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18th
Aviation Battalion |
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| Battalion History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1963-72 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18th Aviation Bn DUI |
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(Source:
18th Avn Bn, Semiannual Historical Report, 1 Jan 69 - 30 Jun 69.)
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The 18th Avn Bn underwent a reorganization on May 15, 1969 that
resulted in the 90th Avn Co (MH), Hanau AAF, being relieved from
assignment to the Bn.
Transition to OH-13 (throughout the Bn?) occurred in March 1969. Battalion ORGANIZATION (after May 15 1969?): |
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| If you have more information on the history or organization of the 18th Aviation Battalion, please contact me. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| MISCELLANEOUS
UNIT INFORMATION In 1965, the 18th Avn Bn was part of the Seventh Army Transportation Aviation Group (headquartered in Ludwigsburg) and comprised the following subordiante units: |
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| Late 1966 or early 1967, USAREUR aviation assets were reorganized and the 18th Avn Bn was placed under the command of V Corps (Webmaster Note: correspondingly, the 16th Avn Bn was formed and placed under VII Corps). The reorganization was based on several recommendations rising from a study of combat support aviation in Vietnam and consolidates Army planes at higher organizational levels to provide easier cross-attachment to divisions when the aircraft are needed for large-scale airlifts. (March 1967) CO of the 18th is Lt Col Patrick N. Delevan. ORGANIZATION (March 1967): |
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| (Source: Email from Mac Cruz) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was assigned to 720th Signal Detachment (Avionics) in 1968 to 1969. I was at Fliegerhorst (Hanau) and at Gibbs (Frankfurt). At Fliegerhorst we worked on 350th (Avn Co) aircraft avionics. At Bonames AAF I worked on 66th Avn Co aircraft. My NCO was SSG Smith. We were housed next door to the EM Mess Hall and just behind the flight line, with a big square in between the barracks. I would like to know what happened to the 720th Sig Det. I was SP5 Cruz at the time. We first started out with 30th Trans. Co, then transferred to 18th Avn. BN. We were only about 10 to 12 men in the unit. Also, when I was at 66th Avn Co, they had just put in the new hanger. I remember some of the names of the personnel. |
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| (Source: Robert Müller, 69th Sig Bn) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It appears that the 90th Transportation Company, a CH-37 unit originally based at Fort Knox, KY, was transferred to Illesheim Army Air Base near Ansbach, Germany in late 1961. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1966 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Annual Historical Summary, HQ USAREUR & Seventh Army, 1 Jan - 31 Dec 1966, HQ USAREUR 1967) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In 1966, the
18th Aviation Battalion was assigned
to Seventh Army Support Command and was composed of two medium helicopter
companies, the 4th and 90th Aviation Companies. Under the HEADCON implementation plan, USAREUR reassigned the 4th Aviation Company from the 18th to the 16th Aviation Battalion and assigned the 18th Aviation Battalion, including the 90th Aviation Company, to V Corps. Concurrently?, the corps' 66th Aviation Company was reassigned to the 18th Aviation Battalion. |
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| 66th Aviation Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19.. - 19.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Bennie Williams, 66th Avn Co, 1967-69) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was in the 66 Avn. Co. at Gibbs from May 1967 to Aug 1969 when it was moved to Hanau. I was a crew chief on a Huey for General Boyle, the 3-star commander of V Corps. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Email from Jim Snyder) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I was assigned to the 18th (Avn Bn), 66th Avn Co, and 350th Avn Co between 1967-69. |
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| 350th Aviation Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19.. - 19.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Mike Belfiore) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was stationed with the 350th Avn Co in Hanau from 1967 to 1968, coming over from the 11th TC. which was decommissioned. I had arrived in Germany in January of 1966. I am just going from memory right now, later I will go through my papers and put something together for the site. I believe the 11th TC was assigned to a transportation brigade with the 7th Army and was at Nellingen. Some time in 1967 it was deactivated, the helicopters, all CH-34s were put in storage. We were assigned to the 18th AVN BN and moved to Hanau. At that point the 18th consisted of the 350th AVN company (CH-34s), the 90th AVN company (CH-37s) and the 66th AVN company which seemed to consist of V CORPS command aircraft. I was then transferred from HHC to the 350th, where I remained until I was discharged in August of 1968. During this time I was always in the communications section, becoming the communications section chief. It was always a small group taking care of field communications and filling in as avionics repairmen because the real avionics people were all in Viet Nam. As I said I will put something more accurate together when I go through the attic. |
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| (Source: Email from Mark Eltzroth, 654th Trans Det, 1972-74) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I was in the Army from 1971 to 1974. I got to Germany in January of 1972. I was stationed in Germany with the 654th Trans Det for a short time and then we became part of the 350th Avn Co and then finally the 173rd Avn Co. The 654th was in the same barracks as the 350th. Just as Mac had stated we were next to the EM mess. The big square that Mac talked about was called "Red Square" I do not remember the 720th.
I was a crew chief on UH-1D 64-59792. It was the oldest ship in the company, But she always got me home. I lost all my old Army stuff years ago. It was nice seeing the old "Patches" again. So many people were coming and going back then. All of us were supposed to be sent to Vietnam. But our orders were flagged and we ended up in Germany. As a mater of fact, most of all of are luggage was sent on a different plane and ended up in Nam. It took almost a month to get are stuff. Thanks to the "Short timers" that were leaving we got plenty of used clothing to last us till our stuff was found. Some time in 1972 we became part of the 350 Avn. and in 1973 we became part of 173rd Avn Co. I am not sure of the exact dates. My oldest Son has a beer mug that I got for being the "Solder of the month" in July of 1973 and that was from the 173rd. I would like to know more about what ever happened to Fliegerhorst. And some of the history about it. I was told that it was an old German air base during the war. I know we could still see the bomb crater around the base when we would fly over it. |
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| Related Links: 66th Aviation Company, 1971-74 - |
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30th
Trans (Det)
