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12th Aviation Brigade

The 12th Aviation Brigade, on order, deploys within the EUCOM or CENTCOM AOR to provide General Aviation support to V Corps. The 12th Aviation Brigade provides trained and ready forces in support of CG, V Corps validated operational requirements.

From its organization in 1965, the 12th Aviation Brigade has been instrumental in the doctrinal evolution of aviation tactics, contingency planning, and the development of Army Aviation force structure. Today and throughout its history, the 12th Aviation Brigade has served as a key member of the combined arms team, dedicated to the preservation of peace.

The 12th Aviation Brigade was first organized as the 12th Aviation Group at Fort Benning, Georgia, on June 18, 1965 and deployed to Vietnam in August 1965 as a command element for the nonorganic Army aviation units in the Republic. By November 1965, the group consisted of 11,000 personnel and 34 aviation units of various sizes and types. On March 1, 1966, the 12th Aviation Group was assigned to the newly formed 1st Aviation Brigade.

The 12th Aviation Group, assigned to the III Military Region in Vietnam, was the largest unit of its type to serve in combat. Its colors, emblazoned with 18 campaign streamers, give lasting and vivid testimony to its role in maintaining a free Republic of Vietnam. While in Vietnam, the unit received the following awards: The Meritorious Unit Citation, two Vietnamese Crosses for Gallantry with Palm, and the Vietnamese Civic Action Medal, First Class.

Upon its deployment from the Republic of Vietnam, March 20, 1973, the group became a major subordinate command of the XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 12th Aviation Group provided aviation command and control in support of the Corps' world wide contingency mission.

In response to the Department of the Army study of USAREUR aviation requirements, the 12th Aviation Group deployed to Lindsey Air Station, Wiesbaden, Germany on November 16, 1979. The group was assigned as a major subordinate command of V Corps to provide command and control of aviation units throughout the V Corps area.

In April 1984, Headquarters Company, 12th Aviation Group moved to Wiesbaden Air Base, there it was joined in August 1984 by Headquarters Company, 11th Aviation Battalion.

In October 1987, under Army-wide restructuring, the 12th Aviation Group was redesignated as the 12th Aviation Brigade, the 11th Aviation Battalion became the 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. Also redesignated were the 48th Aviation Company, which became Charlie Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, and the 295th Aviation Company became Bravo Company, 6th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment.

In the latter part of 1988, the brigade underwent major restructuring when the 5th Squadron (AH 64), 6th Cavalry Regiment arrived in Europe. At the same time, the brigade combined its assault and medium lift helicopter companies under one command and control element, Task Force Warrior. At endstate, the brigade was in command and control of 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, 5th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, and a battalion made up of assault and medium lift helicopter companies, called Task Force Warrior. The brigade proved to be a highly mobile and lethal maneuver force for the Multinational Forces in Saudi Arabia.

On August 13, 1990 the brigade was alerted and subsequently deployed to Southwest Asia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Because 2-3 Aviation Regiment (Attack) had not yet fielded in Europe, the brigade was task organized with another European based AH 64 battalion, 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment. With the addition of an aviation intermediate maintenance company, a ground maintenance detachment, and a tactical air control party, the 12th Aviation Brigade provided a highly mobile lethal maneuver force to the Multinational Forces in Saudi Arabia. The brigade was initially attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) for the defense of Saudi Arabia.

In January 1991, the brigade was detached from the 101st and attached as a major subordinate command of XVIII Airborne Corps. Combat operations included the successful participation in Operation Stalker, a long range surveillance mission flown 150 miles behind enemy lines into Iraq, and forward movement of personnel, equipment, and critical supplies. During the four day coalition ground offensive, brigade aircrews flew nearly 400 flight hours, transporting 390 tons of cargo to forward deployed combat units, and providing essential combat and combat support services for the ground offensive.

Soon after returning from the deserts of Southwest Asia, 2-3 Aviation Regiment (Attack), joined the brigade. The battalion initially formed in Fort Hood, Texas as part of the Apache Training Brigade. During the Gulf War, the battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. There they performed both combat and weapon system replacement operations for ARCENT.

During the downsizing of USAREUR, from 1992-1993, the 12th Aviation Brigade again underwent restructuring, inactivating both 5-6 Cavalry Regiment (on 15 June 1992) and Task Force Warrior, while gaining the 3rd Battalion (Air Traffic Service), 58th Aviation Regiment and the medium lift helicopter company, A Company, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, on 16 June 1992.

Since the end of the Cold War, the brigade has seen involvement throughout the world in support of America's peacekeeping operations. Operating throughout Turkey from September 1991 until November 20, 1996, 12th Aviation Brigade soldiers ensured the safety and protection of Kurdish citizens during Operation Provide Comfort.

12th Aviation Brigade have been personnel deployed to Cyprus since October 1991 and to Hungary and Bosnia since December 21, 1995 helping enforce the peace during Operation Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard.

In May and June 1994, the Headquarters Company was the command and control element of Task Force Griffin, an organization charged with the air movement of hundreds of passengers and national dignitaries to numerous sites during the World War II 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremonies throughout Southern England and Normandy, France.

From June 1995 until August 1998, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 12th Aviation Brigade was the command and control headquarters for a combined contingency force under the Southern European Task Force (SETAF).

From April - August 1999, the Headquarters, 12th Aviation Brigade deployed during Operations Allied Force and Joiunt Guardian in support of the NATO led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Soldiers and family members celebrated the return of over 5,500 troops of Task Force 12 with a welcome home ceremony and reception meal 09 August 1999, at the Wiesbaden Air Base. Task Force 12 redeployed after four months, from Tirana, Albania in support of the NATO Operation Allied Force and Operation shining Hope then moving on into Task Force Falcon in Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo.

Task Force 12 was made up of staff elements from the 12th Aviation Brigade. Soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment; 3rd Battalion, 58th Avn. Regt., E Company, 51st Infantry (LRS Abn.); 159th Medical Company (AA), and Detachment 6, 7th Weather Squadron, worked together to perform the mission.

Task Force 12 conducted combat, combat support and combat service support missions daily after arriving at Task Force Hawk in April 1999. Despite the fact that they were not employed in combat, Task Force Hawk crews flew over 1,500 hours, 740 of them at night, in extremely difficult conditions during the intensive mission rehearsal period that followed your arrival in Albania. This flying rate was several times the normal flying rate in peacetime, at home. Several key combat support operations were also conducted in support of Task Force Hawk. These training missions, conducted under day and night conditions, resulted in a combat force ready to fight.

Operation Allied Force, and with it, Task Force 12 came to an end in early June, when the Technical Agreement was signed and soldiers had to change their mission from a contingency to a peace-keeping effort. This started the ball rolling for Task Force 12's next mission that was to be based out of Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia, but conducted in Kosovo. Operations under Task Force Falcon included a 120 mile air movement of the 82nd Airborne Infantry Battalion; the first U.S. forces into Kosovo; the air assault of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment into Kosovo, and hundreds of presence, security and recon missions.

The 12th Aviation Brigade again underwent restructuring from April - August 2000, relocating the Brigade Headquarters to Giebelstadt, Germany. The Brigade currently consists of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-158th Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter Battalion), 5-158th Aviation Regiment (Command Aviation Battalion), 3-58th Aviation Regiment (Air Traffic Services Battalion), and F Company, 159th Aviation Regiment (Heavy Lift Helicopter Company - attached to 3-158th Aviation Regiment).

Some 350 soldiers from V Corps' 12th Aviation Brigade, stationed in Giebelstadt, Germany, began their first aerial gunnery qualification exercise, dubbed "Griffin Strike', at the Hradiste Range Complex in the Czech Republic in April 2002. While this is the 12th Aviation Brigade's first gunnery exercise in the Czech Republic, the unit, like other V Corps units, has trained at various ranges in NATO countries in the past.