4 days ago
Prince of Wales brings home the bacon as Colonel-in-Chief
The Prince of Wales travelled in style as he made his first visit as Colonel-in-Chief to the Army Air Corps.
He arrived at the base in Wattisham, Suffolk in a Wildcat helicopter, a reconnaissance aircraft in the AAC's fleet.
The Prince wasted no time in getting stuck into learning about life at the flying station, serving up bacon and sausage baps for breakfast, which he admitted made his 'mouth water'.
He was told about the 664 Squadron's operational lessons from overseas tours and how soldiers were adapting to the new capabilities of the recently acquired Apache AH-64E.
The Prince watched a tough combat physical training session before meeting groups of soldiers and their families including Mike and Lorna Pope, the parents of Air Trooper Daniel Pope of 664 Sqn who died of cancer in 2016.
The squadron and regiment honour his memory with an annual cross country race and named the on-site Pope's Bar after him.
Before piloting a Wildcat helicopter home, he presented the King's Commendation for Valuable Service and Promotions from Corporal to Sergeant.
The Prince became the AAC's Colonel-in-Chief in May 2024 when the King officially handed over the role to his elder son at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop.
The Prince completed an intensive four-month flying course at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire in April 2008, receiving his wings from his father.
He went on to complete a one-year advanced helicopter training course at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, before training as a search and rescue helicopter pilot at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales.
He qualified in September 2010 and immediately began operational service as the co-pilot of a Sea King Mk3 helicopter, working as part of a four-person crew.
His active service ended three years later, having conducted 156 search and rescue operations and helped rescue 149 people.
