3 Regt AAC Celebration of the Regiment’s 50th anniversary Suffolk March 2022

Army aviators have celebrated their links to Suffolk and their proud history as they look to a future operating the British Army's new Apache AH-64E attack helicopter.

 “With swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing, and Colours flying” and a flypast by three Apaches, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps exercised the Freedom of St Edmundsbury today (Thu 31st March).

Setting off from Abbey Gardens and led by British Army Band Colchester, troops marched around the historic centre of Bury St Edmunds. The salute was taken on Angel Hill by Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk Lieutenant General (retd) Phillip Jones; Councillor Margaret Marks, Chair of West Suffolk Council; and Brigadier Mark Ackrill, Commander of 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team.

 The parade was a delayed celebration of the Regiment’s 50th anniversary, a milestone which could not be marked at the time due to coronavirus restrictions. While reflecting on its proud history, including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the unit is looking forward to a bright future as the first to operate the Army’s new Apache AH-64E attack helicopter.

 3 Regt AAC’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Simon Wilsey said: “It is a great honour for the Regiment to exercise the Freedom of St Edmundsbury. We’ve been based at Wattisham since 1993 and built strong and supportive links with local people. Today has been about celebrating our place in the Suffolk community, and putting on a show as a gesture of appreciation for the disturbance our flying training can cause.

“It is also an important time for the Regiment as we enter a new era, changing the helicopters we operate. from the Apache Mark 1 to the AH-64E. We are at the forefront of bringing this state-of-the-art helicopter into service, which will be a key element of how the Army fights in the coming decades.” 

The Regiment was granted, and last exercised, the Freedom of St Edmundsbury in 2010.

Among the 180 soldiers on parade today was Staff Sergeant Dudley Mennie, who said: “Taking part in a parade like this is a very humbling experience. It’s great to be out in public in uniform and feel the appreciation and support from the public who were clapping and taking photos as we marched past.”

3 Regt AAC was formed in 1969 with squadrons based across the south of England. It moved to Soest in Germany as a consolidated regiment in 1977, coming to Wattisham Flying Station in

1993. It has flown the Gazelle, Lynx, and Apache Mark 1 attack helicopters on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 The unit’s current role is to provide a long-range aviation strike and reconnaissance capability to 3rd (UK) Division, the British Army’s high readiness warfighting division.