Army Aerial Recon Through the Years

A history of the Australian Army’s aerial reconnaissance ahead of the move to Apache Guardians

Development of Australian Army’s aerial reconnaissance capabilities From Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 (1914) to Apache Guardians (2021) 

World War I. When World War I commenced in 1914, Australia only had a population of 4.9 million, the same as Queensland in 2021. The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was established in 1912 as a branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft, however, the AFC did not start any flight training until 1914. The AFC became later the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).