11th Aviation Brigade
The 11th Aviation Brigade's participation in Desert Storm began early with missions to escort deploying medical evacuation units in August. The deployed force, led by Col. Johnnie Hitt, eventually included two attack battalions, a general support battalion (medium lift), elements of an air traffic control battalion, a heavylift company, a medium-lift company and the 11th Chemical Company.
In November, when notified of the impending deployment, the brigade transferred its on-going Germany-based missions and received the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry from Fort Hood, Tx. while shifting into high gear on deployment plans.
Moving to the desert
The brigade moved to Saudi Arabia between Nov. 20 and Jan. 15, traveling by land, sea and air. The unit's 147 helicopters, 325 vehicles and 1,476 soldiers moved by road convoy, rail, barge, sea and self-deployment in the air to ports and to the theater. The unit converged on Tactical Assembly Area Talon, closing its last elements Jan. 15.
Working from a combination of hardstands and airfields that engineers carved from the desert, the brigade began training for the air missions to come. The brigade's CH-47 Chinook helicopters flew logistical missions and trained to insert and extract long-range surveillance teams from the 207th MI Brigade. Limitations with night-vision goggle devices led to a change of orders for the heavy-lift company assigned the latter mission. The heavy-lift companies continued to provide aerial resupply throughout the ground offensive.
The brigade conducted three combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. All three were successful, killing more than 245 enemy vehicles with no losses to the brigade. The brigade made deep attacks to prevent enemy armor reinforcements from reaching the front. The attacks combined the precision of scout helicopter infrared sighting and tracking with the lethality of the Hellfire anti-tank missile fired by Apache attack helicopters. Following the war, the brigade took up a defensive mission in the former XVIII Corps sector of Iraq, covering more than 200 kilometers of front and working with the 1st (French) Airmobile Division. The regiment also provided relief and assistance to refugees fleeing Iraq's internal unrest.
The 11th Combat Aviation Brigade's history traces back to the 11th Airborne Division which served in the Pacific theater during World War II and in the Army of Occupation in Japan after the war. It returned to the United States in May 1949, and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. The "Angels" moved to Germany in April, 1956, and remained there for two years until they were deactivated on July, 1, 1958.
The brigade was reactivated in 1962, and was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division in 1965. In November, 1979, it joined VII Corps as a major subordinate command.
On Oct. 16, 1987, the 11th Aviation Group was reorganized as the 11th Aviation Brigade. In August 1988, the brigade headquarters moved to Stork Barracks, Illesheim, where it remained until Operation Desert Shield.