This is one of a small collection of SPECIAL FORCES Berets that I will be listing over the next week

This QE2 era beret has clearly seen LONG SERVICE, it has been shaved in the manner that many S.F. operators chose to, reducing the "Fluffyness" as part of the "bashing" process to attain smart-fit

The Army Air Corps (AAC) is the aviation arm of the British Army, first formed in 1942 during the Second World War by grouping the various airborne units of the British Army

Today, there are eight regiments (seven Regular Army and one Reserve) of the AAC, as well as two independent flights & two independent squadrons deployed in support of British Army operations around the world

Regiments & flights are located in the United Kingdom, Kenya, & Canada. Some AAC squadrons provide the air assault elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade, through Joint Helicopter Command

In 1942, Winston Churchill announced the establishment of a new branch of army aviation, the Army Air Corps. The corps initially comprised the Glider Pilot Regiment and the Parachute Battalions (subsequently the Parachute Regiment), Air Landing Regiments, and the air observation post squadrons.

In March 1944, the SAS Regiment was added to the corps

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. Once the three gliders landed, some roughly which incurred casualties, the pilots joined the glider-borne troops (Ox & Bucks Light Infantry) to act as infantry. 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. They were soon reinforced and relieved by soldiers from the 1 Special Service Brigade (Lord Lovat)

The AAC was disbanded in 1949, with the SAS regaining independent status, while the Parachute Regiment and Glider Pilot Regiment came under the umbrella of the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps.