4th Aviation Regiment (United States)

The 4th Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the United States Army, tracing its history back to 1957.

4th Aviation Regiment
coat of arms
Active1957-present, antecendants of regiment
1987–present as 4th Aviation Regiment
Country United States
BranchUnited States Army Aviation Branch
TypeAviation
SizeRegiment
Part of4th Infantry Division
Motto(s)VIGILANTIA AETERNA (eternal vigilance)
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopterAH-64D Apache

Lineage

The regiment was constituted 1 April 1957 in the Regular Army as the 4th Aviation Company, assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Reorganized and redesignated 1 October 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Aviation Battalion (organic elements constituted 21 August 1963 and activated 1 October 1963).

In Vietnam the battalion fought in the official campaigns designated Vietnam; Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer–Fall 1969; Winter–Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; and Counteroffensive, Phase VII.

The battalion was inactivated 4 December 1970 at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Aviation Battalion, redesignated 21 November 1972 as Aviation Company, 4th Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Carson, Colorado

Reorganized and redesignated 17 March 1980 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Aviation Battalion (organic elements concurrently activated)

Battalion reorganized and redesignated 16 August 1987 as the 4th Aviation, a parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System. On 1 October 2005 the word 'Regiment' was formally added to the title.

Elements of the regiment participated in the Iraq War, including in 2005–06.

Globalsecurity said about the 4th Aviation Brigade, 4th Division that: On 16 December 2004, the 4th Infantry Division officially became the Army's newest "modular" division. Major additions to the Division included nearly doubling the Aviation Brigade, which was expanded to include a new attack helicopter battalion and an assault helicopter battalion. The aviation brigade increased from 16 AH-64D Apache helicopters in one attack battalion to 48 Apaches in 2 battalions. 2-4th Aviation was also reorganized. Seven CH-47 helicopters from C/7-101st Aviation at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, deployed to Hood Army Airfield, Fort Hood, Texas on 18 November 2004. The helicopters were to become part of 2-4th Aviation. It had been 30 years since Chinooks were assigned to the Division.

As of December 2005, the Combat Aviation Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division was operating out of Camp Taji, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Combat Aviation Brigade was assigned to support the 4th Infantry Division in a wide array of combat and logistical operations during its deployment.

Currently the regiment includes four battalions.

Current structure
AH-64 Apache helicopter from Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Attack Reconnaissance Battalion in Kunduz, Afghanistan
  • 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance) "Dragons"
    • Iraq 2003-2004 / HQ at FOB Speicher[1]
    • Company A "Vipers"
      • Iraq 2003-2004
    • Company B (AH-64D) "Reapers"
      • Iraq 2003-2004[2]
    • Company C (AH-64D) "Sidewinders"
      • Iraq 2003-2004[3]
  • 2nd Battalion (General Support) "Mustangs"
    • Company A (UH-60)
    • Company B (CH-47)
    • Company C (HH-60)
    • Company D (Maintenance)
  • 3rd Battalion (Assault Helicopter)
  • 4th Battalion (Butts Army Airfield, Fort Carson, Colorado)
    • Company A (AH-64E)
    • Company E

Decorations

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army Center of Military History document: "Lineage and Honors 4th Aviation Regiment".

Citations
  1. Bernstein 2005, p. 78.
  2. Bernstein 2005, p. 66.
  3. Bernstein 2005, p. 64.

Bibliography
  • Bernstein, J (2005). AH-64 Apache Units of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84176-848-0.
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