18th Aviation Brigade (United States)
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| 18th Aviation Brigade | |
|---|---|
 18th Aviation Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia |
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| Active | 1966-present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | U.S. Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Bragg |
| Equipment | AH-64 UH-60 CH-47 |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War Operation Just Cause Operation Desert Storm |
| Decorations | Meritorious Unit Commendation Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Vietnam Civil Action Medal |
The 18th Aviation Brigade was formed from the 269th Aviation Battalion and its subordinate units, the 18th and 196th Aviation companies. The 18th Aviation Brigade (Airborne) was originally constituted on 7 April 1966 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 269th Aviation Battalion. It activated on 1 July 1966 at Fort Bragg, NC and deployed to Vietnam on 28 January 1967. There it was assigned to the 12th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade at Vung Tau.
The unit was reorganized and redesignated on 1 December 1968 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 269th Aviation Battalion. During the battalion's tour in Southeast Asia, the unit participated in a number of actions and campaigns, to include the TET Counteroffensive, the TET-69 Counteroffensive, and the Sanctuary Counteroffensive. After more than four years in combat, the unit redeployed from Vietnam to Fort Bragg. Awards earned include the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal.
On 17 August 1987 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Aviation Brigade, was activated. On 1 September 1987, the 269th Aviation Battalion was reorganized and redesignated as the 18th Aviation Brigade (Corps)(Airborne), and has since participated in Operation Prime Chance in the Persian Gulf, Operation Just Cause in Panama, and "Desert Shield and Storm" in Southwest Asia, and Hurricane Andrew Relief in Southern Florida.
On the first day of the Gulf War 24 February 1991 the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) began its attack with its AH-64s, AH-1s, 60 UH-60s and 40 CH-47s augmented by the XVIII Airborne Corps' 18th Aviation Brigade and began lifting the 1st Brigade into what became Forward Operating Base (FOB) Cobra, 93 miles into Iraq and halfway to the Euphrates River. Over three hundred helicopter sorties ferried the troops and equipment into the objective area in the largest heliborne operation in military history.
