Practicing Air Assault - 1941

It was not one man's dream; the notion of using aircraft or helicopters as the fast, new steed of modern cavalry. The efforts of many went into the formation of the first air assault division. More than a decade of flying experiments, equipment evaluations and development of new hardware and tactics proceeded the conversion of the 1st Cavalry Division to the Air Assault configuration. Tests were conducted with troop carrying helicopters and those equipped with a variety of machine guns and rockets.

At Ft. Benning, GA., in the mid-fifties, General John R. Tolson developed a tactical doctrine for the use of helicopters in combat and became one of the leading, early pioneers in modern airmobility. Several other military personnel played key roles in development of missions, configurations, and weapons for air cavalry operations. Lt. General James M. Gavin, Chief of Staff for Operations of the Department of the Army, campaigned for helicopter units that could take over, extend and add great speed to the traditional roles of the cavalry.

Soon thereafter, at the Aviation School at Ft. Rucker, Colonel Jay D. Vanderpool assembled a "Sky Cavalry" platoon using borrowed personnel and equipment. The "Sky Cavalry" began giving impressive demonstrations of the roles that helicopters could play in combat. Heralding the era of gunships, the "Sky Cavalry" carried and tested a variety of weapons and rockets. Additional men and other organizations played vital roles in the development of the "air assault" concept: the Rogers Board, formed on 15 January 1960 and chaired by Lt. General Gordon B. Rogers; the Howze Board, headed by Lt. General Hamilton H. Howze, a man with several significant links with the 1st Cavalry Division; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Major General Harry William Osborne Kinnard.

The main mission of the Rogers Board was to review aircraft requirements of the Army in three categories: observation; surveillance and transportation. The findings of the Rogers Board were fine as far as they went, but Robert S. McNamara believed there was more promise in air mobility than the Rogers Board revealed. In the spring of 1962, Secretary McNamara ordered a panel of distinguished military leaders and civilian experts to re-examine the needs of the Army. This panel became known as the Howze Board and it was granted sweeping powers to conduct tests, stage war games and study combat in various areas of the world.

The findings of the Howze Board outlined the requirements for an air assault division. Such a unit would have five times the number of aircraft of a regular division along with an extensive reduction in ground vehicles. After the report was issued, McNamara gave orders to field the air assault concept and run it through its paces in a tough series of field tests which would further reveal the strengths and limitations of an air assault force. The unit chosen for the exercise was the 11th Airborne Division, which was reflagged as the 11th Air Assault Division. It was commanded by Major General Harry William Osborne Kinnard.

H-37 Heavy Lift Helicopters

In 1962 the 1st Cavalry Division was the first division to be totally equipped with Huey helicopters for artillery observation and "dust off" medical evacuations. In the spring of 1963, units of the Division began to receive H-19, H-21 and H-37 helicopters. The Division conducted extensive air assault familiarization and training. In order to recruit potential helicopter pilots, personnel records were screened to determine individual results of initial induction testing. All troopers who had scored well were asked to volunteer for helicopter training. After passing a flight physical, all who volunteered (regardless of time remaining on their tour of duty) were transferred to Ft. Rucker, AL for pilot training.

• "HHC" 227th Aviation Battalion
• "A" Co, 227th Aviation Battalion
• "B" Co, 227th Aviation Battalion; constituted using equipment and personnel of the Aviation Co, 6th Special Forces Group
• "C" Co, 227th Aviation Battalion; constituted using equipment and personnel of the Aviation Co, 7th Special Forces Group
• "D" Co, 227th Aviation Battalion; constituted using equipment and personnel of the 110 Aviation Co, (Aerial Weapons)

In June 1965, the 2nd Infantry Division joined forces with the 11th Air Assault Division to form a combined training command. Shortly afterward on 01 July 1965, the 11th Air Assault Division was reflagged with the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division, who had just returned from Korea. Concurrently the 227th Battalion was relieved from the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Immediately the 227th Aviation Battalion, along with the 1st Cavalry Division, was ordered to deploy to Vietnam as an Air Mobile Division.

The current capability of the 227th Aviation Regiment has been developed in conjunction with the long history and needs of the 1st Cavalry Division. It is the combination of the experienced training received by each dedicated member of the Team and adherence to the performance level and traditions of the past. As of today, the 227th Aviation Regiment is currently represented by the following active units:

• The 1st Battalion, organized as an Attack Battalion, is assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
• The 2nd Battalion, organized as an General Support Battalion, is assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
• The 3rd Battalion, organized as an Assault Battalion, is assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
• The 4th Battalion, organized as an Attack Battalion, is assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.

This folio of material highlights of the many subsequent historical critical missions performed by members of the 227th Aviation Regiment, whose actions, operations and the many critical issues resolved over its 46 year history to meet the changing threat and the honors they achieved are summarized in the following sections:

Table of Contents

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