History United States Army Aviation Branch

1 history

1.1 origins of army aviation
1.2 birth of army aviation (1942)
1.3 “america’s helicopter war” began in vietnam (1961)
1.4 birth of army aviation branch (april 1983)

history
origins of army aviation

army aviation traces origins american civil war. both union , confederate forces used hydrogen-filled balloons direct artillery fire, marking beginning of u.s. military aeronautics , of aerial support of army ground forces. army used balloons during spanish–american war , world war i, airplanes replaced balloons military purposes during latter conflict.

while not part of present army aviation branch s heritage, united states military aviation began in 1907 army’s acquisition of first heavier-than-air aircraft, airplane built army specifications wright brothers. during world war i, air service s aircraft strength grew few dozen more 11,000 planes, , number of aviation personnel came total more 190,000. army air service created in may 1918. after world war i, general william mitchell , other air service leaders spoke out forcefully in favor of independent air force. since envisioned aviation separate striking force, capable of independent operations, opposed remaining arm of ground forces. although congress, army leaders, rejected mitchell s argument, air service did become separate combat arm, equal in status infantry, cavalry, , artillery. in 1926, name of air arm changed army air corps, , then, in june 1941, air corps , other army air elements merged form army air forces, co-equal army ground forces , army service forces.

during 1930s, many army air corps leaders began experiment strategic air operations. billy mitchell before them, advocated using air power independently of army ground forces destroy enemy targets behind lines of combat. air corps emphasis on strategic operations disturbed ground forces leaders, believed aerial support needs being neglected. aerial support particularly vital artillery fire adjustment. partly because air corps fire support aircraft not available, chief of field artillery , other artillery officers became interested in using light aircraft organic artillery units. army experimented using small organic aircraft artillery fire adjustment , other functions in maneuvers @ camp beauregard, la., in august 1940. tests repeated on larger scale in army maneuvers in louisiana, tennessee, texas, , carolinas in 1941.

birth of army aviation (1942)

following final series of experiments organic army spotter aircraft conducted in 1942, secretary of war ordered establishment of organic air observation field artillery—hence birth of modern army aviation—on 6 june 1942. new world war ii-era phenomenon few small single-engine spotter planes, organic army aviation, evolved today’s army aviation branch.

organic army aviation first entered combat in november 1942 on coast of north africa. during world war ii, l-4 grasshoppers , few larger l-5 sentinels used adjust artillery fire, gather intelligence, support naval bombardment, direct bombing missions, , perform other functions. training of both pilots , mechanics conducted department of air training within field artillery school @ post field, okla., although army air forces conducted primary training of organic army aviation personnel.

after creation of army air forces, army ground forces retained use of light aircraft artillery forward observation , reconnaissance in june 1942. first use of helicopter in combat credited usaaf 1st air commando group in burma in 1943. 1acg operated 6 sikorsky r-4 helicopters air rescue , medical evacuation.

when united states air force established separate service in 1947, army developed light planes , rotary wing aircraft support ground operations. korean war , vietnam war proved growing capabilities of these aviation assets perform variety of missions not covered air force.

the korean war provided new challenges , opportunities army aviation. organic army aviation had acquired first helicopters, thirteen h-13 sioux, in 1947, shortly before u.s. air force became independent of army. in korea, army employed o-1 bird dog , other improved fixed wing planes, helicopters. army used h-13s medical evacuation, command , control, , transport of lightweight , valuable cargo. because of rugged terrain of korean peninsula, value of helicopters came recognized services; demand both helicopters , trained aviators consistently exceeded supply. in 1951 army began organizing 5 helicopter transport companies , training warrant officer pilots. there was, however, ongoing rivalry between army , air force concerning responsibility , resources aerial support of ground forces. because of rivalry, , because of shortage of helicopters, 2 army transport companies supplied h-19 chickasaw helicopters in time participate in korean war. transport helicopters nevertheless proved moving cargo , personnel during final months of war , participating in prisoner exchanges , other functions after cessation of hostilities. during korean war, department of air training @ post field expanded, , in 1953, became army aviation school. result of expansion of both aviation , artillery training, post field became overcrowded, , army decided move army aviation school different post. when no satisfactory permanent army post found, temporary post, camp rucker, ala., chosen.

the first armed helicopter company activated in okinawa in 1962. deployed thailand , vietnam, flew escort lift helicopters. department of defense did not abolish mission restrictions on army s rotary-wing aircraft, thereby technically authorizing army arm helicopters until 1966. howze board, or tactical mobility requirements board, established in 1962 develop , test concept of air mobility. after test exercises, war games, , concentrated study , analysis, howze board recommended army commit organic air mobility – later known air assault. howze board recommended extensive use of helicopters transport infantry troops, artillery, , supplies, provide local aerial fire support. these recommendations tested 11th air assault division (test) 1963 1965. in 1965, 1st cavalry division (airmobile) organized , sent vietnam, repeatedly demonstrated validity of airmobile concept in actual combat.

the creation, implementation, , consolidation of army aviation branch dominated 1980s. prominent aviators, other army leaders, had debated establishment of aviation separate branch since time of korean war. opposition separate aviation branch had resulted in part army attitudes regarding army air corps , u.s. air force. in army circles, both of these aviation organizations believed have been unreliable in performing mission of supporting ground forces—even after having been given resources so. since army aviation had demonstrated commitment support of ground battle in vietnam, however, opposition separate aviation branch began wane. also, army aviation had grown in size , technological sophistication. growth caused increasingly complex problems in training, procurement, doctrine development, proponent responsibility, , personnel management. many non-aviators aviators became convinced these problems solved more creation of aviation branch.

“america’s helicopter war” began in vietnam (1961)

both army aviation , helicopter came of age during conflict in southeast asia. used helicopter, uh-1 iroquois, or huey, began arrive in vietnam in significant numbers in 1964. before end of conflict, more 5,000 of these versatile aircraft introduced southeast asia. used medical evacuation, command , control, air assault; personnel , materiel transport; , gunships. ah-1 cobra arrived in 1967 partially replace huey in gun ship capacity. other important helicopters in vietnam included ch-47 chinook, oh-6 cayuse, oh-58 kiowa, , ch-54 tarhe. although concept of air mobility had been developed mid-intensity european conflict in mind, army aviation , helicopter had proven during low intensity conflict in southeast asia.

under johnson-mcconnell agreement of 1966, army agreed limit fixed-wing aviation role administrative mission support (light unarmed aircraft cannot operate forward positions).

afterwards, army turned major attention threat of mid or high intensity conflict in europe, , doubts reemerged value of helicopters in sort of arena. military leaders believed helicopter not survive , perform essential role in heavy combat environment. gain general acceptance , ensure further success, army aviation continued develop new doctrine, tactics, aircraft, equipment, , organizational structure. new or radically modified aircraft adopted late 1970s mid-1980s. these included uh-60 black hawk, ah-64 apache, d-model of ch-47 chinook, , oh-58d version of kiowa.

birth of army aviation branch (april 1983)

both department of army , u.s. army training , doctrine command conducted extensive studies of separate-branch question during 1970s through 1982. in march 1983, chief of staff of army recommended forming separate aviation branch. secretary of army approved recommendation on 12 april 1983– date celebrated branch’s birthday. aviation officer basic , advanced courses began @ fort rucker in 1984, , gradual consolidation of aviation-related activities followed. in 1986, u.s. army air traffic control activity became part of branch. in following year, noncommissioned officers academy established @ fort rucker. in 1988, army aviation logistics school, had been dependent on transportation center @ fort eustis, incorporated aviation branch.

also in 1988, army aviation modernization plan given final approval , implemented. modernization plan called gradual reduction in number of army aircraft older models replaced modern ones. aircraft appeared during late 1980s , 1990s included armed bell oh-58 kiowa warrior , new th-67 creek training helicopter, along cessna citation v , beechcraft c-12 huron fixed-wing aircraft.

army aviation s role of providing indispensable vertical dimension modern battlefield has become universally recognized. example, during operations in grenada, panama, , persian gulf region, army aviation played major , decisive roles. 1 of first blows of operation desert storm struck army aviation. apache helicopters destroyed key iraqi warning radar sites , opened air corridors baghdad bombing campaign preceded ground war. during 100 hours of ground combat, army helicopters dominated nighttime operations.

the decreased military budgets following end of cold war forced both army , army aviation downsize. army aviation’s response develop “aviation restructure initiative,” plan decrease size of force while continuing provide capable, ready force. late 1990s, continuing deficiencies , unintended results of ari led series of aviation plans key pieces of army-wide modernization , transformation. in 2003, aviation branch assumed overall responsibility unmanned aerial vehicles within army. operations since desert storm showed versatility , flexibility of army aviation. examples uses of ah-64 apaches in peacekeeping operations in balkans deterrent mobs threatening fellow citizens or paramilitary groups trying remove weapons agreed cantonments. beginning of global war on terrorism in 2001 drew army aviation again ongoing combat. events in afghanistan , iraq have reaffirmed qualities caused creation of organic army aviation in 1942. these qualities included responsiveness needs of ground commander , commitment soldier in ground fight. @ same time, army aviation – including army special operations aviation – has played vital , ever-expanding roles across spectrum of joint , combined operations.

in recognition of demonstrated increasing importance of aviation in army doctrine , operations, aviation became separate branch on 12 april 1983.