1st Air Cavalry Brigade

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
Active1984–present
Country United States
Allegiance United States Army
SizeBrigade
Part of1st Cavalry Division
Garrison/HQFort Cavazos, Texas
Ray Odierno presents Distinguished Flying Crosses to soldiers of the division in Iraq

The Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division is a divisional aviation brigade of the United States Army. It was activated on 16 September 1984.

Current structure

The brigade is composed of:[1]

History

1960s

The history of combat aviation in the 1st Cavalry Division goes back to 1963, when the

228th and 229th Aviation Battalions. In 1965, the assets of the 11th AAD and the 2d Infantry Division were merged to form the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). This involved a simultaneous transfer of the swapping of the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division, then stationed in Korea, with the 2nd Infantry Division. On 1 August 1965, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was sent to Vietnam. Aviators participated in 14 campaigns and received seven decorations during its seven years of duty in Vietnam. The first Army aviator to be awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War
was a member of the 227th Aviation Battalion.

Following its return from Vietnam, the 1st Cavalry Division was reorganized as an experimental TRICAP (Triple Capability) Division with a heavy (armor-mech) brigade, an airmobile brigade and an aviation brigade. This configuration was deemed unworkable and the division was reorganized as a standard heavy division.[2] The division's aviation element consisted of the 227th Aviation Battalion. The colors of the 11th Aviation Group were separated from the division after the war and assigned to Germany by reflagging an existing aviation group already stationed there.

According to the U.S. Army

Center of Military History, the lineage of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division began when it was constituted on 1 September 1984 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, and activated at Fort Hood, Texas.[3]
It was reorganized and redesignated on 16 October 1996 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

The 227th Aviation Regiment itself appears to have been established on 16 July 1987.

Gulf War

In late 1990, the brigade deployed overseas to

Fort Hood
and their home stations.

Other operations

In January 1993 the brigade deployed its command and control aircraft to

Operation Joint Forge. During this operation, units flew in the Balkans
in support of Stabilization Force 4.These missions encompassed a wide range of tasks, including multi-national general support, airborne command and control operations, and air movement operations.

Iraq War

With the onset of

Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003, the brigade deployed the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation to Iraq to exercise their Longbow Apaches in combat operations for the first time. There, they assisted in setting the conditions for the defeat of the Iraqi Army and the liberation of Baghdad. In the early hours of 24 March 2003, Apache Longbows of the 1st Cavalry Division, fought a fierce battle with units of Iraq's Republican Guard Medina Division between the cities of Karbala and Al Hilah
, south of Baghdad.

During March 2004 the brigade deployed to

Al Kut, Karbala, and Balad. The brigade flew over 70,000 hours and was recognized with 84 awards for valor including the first Army Aviator to receive the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star and seven Distinguished Flying Crosses
.

In 2006 the brigade deployed to

Taji
, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. At the end of January 2007, the brigade participated in the Battle of An Najif, in which a 4-227, AH-64D was shot down in combat operations. One week later a 1-227, AH-64D was also shot down.

The brigade was deployed to Taji, Iraq again in 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 09-11.

1st Air Cavalry helicopter in Afghanistan

In June 2011 the brigade deployed to Afghanistan and returned starting in April 2012 after being replaced by 12th Combat Aviation Brigade from Germany

Events of 12 July 2007

Leaked gun-camera footage of the event

On 12 July 2007, after several skirmishes in the area, two

Iraqi insurgents, and fired on them, as well as a van seeking to pick up the wounded and a man severely wounded and incapacitated by the first attack. A total of 12 people were killed including Reuters journalist Noor-Eldeen and his driver, Saeed Chmagh.[5][6]
Two children were also severely injured.

The attacks received worldwide media coverage following the leaking of 39 minutes of classified cockpit video footage in 2010. The Apache crews involved were criticized for their decision to attack a largely unarmed group, for re-attacking the wounded, attacking the unarmed men that came to the aid of the wounded, and for the callous language used by the Apache crews occasionally during the attacks.

Peacetime operations

After the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005, the brigade deployed 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, elements of 615th Aviation Support Battalion and the brigade command team to Louisiana to support disaster relief operations in New Orleans. Immediately upon redeployment, 2-227 AVN, 615th ASB and the brigade command team redeployed to East Texas to assist relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Rita. Shortly after returning from the hurricane relief effort, the 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment and 615th ASB were called upon to support a humanitarian aid mission in the aftermath of the October 2005 earthquake that devastated northern Pakistan.

References

  1. ^ "1st Air Cavalry Brigade". U.S. Army. 19 November 2019.
  2. ^ Isby and Kamps, Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's, 1985, 358.
  3. ^ "Headquarters and Headquarters Company Aviation Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division - Lineage and Honors Information". Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  4. ^ Bumiller, Elisabeth (5 April 2010). "Video Shows U.S. Killing of Reuters Employees". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  5. ^ Franke-Ruta, Garance (5 April 2010). "Web site releases video of Baghdad attack that killed 2 journalists". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 April 2010.

External links

Official website