11th Aviation Battalion
The 11th Aviation Battalion was a United States Army aviation unit that fought in the Vietnam War. The unit served as a test for helicopter support of ground infantry units.[3]
| 11th Aviation Battalion | |
|---|---|
 11th Aviation Battalion Coat of Arms | |
| Active | 21 August 1965 – 16 September 1987 |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Type | Army Aviation |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | 1st Cavalry Division |
| Nickname(s) | Red Dogs |
| Motto(s) | EXEMPLA PROPONERE (To Set Forth Examples)[1] |
| Engagements | Vietnam War |
| Decorations | Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (6), Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation (2) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Joseph B. Starker, Leo E. Soucek |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Utility helicopter | Bell UH-1 Iroquois |
History
The unit was constituted on 21 August 1965 and activated on 23 August 1965 at Fort Benning, Ga. The Battalion was inactivated on 16 September 1987. The 11th Aviation Battalion stationed at Fliegerhorst Kaserne in Erlensee, Germany, was the air wing of V Corps.[4] The 1st Battalion, 11th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Rucker, now carries the 11th Aviation Battalion's lineage.[5]
Organizational structure in the Vietnam War
The organizational structure of the 11th Aviation Battalion reflected the following units in 1966/7:
- HQ and HQ Company at Phu Loi Base Camp[6]: 31
- 390th Quartermaster Detachment (PETRL) at Long Binh Post[6]: 31
- 116th Assault Helicopter Company at Củ Chi Base Camp[6]: 31
- 283rd Signal Detachment (RL) Cu Chi[6]: 31
- 392nd Transportation Detachment (KD) at Cu Chi[6]: 31
- 431st Medical Detachment (OA) at Cu Chi[6]: 31
- 128th Assault Helicopter Company at Phu Loi[6]: 31
- 285th Signal Detachment (RL) at Phu Loi[6]: 31
- 393rd Transportation Detachment (KD) at Phu Loi[6]: 31
- 432nd Medical Detachment (OA) at Phu Loi[6]: 31
- 162nd Assault Helicopter Company at Phước Vĩnh Base Camp[6]: 31
- 407th Transportation Detachment (KD) at Phuoc Vinh[6]: 31
- 450th Signal Detachment (RL) at Phuoc Vinh[6]: 31
- 758th Medical Detachment (OA) at Phuoc Vinh[6]: 31
- 173rd Assault Helicopter Company at Lai Khê[6]: 31
- 408th Transportation Detachment (KD) at Lai Khe[6]: 31
- 451st Signal Detachment (RL) at Lai Khe[6]: 31
- 759th Medical Detachment (OA) at Lai Khe[6]: 31
- 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company at Phu Loi[7]: 44
- 400th Transportation Detachment (AB) Phu Loi[7]: 44
- 184th Reconnaissance Airplane Company at Phu Loi[8]: 45
- 243rd Signal Detachment (RL) at Phu Loi[8]: 45
- 205th Assault Support Helicopter Company at Phu loi[8]: 45
- 612th Transportation Detachment (AB) at Phu Loi[8]: 45
- 213th Combat Assault Support Helicopter Company at Phu Loi[6]: 31
- 329th Transportation Detachment (AB) at Phu Loi[6]: 31
- 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company at Phu Loi[6]: 31
- 400th Transportation Detachment (AB) at Phu Loi[6]: 31
Commanders
In Vietnam
- LTC John W. Lauterbach, in command on 1 January 1966.[9]
- LTC Joseph B. Starker; assumed command on 20 May 1966.[10]
- LTC Leo E. Soucek; assumed command on 7 May 1967,[11] later retiring as a Brigadier General.[12]
- LTC William A. Hobbs; assumed command on 10 November 67.[13]
- LTC William F. Bauman; assumed command on 22 April 1968.[14]
- LTC Robert W. Flint, in command on 31 January 1970.[15]
In Germany
- Tommy Stiner[16]
Awards and decorations
Campaign credit
| Conflict | Streamer | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
Vietnam War  |
Defense | 1965 |
| Counteroffensive | 1965–1966 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase II | 1966–1967 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase III | 1967–1968 | |
| Tet Counteroffensive | 1968 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase IV | 1968 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase V | 1968 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase VI | 1968–1969 | |
| Tet 69/Counteroffensive | 1969 | |
| Summer-Fall 1969 | 1969 | |
| Winter-Spring 1970 | 1969–1970 | |
| Sanctuary Counteroffensive | ||
| Counteroffensive, Phase VII | ||
| Consolidation I | ||
| Consolidation II |
Unit decorations
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Valorous Unit Award (Army)[2] | 4 – 20 Nov 66 | DAU TIENG-SUOI DA |
 |
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)[17] | 1 Jan – 31 Dec 67 | VIETNAM 1967 |
 |
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm[18] | Dec 65 – Jun 66 | For service in Vietnam |
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm[19] | 1 Mar 66 – 26 Mar 67 | For service in Vietnam |
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm[20] | 22 Feb 67 – 17 May 68 | For service in Vietnam |
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm[21] | 1 Jan 69 – 30 Sep 70 | For service in Vietnam |
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm[22] | 1 Oct 70 – 31 Aug 72 | For service in Vietnam |
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm[23] | 26 Sep – 10 Oct 71 | For service in Vietnam |
 |
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation[24] | 1 May 69 – 15 May 70 | For service in Vietnam |
|
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation[25] | 1 Jan – 31 Dec 71 | For service in Vietnam |
References
- US Army, The Institute of Heraldry (17 November 1987). Heraldry of the 11th Aviation Regiment Archived 12 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (23 April 1968). General Orders No. 17, page 3. Amended by General Orders No. 9, Section IX, dated 3 April 1979. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- Lieutenant General John J. Tolson (2014). Vietnam Studies - AIRMOBILITY - 1961-1971. Normanby Press. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-78289-362-2.
- US Army in Germany. 11th Aviation Battalion. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army. 1st Battalion, 11th Aviation Regiment Archived 29 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Fort Rucker, Alabama. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- Wickham, K (1967). Lessons learned - Headquarters 12th Combat Aviation Group (1 Nov 1966 – 31 Jan 1967) (PDF). USA: Department of the Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2020.
- Wickham, K (1967). Lessons learned - Headquarters 12th Combat Aviation Group (1 Feb 1967 – 30 Apr 1967) (PDF). USA: Department of the Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2020.
- Wickham, K (1967). Lessons learned - Headquarters 12th Combat Aviation Group (1 Aug 1967 – 31 Oct 1967) (PDF). USA: Department of the Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2020.
- US Army, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion (Operational Report on Lessons Learned for the period ending 30 April 1966, page 5. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion (1 February 1968). Operational Report on Lessons Learned for the period ending 31 July 1966, page 8. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion (1 August 1967). Operational Report - Lessons Learned (RCS-CSFOR-67) for Quarterly Period Ending 31 July 1967. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- Barnes, Bart (3 May 2013), "Leo E. Soucek, Army brigadier general", The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion (1 February 1968). Operational Report for Quarterly Period Ending 31 January 1968, page 3. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion (12 May 1968). Operational Report for Quarterly Period Ending 30 April 1968, page 7. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion (13 February 1970). Operational Report on Lessons Learned for the period ending 31 January 1970, page 21. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- ETSU Army ROTC. Tommy Stiner. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (13 September 1968). General Orders No. 48, page 12. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (3 September 1968). General Orders No. 46, page 3. Amended by General Orders No. 9, Section XI, dated 3 April 1979. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (24 May 1968). General Orders No. 22. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (8 April 1969). General Orders No. 21, page 7. Amended by General Orders No. 18, Section X, dated 17 September 1979. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (25 February 1974). General Orders No. 6, page 2. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (25 February 1974). General Orders No. 6, page 5. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (26 December 1974). General Orders No. 54, page 2. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (20 December 1971). General Orders No. 55, page 5. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- US Army (24 September 1973). General Orders No. 32, page 13. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
Sources
- Department of the Army (29 January 1988). Pamphlet 672–3, page 17. Accessed 8 May 2017.
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