) and Spike NLOS to engage light and armored targets.
👉 wt.link/AW159
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
Our presentation ‘The British Horsa Glider’ is now FREE to watch on our brand new YouTube channel:
youtu.be/ZIJJcIPaDug?is=qwgf…
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
Keep historic British Army aircraft in the sky! we are recruiting a Volunteer Fundraising & Partnerships Manager.
🔹 4–6 hrs/wk | Flexible & WFH
🔹 Focus on grants, corporate partners & sponsorship
🔹 Open to fundraising, sales, or marketing pros
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
1st Lt. Megan Skalla served as the youngest female UH 60 Black Hawk pilot with the 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade during that deployment, and watching her in that cockpit says everything you need to know about confidence, skill, and determination. 🇺🇸🚁
She is one seriously badass Army aviator, and the kind of woman who proves exactly why our military is stronger when talent and grit are given the chance to lead. 🫡🔥
tiktok.com/@u.s.airforce8/vi…
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
✈️ A major milestone for Britten-Norman
The first fully UK-built Islander since production returned to Bembridge has begun its ground-test programme, with first flight targeted for September.
Read more: britten-norman.com/first-ful…
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
UK's Apache fleet not to be grounded despite US Army crash
Following the fatal incident that claimed the lives of two servicemen, the US announced a suspension of training flights involving the model
The UK's fleet of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, however, will not be grounded ⬇️🔗
forcesnews.com/services/army…
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
Found this great advert in a 1955 Eagle publication!
'Too ••• Dicey Up There' 😎
@6thairborne @MikeHistorian
Support us at: patreon.com/thechalkcollecti…
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
The mighty Scout...a Land Rover with rotor blades. Really effective during the Aden and Radfan campaigns, still going strong in the Falklands. Probably most remembered for it's starring role alongside Lewis Coĺins in Who Dares Wins!
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
It's World Helicopter Day.
Here is a selection of photos of the types in our flight.
Saro Skeeter
Agusta/Bell 47 Sioux AH1
Westland Scout AH-1
Learn more at haaf.uk/hangar/
#AAC #WorldHelicopterDay #MilitaryAviation #armyaviation
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
The Apache could soon have a loyal wingman. 🚁⚡
Anduril's new hybrid-electric Thunder drone is designed to fly alongside crewed helicopters, boosting firepower and survivability
Watch in FULL to find out more 🔗⬇️
youtube.com/watch?v=AKp7L_SA…
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
On this day in 1990, Iraqi forces invade Kuwait. 168 days later, a U.S.-led international coalition will launch Operation Desert Storm, the massive military campaign to drive Saddam Hussein's army out of the tiny Persian Gulf emirate.
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
Wallop Wheels and Wings 2026 is a week away.
Come and meet the team and get up close to our aircraft.
Get your tickets here: armyflying.digitickets.co.uk…
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
Happy Canada Day!
Yesterday, we celebrated the incredible spirit, history, and innovation of Canada—and what better way to do that than by looking up at the skies?
We are incredibly proud to have not one, but two legends of in our fleet: the DHC-1 Chipmunk and the DHC-2 Beaver.
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
British Army Wildcat Helicopters to Retire From Next Year
The now-published Defence Investment Plan includes an unexpected and shocking announcement that the British Army’s fleet of Wildcat AH1 helicopters, which entered service in 2014, will begin to be withdrawn from 2027.
Story: theaviationist.com/2026/06/3…
Ops Normal - AAC History retweeted
As promised.
Thanks to our great team of engineers she started first time.
Also thanks to, Sioux Master, Stephen Murray-Twinn for a sucessful ground run.
#engineering #REME #armyaircorps #livinghistory