RAA LIAISON LETTER 2025 – 2026 EDITION CANNONBALL SUPPLEMENT 111 History of the RAA Air Observation Post Connection to Army Aviation Brigadier John Cox, AM (Retd) Chair, RAA Regimental History Committee & RAAHC Board History Member Today’s Luscombe Field, an Army Aviation base at Holsworthy NSW, continues the name of the original Luscombe Field opened in Nui Dat Vietnam on 5th December 1966. CAPT Brian Luscombe (RAA) was one of the early post WWII Army Aviators. He was killed in action in Korea on 5th January 1952 while flying an air observation post mission. John Macpherson* recently summarised the early history: “Aerial observation using ballons to direct artillery fire, gathering battlefield intelligence in the Boer War, and slow biplanes in the Great War, prefaced the Air OP concept of artillery officers flying light aircraft and directing artillery. In 1938, a UK proposal to use light unarmed aircraft using two-way radios paved the way for the successful employment of Air OP in WWII and later in Korea. Despite a similar proposal to acquire suitable aircraft in Australia in 1942, Army involvement did not occur until late in WWII when RAA officers flew with RAAF pilots as aerial observers. Australian gunner involvement occurred after WWII when three RAA officers were trained as pilots and flying instructors in the UK. Thus, the transformation of No. 16 Air OP Flight (RAAF) to 16th Army Light Aircraft Squadron (16 ALAS) began. Five RAA officers served with the UK No. 1903 Independent Air OP flight (RAF) in Korea. Subsequently another twentyseven RAA officers and four Burmese artillery officers were trained as Air OP pilots. In 1957 a non-corps Army Aviation Company (four pilots) was formed at Bankstown. Later it joined with the Army elements of No. 16 Air OP Flight RAAF (eight pilots) to create the nucleus of 16 ALAS at RAAF Amberley. The first commanding officer of 16 ALAS, and later Head of AAAvn Corps was a former gunner Air OP officer. Significantly, RAA Air OP pilots were among the first Australians to be trained as helicopter pilots; later training RAN, Army and RAAF pilots to fly rotary wing aircraft. Six of the seven officers commanding 161st (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight in South Vietnam were RAA Air OP pilots.” The 161st included gunners amongst an all-corps establishment who were recognised with awards. Air OP officers, Benson, Doyle, Hill-Smith and RAA officer Coggan were honoured with the award of the DFC; and Calvert, Harden, Hutchinson, and Guivarra received MIDs for their operational service in Vietnam. Bombardier Hart qualified for the US Army Meritorious Unit Commendation as a member of the 161st. The nexus between artillery and aviation continues in the 2020s with Army’s only Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) unit, 20 Regiment, RAA sitting within 16 Aviation Brigade and Aviation Command. Through three flying Batteries (131, 132 & 133) the unit supports the integrated force with joint fires, targeting and intelligence, and surveillance and reconnaissance effects. Once qualified as operators, the gunners of the unit are awarded a brevet, based on the original Air OP badge. All members of the Regiment wear blue berets reflecting the close relationship with Army Aviation. *Drawn from LTCOL (retd) John Macpherson’s and LTCOL (retd) Dick Knight’s AM unpublished manuscript, A History of the RAA Air Observation Post. History & Heritage Detachment Happy Hour
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