I have heard sad news from the Chairman of the Southern Counties AACVA and regret that I have to inform the Army Aviation family of the death of Colonel SMW Hickey (known to some as Mike and to others as Michael) early on Friday 8th November 2013 in Newbury Hospital as a result of an illness at the age of 84. He will be known to many as a significant founding member of the modern AAC. His widow is Bridget. We have no further details at this time.
He retired from the Army in 1981 at the end of 34 years service. That service included the RASC and secondment to the GPR before transfer to the AAC. He was a keen and knowledgeable historian. His pamphlet “The Army Air Corps Past and Present”, which covers the history of the Corps up to the Falkland Islands conflict is much used as a reference book today. The dates below from a rough snapshot of his career.
RASC 1949 -1960 Incl Secondment GPR 1952 – 1956
Korea 1950 – 1952 Malaya 1953 – 1955 Korea 1955 – 1956
JEHU 1956 – 1958 Staff College 1961 8 Flt AAC Kenya 1962 – 1963
Staff Appt HQ MELF(ADENT 1963 – 1965 Comd 23 Flt AAC (4 ADS Bld)
BAOR 1965 – 1967 Joint SVCS Staff Course 1967 MA TU COS FARELF
1967 1968 Comd AAC17 Div (Comd AAC, 17 Div Malaysia 1968 – 1970
DS, RMCS Shrivenham 1971 – 1973 Defence Fellow, Kings College London
1973 – 1974 Col GS (SD) HQ BAOR 1974 – 1975
Pay Respect
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