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11th Aviation Battalion
V Corps
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please email me (webmaster).

11th Avn Bn History (1972-1987)

5th Bn, 158th Avn (1987-present)

62nd Avn Co

173rd Avn Co

295th Avn Co

Patch worn from .. to ...

Patch worn after ...
 
11th Avn Battalion History
1972 - 19..
(Source: Historical information provided by the V Corps PAO, early 1980s)
11th Aviation Battalion (Combat)

Stationed at Fliegerhorst Kaserne near Hanau, the 11th Aviation Battalion (Combat) is the air wing of V Corps. (Webmaster Note: this information probably dated back to the early 1970s. In the early 1980s, HHC, 11th Aviation Bn was located in Frankfurt.)

Organized August 23, 1965, at Fort Benning, Georgia, the 11th was assigned the mission of tactical air movement of troops, supplies and equipment in a combat zone.

The 11th was moved to Vietnam in October 1965, participating in 13 campaigns, earling the Valorous Unit Citation.

In September 1972, the 11th was reactivated in West Germany to support V Corps. To perform this mission, the 11th has a varied inventory of aircraft available, including the Huey UH-1H, the OH-58A light observation helicopter, the COBRA AH-1H attack helicopter, the CHINOOK CH-47, and the UH-60 Blackhawk.

In addition to its major mission, the 11th is also responsible for maintenance and control of Maurice Rose Army Airfield, Bonames, Frankfurt.
In October 1987, under Army-wide restructuring, the the 11th Aviation Battalion became the 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment.
If you have more information on the history or organization of the 11th Aviation Battalion, please contact me.
 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES Archives - Photo of the Day feature)
Some great action photos of a 295th Avn Co Chinook (CH-47) in 1981.
 
5th Bn, 158th Aviation History
1987 - present
5th Bn, 158th Aviation Patch
(Source: 5th Bn, 158th Avn official website)
Headquarters Company, 158th Aviation Battalion, nicknamed the "Fighting Knights", reorganized on 18 September 1987 at Giebelstadt Army Airfield (GAAF) in Giebelstadt, Germany and was designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. The line company elements of the battalion, A/5-158th and E/5-158th, are located at Wiesbaden Air Base (WAB) in Wiesbaden, Germany. The latest company to join the 5-158th Aviation Regiment is B/5-158th, which was activated on 16 October 1998 in Aviano, Italy. The activation of C/5-158th at WAB, projected for January 2000, will complete the Army's Doctrinal template of the Mission Ready Battalion.

C/158th Aviation Regiment, nicknamed the "Blue Stars" since 16 November 1965, originally began as H Company, 2nd Battalion, and 47th Quartermaster Truck Regiment in 1936. After years of being deactivated, it was recalled to active duty in 1956 as the 93rd Transportation Company. It received a unit designation of the 48th Aviation Company (Airmobile) Light on 5 July 1965 in Fort Benning, Georgia. In August 1972 the Blue Stars deployed from Vietnam to Katterbach, Germany and were attached to the 223rd Aviation Battalion, VII Corps at Ansbach Army Airfield. In October 1984 the unit was reassigned to the 11th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, V Corps, and stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. In 1987 the unit was redesignated from the 48th Aviation Company to C/7-158th Aviation Regiment. In 1992 the unit moved from Wiesbaden to Giebelstadt where it was assigned to the 5-158th Aviation Regiment, 12th Brigade, V Corps.

D/158th Aviation Regiment, nicknamed the "War Eagles", was originally the 203rd Aviation Company (Utility Airplane), founded on 23 September 1942 as the 2048th Quartermaster Truck Company, Aviation and was activated at Baer Field, Indiana. The unit was redesignated on 7 March 1967 as the 203rd Aviation Company and officially activated on 1 April 1967 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. On 16 August 1982, the 203rd located at Peden Barracks in Wertheim, Germany, joined the 11th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, and V Corps. On 16 October 1984, the 203rd was reassigned to VII Corps and joined the 223rd Aviation Battalion, 11th Aviation Group. The unit remained the 203rd Aviation Company until 17 November 1987 when it redesignated as C/6-159th Aviation Regiment. On 16 August 1992, with the draw down of VII Corps, C/6-159th Aviation Regiment and was reassigned to V Corps as part of the 5-158th Aviation Regiment. The War Eagles moved to GAAF on 15 December 1992.

F/159th Aviation Regiment, nicknamed "Big Windy" since 5 August 1969, was activated on 17 March 1966 as the 180th Aviation Company at Fort Benning, Georgia. In March of 1973, Big Windy departed from a seven-year tour in Vietnam for Europe. In November 1987, the 180th Aviation Company was redesignated to A/5-159th Aviation Regiment. In June of 1993 Alpha Company relocated from Dolan Barracks, Schwäbisch Hall to GAAF. Over the following years, the company gathered remnants of the now deactivated "Geronimo", "Cyclone" and "Centurion". The Centurion's deactivation in 1997 gave Big Windy the distinction as the only CH-47 medium lift unit in the European Theater. In August 1996 the company came under control of the Mission Ready Battalion, 5-158th Aviation Regiment.

The Mission Ready organization is an Aviation Task Force built around the 5-158th Aviation Regiment. The Mission Ready Task Force is currently the largest and most diverse in the United States Army. The task force has a total of 62 helicopters, 798 soldiers and 229 wheeled vehicles and is dispersed throughout three geographical locations.
 
If you have more information on the history or organization of the 5/158th Avn, please contact me.
 
62nd Avn Co / B Co, 5th Bn, 158th Avn
1979
(Source: Harry Hayne, 62nd Avn Co, 1979-82)
I was stationed in Frankfurt a/M Federal Republic of Germany from October, 1979 until December, 1982. I was assigned to the 62nd Aviation Co., 11 th Aviation Bn. During that time we worked out of Maurice Rose Army Airfield in Frankfurt/Bonames.

When I first arrived, the following companies were a part of the 11th Avn. Bn. Out of Frankfurt/Bonames were HHC and the 62nd Avn. Co. and out in Hanau was the 173rd Avn Co. During my time there we added the 295th Avn Co. out of Mannheim. We were flying at that time OH-58’s, UH-1’s with the 62nd and the 173rd while the 295th flew CH-47’s. We also had a fixed wing aircraft or two assigned to the 11th but they were not kept at Maurice Rose.

At this time I was a 51-M Firefighter assigned to the 62nd Avn. Co. We had 1 fire truck, starting with a 530-B and then a 530-C. For most of the time we worked out of a converted communications trailer at the base of the tower. During this time I was an E-5 Sergeant and was the Crash Rescue Chief for firefighting. We had anywhere from a total of 4-6 51-M firefighters assigned at any one time.

I had forgotten about the EDEN identifier until I saw it mentioned in the article. Some of the more enterprising among us ordered t-shirts with the following: It had a picture of soldier in a hammock between 2 trees with the words Maurice Rose Army Airfield above the picture and The Garden of EDEN below the picture.

In your picture captioned Maurice Rose AAF (1986) the white building served as both flight operations from the downstairs and as 62 Avn. Co headquarters on the 2nd floor (up the gray stairs you see in the middle of the picture). It was also during this time that the 295th had one of their CH-47’s go down during an air show with a large loss of life; this was a sad time for all of us assigned to the 11th Avn Bn.
1982
(Source: ABOUT TOWN, May 5, 1982)
Royal Coachman now call Babenhausen home

by David Alberti

BABENHAUSEN - The Royal Coachmen of the 62nd Aviation Company have landed here, reactivating the Babenhausen Army Airfield and setting up shop as a permanent member of the Darmstadt Military Community.
 
Capt. David Crowley, commander of the new Babenhausen Aviation Section, said the three OH-58A helicopters under his command are here to "support and assist the units of V Corps and to provide aviation support for the tenant commands of the Babenhausen sub-community and the Darmstadt Military Community."

Crowley defined his unit's mission to Babenhausen as to "provide 41st Brigade and the other commands here with more available aviation flexibility. We will fly missions such as scout, reconnaissance, aerial observation, command and control and NBC survey or any other support mission within our capability."
Crowley said he expects the airfield here to "really come to life over the next few months. The Section here may see an addition of two to four more aircraft and perhaps one UH-1 utility helicopter to supplement our observation ships. Over the summer, there are plans to use our airfield as a site for night training flights for helicopters from the 62nd's home base at Maurice Rose Army Airfield in Frankfurt." Crowley said the increased activity and noise during the summer's night flights may cause some inconvenience to the residents of the kaserne here.

At present, the Babenhausen Aviation section consists of two pilots and four ground support personnel. Crowley said that setting up and maintaining a fully operational airfield with such a small staff is "difficult at times. Everyone here in theSection wears a lot of different hats and carries many responsibilities. But, I feel our people are the best and we've gotten good support from Col. August Cianciolo, commander of the 41st Brigade, and from the other units here, which has made our move-in much easier."
(Source: Email from David Blackburn, 62nd Avn Co, 1984-87)
 
I served in the 62nd Aviation Company from September 1984 - September 1987. I flew UH-1s with the unit.

MAJ Robert P. Hase was my first company commander. MAJ Sally D. Murphy took command from him. She was the Army's first female aviator. MAJ Robert Banning was the company's last commander (it converted into a battalion just as I was leaving). I have a few pictures of Maurice Rose (Airfield Identifier... EDEN)

Your site says that the 11th Avn Bn was headquarted at Fliegerhorst. From 1984-1987, the 11th Aviation Battalion was headquartered at Wiesbaden Airbase. I remember people talking about the battalion moving from Maurice Rose (Frankfirt-Bonames) to Wiesbaden just prior to my arrival (September 1984).

LTC Chandler commanded the unit until 1986 (I think). LTC Yakovich commanded it until I departed in 1987.

The 11th was a subordinate unit of the 12th Aviation Group (also headquartered in Wiesbaden Airbase). The Group commander was COL Golden.

From 1984-87: The 62nd Aviation Company had the following aircraft assigned:
17ea: UH-1H
20ea: OH-58A
1ea: C-12 (kept at Wiesbaden)
1ea: U-21 (kept at Wiesbaden)

David Blackburn

 
1987
(Source: Email from Ted Pucylowski, B Co, 5th Bn, 158th Avn, 1987-90)

As a 2LT, I was initially given orders to the 62nd Aviation Company upon completing flight school in October 1987.  When I reported to Frankfurt, Germany in November 1987, the 62nd Aviation Company had become the 5th Battalion/158th Aviation Regiment and I was assigned to Bravo Company. 

The 5/158 was located at Maurice Rose Army Airfield (MRAAF) located in Bonames, Germany.  We initially wore the V Corps patch until joining the 12th Aviation Brigade (we then wore the 12th Avn Bde “Griffin” patch). 

The units at MRAAF were: 
Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC);
Alpha Company (UH-1H’s), who flew the Corps Commander and staff;
Bravo Company (UH-1H’s), who flew the tactical missions;
Charlie Company (OH-58’s), who flew assorted scout missions;
Delta Company (OH-58D’s), who where located elsewhere; and
Echo Company, our battalion maintenance company. 

There was also a “Flight Detachment” that had a C-12 and a U-21 at Wiesbaden Airbase, where the 12th Avn Brigade was headquartered.

When I left the Battalion in August of 1990, they were preparing to deploy to the Gulf region in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  I keep reading on all of these websites about us being in Giebelstadt, but we were not. I served as a Platoon Leader for 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 5/158th; as the Battalion S-4; and finally as the Assistant S-3 from November 1987 until August 1990.  I hope this helps.
 
295th Aviation Company (Heavy Helicopter)
295th Aviation Company Patch
 
1969
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, May 12, 1969)
The advance party of the 295th Aviation Company (Heavy Helicopter) and its support unit, the 326th Transportation Detachment, recently arrived at Finthen AAF, Germany, from Fort Sill, Okla. The advance party is tasked with preparing the unit's new home at Finthen for the arrival of the main body.

The company is attached to the 15th Cbt Avn Gp in Schwaebisch Hall.

In connection with the assignment of the CH-54A unit to USAREUR, the 90th Medium Helicopter Company in Hanau is being inactivated. (That unit's CH-37 Mohave helicopters - at least most of them - will be shipped back to the US.)

The arrival of the CH-54 unit improves the aviation posture of USAREUR by increasing its lift capability - the Skycrane can carry up to 10 tons. The 295th is the first (and will remain the only) CH-54 unit assigned to USAREUR.
 
1971
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 18, 1971)
The CH-54A helicopter is now nicknamed the "Flying Crane." Before it was known as the "Skycrane."

CO of the 295th is Lt Col Lee P. Biggs. He came with the unit from Fort Sill in 1969.

For short hauls, the CH-54A can hoist up to 20,000 pounds. Normally, however, the helicopter transports cargo in the 12-18,000 pound range.

Solid cargo is hauled in nets, on pallets or in pods. Pods are lightweight aluminum containers that attaches to the belly of the Cranes.

Liquid cargo is transported in 500-gallon bladders.

Methods of transport
1. A cable and winch assembly allows for a single-point pickup of heavy objects - such as a downed aircraft - from areas with limited access. he CH-54 can carry up to 10 tons using this method.

2. A four-point pickup (using four hooks along the sides of the fuselage which can grip a cargo in nets or straps) is used to haul bulky containers.

3. The third method is the pod. The detachable pod is 6' 6" high, 8' 10" wide and 27' 5" long. The 3,000-pound container can be pre-loaded (detached from the chopper) or remain attached to the helicopter for on- and off-loading at the pickup point. The pod can carry approximately 11,3000 pounds of cargo, 45 passengers or 24 litters. The pod can also be sued as a mobile command post that can be shifted to other locations on short notice.

Unit Missions
In the past year, the 295th has been involved primarily in aircraft recovery (about 50 missions) and a daily parts run between the Pirmasens Army Depot and several aviation maintenance units (at Mannheim, Kiztingen and Hanau). Parts and supplies are picked up at the army depot and dropped of at the designated support units. Parts and eauipment destined for depot repair or turn-in are then loaded onto the C-54 and delivered to the depot the next day.
 
The 326th Trans Det was inactivated in 1973 (?) and the detachment's personnel (and mission) were assiged to the 295th.
 
(Source: Henk Scharringa, the Netherlands, European Aviation Historical Society)

CH-54 TARHE (300 KB)

 
1973
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Nov 21, 1973)
All of the Skycrane's of the 295th Avn Co in Finthen, Germany, have been named after German cities.

In a recent (Nov 14) ceremony at Finthen AAF, aircraft 68-18461 was christened after the city of Heidelberg. (So far, only five aircraft have been officially dedicated.) The lord mayor of Heidelberg, Herr Reinhold Xundel, poured a bottle of champagne over the Heidelberg crest displayed on the helicopter's cockpit door.

The naming of the aircraft after German cities is an effort to bring about a better understanding among the local population.

Webmaster Note: According to Chuck Roger's website, the following names were applied to the CH-34's at Finthen **:
  68-18446 Mainz-Finthen
  68-18448 Stuttgart
  68-18449 Wiesbaden or Berlin
  68-18451 ???
  68-18454 Mainz
  68-18455 Frankfurt
  68-18456 ???
  68-18457 Bonn
  68-18458 Nürnberg
  68-18461 Heidelberg
** Aircraft 68-18452 crashed in 1970 and most likely never was named after one of the German cities.
Related Links:
66th Avn Co, Air Traffic Control, Germany, 1971-74 - Stephen Dayhuff's webpage with memories of his days as an air traffic controller with 11th Aviation Battalion Augmentation at Hanau AAF
295th Aviation Co (HH) - Another very good Army Aviation web site - the 295th served at Mainz-Finthen AAF and flew the CH-54A Sikorsky Skycrane Helicopter (TARHE) in the early 1970s. Chuck Rogers is the webmaster.