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3rd
Aviation Battalion |
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| 3rd Aviation Company/Battalion | ||||||||||||
3rd Aviation
Company DUI |
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| 1958 | ||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, May 13, 1958) | ||||||||||||
| 3d Inf Air Unit Due on May 21 WUERZBURG, Germany (Special) - Air support for the 3d Inf Div will arrive in Germany May 21, 10 months after the air unit's activation at Ft. Denning, Ga. The 3d Aviation Co, boasting more than 9,000 continuous hours of accident-free flight time, is under the command of Mai James Clark. The company has undergone rigorous training in the U.S. The company has been organized to serve with the 3d Div's pentomic organization. It provides the division with aerial reconnaissance, resupply, transportation and other aerial missions. An additional mission is to fight as infantrymen if necessary. Other Advances Despite its stiff regular training schedules, the company has made advancements in the field of communications and helicopter landing. Concentrating on battlefield condition improvement, members of the company developed a practical wire-laying device which will distribute communications lines at a phenomenal rate over inaccessible terrain. Also lending to air improvement, Capt R. A. Michielson, operations officer, developed the Michielscope night-landing system for helicopters under battle conditions. The simple system employs special flashlights to guide the craft in safely without being detected by enemy observers. Only four of the officers in the company have not received clearance on instrument qualification. An additional training program conducted by the aviation company qualifies 3d Div line officers as competent aerial observers. The 110-hour school trains the men to be competent aerial observers in reconnaissance, surveillance, conduct of fire, photo and numerous other functions. |
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| (Source: Email from Dan Ignotov, 3rd Avn Co, 1958-59) | ||||||||||||
| I was a member
of the 3rd Aviation Co., 3rd Inf Div, in 1958, 59, until my discharge
in August of 1960. I didn't see the troop transport ship that I sailed on listed in your notes. My transport ship was the William O. Darby for both trips across the Atlantic. I believe there were about 5000 troops on that ship. Our unit gyroscoped from Ft. Benning through Savannah in May of 1958 as I recall. I took up residence in Kitzingen where I was one of the three tower operators for the airfield. I'm a little vague as to the proper name for our barracks there but I believe it was "Harvey Barracks." The 3rd Aviation Company Headquarters and main base was located at Kitzingen. We also operated satellite bases at Wurzburg, Bamberg, Schweinfurt and Aschaffenburg. Our company had men and aircraft, both fixed wing and helicopters, stationed at each of these satellite airfields. Dan Ignotov |
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| (Source: Email from Donald Swinson, DRONE Det, 3rd Avn Co, 1961-62) | ||||||||||||
| I served in the Drone Detachment of 3rd Avn. Co, 3rd Inf. Div. at Harvey Barracks, Kitzingen, Ger. in 1961-62. I have found no mention of Drones at all in that unit. Just wondering if they still have a Drone detachment?? Having been at Ft. Bliss, Tx prior to going to Germany we flew the Drones as targets for the missiles being used there in the late 1950s (Ajax and then Hercules). In Europe we flew the Drones for Reconnaissance and made topographical pictures used in map making. I was a launch crew member, then crew chief and got to do some flying (Aircraft controller of Drones). I even got to fly a UH-1B a very small amount in the latter part of my interrupted career. Hope you get more from some of the people that served there and then. I have only had minimal contact with any of them since leaving active duty (a long time ago) |
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| 3rd Aviation Battalion (Cbt) | ||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, 1 August 1963) | ||||||||||||
| Under the ROAD plan, the 59th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) became Company "A," 3rd Aviation Battalion on 15 July 1963. The 59th Trans Co served in Germany for almost five years. Its strength was 100 soldiers, among which were 28 pilots, 20 crew chiefs and 24 mechanics. |
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| (Source: 3rd Infantry Division Yearbook 1973, USAMHI) | ||||||||||||
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| To date the unit
has had no actual combat experience, but through its participation
in many field training exercises throughout the years it has maintained
a high degree of combat readiness. The professionalism of the company
is evident in its attainment of an enviable safety record by having
flown over 16,000 accident free hours since 1966. The Aviation Company's major responsibility is to operate and maintain Kitzingen Army Airfield, the largest Army airfield in Europe and to control the division's tactical airfield during field exercises and actual combat. The company has throughout the years and continues to offer a wide range of occupational specialties to include tower operators, flight enroute specialists, radar controllers, radar repairmen, aircraft maintenance men, avionics repairmen and many others. |
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| (Source: Email from Craig W. Phillips, Hq Co, 3rd Avn Bn, 1963-64) | ||||||||||||
| I
was stationed at Harvey Barracks in Kitzingen, Germany, with Hq Co,
3rd Avn Bn, 3rd Inf Div. from May 1963 to July 1964, when I came home
early after the death of one of my parents. I have great memories
of my time in Germany and my wife and I have vowed to return to that
beautiful country to see all I missed during my time there. As I recall, my pay was less than $75.00 a month as a Spec 4, so money didn’t stretch all that far, even with an exchange rate of 4 marks and some Pfennings per dollar. I distinctly remember the charming town of Kitzingen, with its tower with the leaning top. I also remember going to the Golden Gans Gasthaus for schnitzel and german potato salad with a litre of beer for about 3 marks (75 cents). I also remember the beautiful city of Würzburg with its magnificent bridge. I had a free 9 day sail across the North Atlantic on the USS Rose; I will never forget that trip, it was so cold and nothing to do. The sight of the White Cliffs of Dover, our sail into Bremerhaven and the train ride south to Kitzingen are all etched into my memory. I can still recall my thoughts on the train of how green and beautiful this country was. While at Harvey Barracks, our unit had, to the best of my memory, the following aircraft; L-20 Beaver fixed wing, L-19 Bird Dog fixed wing, H-13 helicopter, UH-1 (Huey helicopters), H-19 helicopters, and OV-1 (Grumman) Mohawk fixed wing. While there I played on the company softball and basketball teams and we were barracks champions of both sports. I remember in the 1963 basketball season, we beat the Armor (forget their designation) for the championships. Their barracks were right next to us and both units were good friends, so both units were glad the playoffs came down to our two units. Some of the guys that played on the basketball and softball teams were, myself of Illinois, Doug Yankey of West Virginia, Rich Winslow of Illinois, Jerry Parrish of North Carolina, Doug Rentchler of California and more I cannot remember. I am amazed I remembered that many names after 40 years. Craig Phillips |
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| (Source: Email from Lou Kolhorst, A Co, 3rd Avn Bn, Wertheim, 1964-66) | ||||||||||||
| I have been looking for some info on my old unit, A co, 3rd Avn Bn, 3rd Div. stationed in Wertheim, Germany from 5/1964-12/66. From the information on your web page, I left right before they were sent to Viet Nam. We were supposed have Hueys then, but they were all diverted the other way, so we flew the CH-34s with the Orange stripe across the front. By the time I rotated back to the states, we had mothballed all of them and spent a lot of time on leaf detail and other important tasks. I enjoyed my time there and saw a lot of country. We were billeted in Peden Barracks and B Co, 703rd Maintence was our support. Again, thank you for your website. I am really glad I found it. I have a few old pictures around if you are interested. |
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| MISCELLANEOUS UNIT INFORMATION Source: FRONTLINE, February 7, 1984 (Vol.67, No. 3) In June 1976, the 235th Avn Co was assigned to Giebelstadt. This unit was later redes as Co B, 3rd Avn Bn (Cbt). Co B was the first element of the 3rd ABC to occupy the airfield. In April 1981, the HHC, 3rd ABC, along with Cos A and D, were relocated to Giebelstadt AAF from Kitzingen, concurrent with a similar move by elements of the 3rd Bn, 67th ADA which moved from Giebelstadt to Kitzingen. On June 19 1982, the 121st Avn Co from Fort Benning, GA, equipped with the new UH-60A Blackhawk, deployed to the AAF, where it was subsequently redes as Co E, 3rd Avn Bn. (Source: FRONTLINE, Sept 30, 1987) Originally constituted as the 3rd Avn Bn (Cbt) on July 15, 1963. Inactivated in 1967 when personnel and equipment assets were diverted to support the US Army in South Vietnam. The 3rd Avn Bn was reactivated on May 21 1972 and reorganized and redesignated as the 3rd Avn Co. The battalion underwent five more changes until March 15 1985, when it was reactivated as the 3rd Attack Helicopter Battalion. On Dec 16 1974, the 3rd Aviation Battalion was activated as a provisional unit to test a new concept of army aviation in Europe. On Oct 1 1977, the battalion was officially activated as the first USAREUR divisional aviation battalion. In April 1981, the 3rd Avn Bn relocated from Kitzingen to Giebelstadt Army Airfield. On Nov 16 1984, the battalion was inactivated and 4th Brigade was provisionally activated as the first CAB in a mechanized infantry division. At some point (1979?), the 71st Avn. Co at Wertheim, Germany was inactivated and became E Company, 3rd Aviation Battalion (Combat), 3rd Infantry Division. (In 1974?, the 351st Avn Co, in Wertheim had been redesignated as the 71st Avn Co.) |
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| (Source: Email from LTC Mark Evetts, C Co, 3rd Avn Bn (Cbt), Aug 1983 - Nov 1984) | ||||||||||||
| I was assigned
to C Co 3 AB(C) Aug 1983 until Nov 1984
as an attack helicopter platoon leader. C Co was located in Schweinfurt,
Germany. We were the most forward deployed attack helicopter in the
military at that time (approximately 40 km from the East German border).
C 3AB(C) was OPCON to the German 12th Panzer
Division in the event war with the East Germans broke out.
Our sister attack helicopter battalion was B Co 3 AB(C) located in
Giebelstadt. Both units were equipped with AH-1F model Cobras. In Nov 1984, 3 AB(C) was reorganized as part of the J-Series TOE as the 3rd ID Aviation Brigade. Personnel and equipment assigned to C 3AB(C) were reassigned to either 3/7 Cav, 3rd ID which remained at Schweinfurt or reassigned to the 3rd ID Aviation Brigade at Giebelstadt. Not only did C 3AB(C) reorganize into new TOE, the unit moved 60 KM and participated in Winter REFORGER 95 in the same month with outstanding results. The newly created 3rd ID Aviation Brigade had two attack helicopter battalion (initial designations were 1st BN and 13th Attack Helicopter Battalion). I was in the 13th as an attack company commander and later as the HHC commander. Later the battalions were redesignated 1-3 and 3-3. Later in 1996, I was the battalion XO of 1-3 attack helicopter battalion in the 3rd ID Aviation Brigade in Savannah, GA. (3rd ID was activated replacing the 24th in Spring of 1996). |
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(Source: FRONTLINE, March 10, 1983) |
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| Air support unit wins honors By Gary E. Lindsley Keeping the 'Wings of the Marne' aloft, won the USAREUR Outstanding Aviation Support Unit of 1982 honors for a 3d Infantry Division unit, it was recently announced. Company D, 3d Aviation Battalion (Combat), located at Giebelstadt Army Airfield, was awarded the title by the European branch of the Army Aviation Association of America. According to Company D's commander, Maj. Dennis W. Healy, the company was selected for the honor because of the unit's outstanding achievements in customer support, training and safety. "The unit," said Healy, "suported over 26,000 division flight hours by completing in excess of 1,880 aircraft and component work orders, safely conducting nine aircraft recoveries, and processing over 15,000 repair parts requests." He said Company D has also completed more aircraft recoveries than any other unit in USAREUR in at least four years during 1982. "So far this year, we have made eight recoveries," he said. "The most noteworthy factor about all the recoveries is that they have been made without further damage to the aircraft." However, Healy feels what really enabled his company to win the honor was the fact that the whole company deployed to the field for last year's REFORGER exercise, Carbine Fortress. According to the aviation commander, it was a first for the company. He said it was the first time the unit had deployed to and conducted operations from afield site. "During this intensive 14-day exercise, the company's personnel lived and trained in a field environment while conducting aircraft and component maintenance at both the field site and the garrison hangar, which simulated a rear area for non-transportable aircraft," he explained. The major also pointed out that 94 percent of all major items of equipment were deployed to the field. All nine of the allied shop's portable airmobile shelters (SPAMS) were transported to the site by Chinooks CH-47s. During the exercise, the company's production control processed 93 aircraft and component work orders, and 154 avionics work orders at the field site. At the same time, the company's technical supply platoon handled 1,600 requests with a zero percent rejection rate by the next higher supply activity. The major said this proved that, "We can perform our mission in peacetime and during wartime." The company's mission didn't stop with REFORGER, though. During the past year, the aviation unit has continually rotated mechanics and test pilots through the New Equipment Training (NET) program for the AH-1S (M) Modernized Cobra. The battalion began receiving the Modernized Cobra in March. With the arrival of the UH-60 Blackhawk company last June, the 121st Aviation Support Company, now Company E, 3d Avn. Bn. (Combat), Company D's diversity of support was increased. In preparation for the influx of the new aircraft, soldiers from the company had to undergo extensive training in order to familiarize themselves with the Blackhawk's sophisticated systems. Healy said numerous unique components of ground support equipment and special tools have been mastered by the company's mechanics. Despite the company's increased parts lines and its increased workload, it has amassed some impressive statistics. For the second year in a row, the company has a zero percent aviation mishap rate for all classes of mishaps," said Healy. "The company has also compiled 16 percent more flight hours than the previous year, most of which were higher risk test flights. Especially noteworthy is the fact that none of the mishaps which did occur within the battalion were maintenance related." Healy said the battalion has benefited from Delta's performance in that the battalion has consistently flown more hours and maintained an equal or higher aircraft operational ready (OR) rate than that of any other aviation unit in USAREUR. He said it is due to the superior maintenance support received from his company. That superior maintenance, according to Sp4 Paul B. Connolly, armament repairer for Company D, is what won the award for the company. "It was a company effort involving total team work," he said. "Each section choreographed what they had to do with the others in order to enable them to accomplish their mission. Our section supports the Cobra companies, B and C. If they are unable to perform any type of organizational maintenance function, we perform it. Connolly also said his section has performed on job site maintenance for Company C. He said a typical job might include pulling the turret assembly out of the Cobra, repairing it, and reinstalling it. Sgt. Phylester Jones, shop supervisor for the maintenance platoon, said his company won because of the amount of work it does. "We provide direct support to the other units in the battalion," Jones said. "We handle maintenance that the other units can't handle." He also said that if a particular helicopter would have to be sent back to the depot, his unit would get the authorization to go ahead and make the repairs. Healy also said that his unit can do a lot more in-depth repairs than the other units. "Our soldiers do repair work in avionics, armament, component replacement and electrical support. Some of the repair work includes engine overhaul, as long as the frame is intact." The major said, if given the authorization, the company can rebuild an aircraft. The company will be presented its award for being USAREUR's Outstanding Support Unit of the Year for 1982, March 19th at the USAREUR Quad AAAA Aviation convention at Garmisch. |
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(Source:
FRONTLINE, November 24, 1989; 3rd Avn Bn patches are from Alfons
Kraus)
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| Marne Legacy
Series "Wings of the Marne" By SSgt Edgar A. Stitt Staff Writer, FRONTLINE He just can't believe it. Here he is, an officer in the army of the world's most powerful nation, and he's about to be overrun by World War II-vintage T-34 tanks driven by a drug lord's mercenaries. The T-34 is obsolete. But if you don't have the weapons to destroy it, it's as capable of killing as an M1A1 tank. The M16A2 rifles are useless against tanks and the platoon's anti-tank weapons had been fired up. "Maybe we should strap landmines to our helmets and run out to headbutt the tanks," the lieutenant said grimly to himself. As the tanks rolled toward his platoon, the lieutenant still can't believe it was meant to end this way. The radio man is talking to the command post. "Those rear echelon guys don't care," the lieutenant thinks bitterly. All hope is disappearing when the six tanks leading the assault suddenly explode in a bright ball of fire. The enemy infantrymen, who had been advancing so confidently a moment ago, hesitated. Cobra attack helicopters circled, the whine of their engines and twirling blades drowned out all other sounds. "Fire 'em up!" the lieutenant screamed. His platoon responded, cutting down the now exposed enemy infantrymen. "Sir, we got Blackhawks landing 'bout 50 meters to our rear," a squad leader jubilantly cried. "We can get outa here " As the lieutenant watched his men quickly load up on the utility helicopters he thought, "I guess them guys in the rear do care - thank God for army aviation." Army aviation can trace its legacy back to the First World War's air squadrons. When war swept the world a second time, ground commanders discovered the importance of having aviation assets directly in their support. The Army Aviation Corps of World War II became the United States Air Force in 1947. As a result, the Army evaluated the development of its own aviation assets. The U.S. Army's aviation experiment came of age in 1957 when units were first designated as aviation. One of these units was the 3rd Aviation Company, 3rd Infantry Division. This company was expanded into a battalion in 1963. Vietnam's demands for men and equipment contributed to the deactivation of this battalion in 1967. However, in 1972 the 3rd Aviation Company was resurrected in West Germany and again assigned to the 3rd Inf. Div. In 1974, this company was again reorganized into a battalion and designated the 3rd Combat Aviation Battalion (CAB). Its mission: "To conduct offensive and defensive operations against an enemy armored and motorized threat in a mid-intensity environment as part of the combined arms team and to provide command, control, and reconnaissance capability for the Division." 
3rd Aviation Battalion DUIThe 3rd CAB spent 1975 serving as a test bed to prove the Army's aviation concept. Changes in their organization and combined arms and live fire exercises at major training areas put the finishing touches on the REFORGER exercise. |
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