CHAPTER III

The Early Years in the United States, 1963-1965

The Air Assault Tests

Before we examine the details of the 11th Air Assault Division and the eventual deployment of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), it is important to remember that during this period the Aviation School, Transportation School, Signal School, and Aberdeen Proving Ground, as well as many other Army agencies, devoted their considerable talents and manpower to improving and supporting the concept of airmobility. Space and time do not permit detailing even a portion of this effort, but I would not want any omission here to leave the impression that the air assault tests were the sum and substance of the U. S. Army progress during this period.

The Howze Board had laid the foundations and suggested the means to finish the job that it had begun so well. Now it was up to the Army as a whole to turn the major Howze Board recommendation into fact.

To maintain the Howze Board momentum and to meet one of its major recommendations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations on 7 January 1963 issued the initial plan for the organization, training, and testing of an air assault division and an air transport brigade. Cadres of the test units were activated on 15 February at Fort Benning, Georgia. The test division was named the 11th Air Assault Division to revive the colors of that proud World War H airborne division. At first it was represented by just an infantry battalion, plus a few personnel in the division headquarters and the necessary combat support and logistical support elements. Concurrently, the 10th Air Transport Brigade was activated around a battalion-size unit. The overall strength of these initial test units was 191 officers, 187 warrant officers, and 2,645 enlisted men for a total of 3,023 personnel. Of the 154 aircraft provided, 125 were helicopters and 29 were fixed-wing. It was visualized that the units