History of the 1st Aviation Brigade During the Vietnam War

History of the 1st Aviation Brigade during Vietnam

History of the 1st Aviation Brigade during Vietnam. As a former Army Aviator, I have an affinity for the 1st Aviation Brigade and Fort Rucker, Alabama. I was stationed there twice, first as a student and then later as an instructor pilot. The 1st Aviation Brigade carries the nickname of the “Golden Hawks.” Makes sense when you look at the shoulder patch. The gold hawk represents aviation, and the sword is taken from the MACV patch, signifying their origins in the Vietnam war. Blue is the color of aviation while the orange-gold and red hilt of the sword represent Vietnam.

The Golden Hawks are in the schoolhouse now, but this article is a short history of the

1st Aviation Brigade during the Vietnam War.

History of the 1st Aviation Brigade during Vietnam, a video from the Roving Historian

In 1965, as the U.S. Army's involvement in Vietnam rapidly grew, the universal use of

the helicopter in this new "frontless"; war became obvious. The Army had to have a

means to maintain tactical and administrative control over all of its divisional and non-

divisional aviation assets in country. It did this with the creation of the 1st Aviation

Brigade.

In April 1965 the USA Aviation Brigade (Provisional) was activated in Vietnam with the

existing 13th, 14th, 52nd, and 145th Aviation Battalions reporting to it. In August it

became the 12th Aviation Group. Once it doubled in size, the 12th Aviation Group was

used as the basis to form the 1st Aviation Brigade in March 1966.

The Brigade served in Vietnam from May 1966 until March 1973. At its peak strength,

the 1st Aviation Brigade had over 4,000 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and

approximately 24,000 soldiers assigned. The organization became so large that the

Brigade was organized into Aviation Groups. The Groups were then assigned Aviation

Battalions and Companies, or Squadrons and Troops in the case of Cavalry units. The

1st Aviation Brigade was responsible for forty percent of the Army's helicopter assets

and one hundred percent of its fixed wing assets in Vietnam. In 1969, the brigade

carried more than six and half million troops in more than 4 million sorties, flying more

than one and a half million hours to accomplish this monumental mission. Units of the

Brigade performed brilliantly throughout the war and were instrumental in inventing and

perfecting the art of helicopter warfare. Upon withdrawal from the Republic of South

Vietnam, the Golden Hawks were sent to Fort Rucker, Alabama, to serve as a training

brigade where they are still stationed today.

During the Vietnam War, the 1st Aviation Brigade and its support units constituted the

largest operational aviation brigade in the Army. As such, the Golden Hawks were

involved in practically every operation of note during the conflict. However, Lam Son

719 stands out because it involved a heavy use of aviation assets, including the 1st

Aviation Brigade. This Operation demonstrates both the successes and the failures in

the use of helicopters during the unconventional war that was Vietnam. It is also

demonstrative of the sacrifices made by the aircrews who manned them.

Operation Lam Son 719 involved a mass use of Army helicopters. The Operation took

place from February 8th to March 25, 1971. Its mission was the coordinated insertion of

South Vietnamese troops by air and armored units into Laos. While the ground troops

were strictly South Vietnamese, the United States provided logistical, aerial, and artillery

support. The intent of the operation was to drive the North Vietnamese regular army out

of areas of Laos flanking the South Vietnamese border.

As United States forces were not allowed to operate on the ground inside of Laos, the

American portion of the mission was given the name Operation Dewey Canyon II.

American lift helicopters ferried South Vietnamese troops into Laos. Helicopter gunships

provided close air support for ARVN units and destroyed an estimated 88 North

Vietnamese P-76 tanks. Unfortunately, the operation was considered a failure on the

ground when the South Vietnamese forces took heavy losses in their withdrawal from

Laos. Combined U.S./ARVN helicopter losses totaled 108 destroyed and 618 damaged.

During Lam Son 719 American helicopters had flown more than 160,000 sorties; 19

U.S. Army aviators were killed, 59 were wounded, and 11 were missing at its

conclusion. Lam Son 719 itself incurred a great deal of controversy inside and out of

military circles as to its efficacy and results. The operation served as a lessons learned

report for the Army. None of which detracts from the hard work and courage of the

aircrews who wore the Golden Hawks shoulder patch.

Today, the 1st Aviation Brigade is responsible for training aviation officers, warrant

officers, and soldiers with a variety of aviation military occupational specialties. The

Golden Hawks Brigade Headquarters and most subordinate units are stationed at the

United States Army Aviation Center For Excellence, Fort Rucker, Alabama. The 1st

Aviation Brigade commands three distinctly different battalions, each with a unique

mission to train young soldiers and officers - 1st battalion, 13th aviation regiment, and

the 1st battalion, 145th aviation regiment, at Fort Rucker.

The Brigade is also the parent organization for the 2nd battalion, 13th aviation regiment

which conducts Unmanned Aircraft Systems Advanced Individual Training (drones) and

graduate-level training at the largest Unmanned Aircraft Systems training center in the

world located at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Along with its many command responsibilities,

logistical support requirements, and administrative duties, the Brigade's primary mission

is to train and develop future aviation warfighting leaders.