Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (United States)

The Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division is the formation bundling all Army Aviation assets of the US Army's 1st Infantry Division.

1980s History

The Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, was originally formed from the assets of the Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, which had been created from the assets 1st Armored Division's 501st Aviation Battalion on 17 April 1986. Colonel James W. Lloyd, the first Aviation Brigade Commander, accepted the unit colors from Major General Dave R. Palmer, Commanding General, 1st Armored Division. (Note: Although often referred to as the "4th Brigade," the United States Army Center of Military History has confirmed that divisional aviation brigades are not numbered. The only exceptions are the 101st and 159th Aviation Brigades in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which has two aviation brigades.)

When formed, the Brigade consisted of the 10th and 501st Aviation Battalions, the 220th Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter), the 244th Aviation Company (Command Aviation) and the 61st Aviation Company (Maintenance). Brigade aircraft included 22 AH-1 Cobras, 38 OH-58s and 30 UH-1s.

On 16 November 1987 the 501st and 10th Aviation Battalions were reflagged as the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 1st Aviation Regiment. Alpha Company, 501st became Golf and Hotel Companies under the 1st Armored Division and were designated again under the 3rd Infantry Division as 7th Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment. The 61st Aviation Company (Maintenance) was reflagged as Company I, 1st Aviation Regiment.

In May 1988, the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment completed the conversion from a pure ground squadron to an air/ground squadron and moved from Schwabach to Katterbach. In late 1998, the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry turned in its M60A3s and received 40 M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicles (CFV).

In July 1989, 2nd Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment inactivated in Germany and the colors reactivated as an AH-64 Apache battalion at Fort Hood, Texas.

1990s

The "Strike Eagles" returned to Ansbach Army Heliport on 24 May 1990 becoming the first divisional AH-64 attack helicopter battalion stationed in Germany.

In November 1990, Company I, 1st Aviation was reflagged as the 9th Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment. "Eagle Support" was designed to provide dedicated support to the aviation brigade. The unit later became 603rd Support Battalion (Aviation) under 3rd Infantry Division.

In December 1990, COL Daniel J. Petrosky led the brigade to Southwest Asia with the 1st Armored Division and conducted combat operations. For its accomplishments in Operation Desert Storm, the brigade was selected as AAAA unit of the year in 1991.

Shortly after the unit returned and in conjunction with the reorganization of USAREUR, the "Iron Eagle" Brigade joined the 3rd Infantry Division. The 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry was inactivated and turned in its equipment. Its colors were transferred to the divisional cavalry squadron of the 1st Armored Division.

The Aviation Brigade was inactivated in January 1996 at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was reactivated as Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, in Katterbach, Germany on 15 February 1996, becoming an integral part of the Big Red One. The Aviation Brigade supported numerous contingency operations throughout Europe and Southwest Asia.

Operations in Eastern Europe

In 1997, the Aviation Brigade deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina to provide aviation support for Operation Joint Guard (SFOR). In 1999 the Aviation Brigade deployed to Kosovo as a part of the Multi-National Brigade East to provide aviation support to Operation Joint Endeavor. The Aviation Brigade continued operations in Kosovo through July 2003.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

In early 2003, the Aviation Brigade prepared for combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Elements of the Aviation Brigade deployed to Turkey to provide general aviation support to AFOR Turkey and the 1st Infantry Division. This support effort was made without aircraft as the battalion was stuck in Kosovo on "unofficial" deployment orders and after three months of trying to get to Iraq through Turkey the Division was turned around and the aviation elements relocated back to Katterbach.

Upon redeployment, the Aviation Brigade welcomed the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment "Six Shooters" to the brigade as part of its aviation transformation and, on 13 June 2005, inactivated the 1st Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment "Gunfighters," the colors of which departed for the Longbow Unit Fires Training Program (UFTP).

The Aviation Brigade completed a fifteen-month deployment to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09. Conducting operations from forward operating base Speicher, the Aviation Brigade provided attack, assault, and general aviation support throughout central Iraq. During the deployment, the brigade flew over 20,000 combat flight hours providing aviation combat and combat support to the 1st Infantry Division. The unit's participation was critical during the OIF "surge". During this time, the CAB was led by Col Jesse Farrington and CSM Darrell "Buddy" Wallace.

In March 2010, the Combat Aviation Brigade deployed to Iraq for a 12-month rotation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as to usher in and spearhead Operation New Dawn in September of the same year.

Return to Fort Riley

Along with its parent 1st Infantry Division, the Combat Aviation Brigade has been reassigned to Fort Riley, Kansas. The current configuration is as follows:

• HHC, Combat Aviation Brigade
• 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance), 1st Aviation Regiment
• 2nd Battalion (General Support), 1st Aviation Regiment
• 3rd Battalion (Assault), 1st Aviation Regiment
• 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment
• 601st Aviation Support Battalion