CHAPTER VI
Airmobile Developments, 1966
The Genesis of the
1st Aviation Brigade
The Army faced a dilemma at this period of time in that it
had spread its aviation assets in Vietnam to support the Army of the Republic of
Vietnam divisions, one Republic of Korea division, the 1st U. S. Army Division,
the 173d Brigade, and the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne with non-organic
aviation units. Only the 1st Cavalry Division had sufficient organic aircraft.
There was little experience in supporting non-airmobile divisions with separate
aviation assets and the Army was not sure of the proper mix.
The finite limitations of available
Hueys and Army aviators forced the decision to support the average size division
or Vietnamese elements with considerably less than had been devoted to the
airmobile division and eventually a ratio was determined of one assault
helicopter company per brigade in the II, III, and IV Corps Tactical Zones. At
this time, the Marines had the responsibility for aviation support in the I
Corps Tactical Zone. But, the mere spreading of limited aviation assets did not
solve the problem of organization command and control. It was obvious from the
beginning that some sort of centralization was going to be necessary. The
companies in Vietnam at that time all had developed distinct methods of
operations and procedures which they had worked out on an ad hoc basis with the
supported commanders. As a result, it was very difficult to take a company from
the highlands and switch its support operations to the Delta or vice versa for
it entailed relearning complex command relationships, terrain, and methods of
operation. Therefore, a high degree of standardization of training, procedures,
and methods of operations was obviously indicated.
In contrast to this need, there was a
strong underlying feeling that centralization of Army aviation at a brigade
level would be a major step backwards from the fundamental principle that Army
aviation had held since World War II, that is decentralization to the lowest
possible commander who could use and maintain it.
