4 1 AVIATION BATTALION HISTORICAL RECORD OPS

File: 090496_jul96_decls33_0005.txt
Page: 0005
Total Pages: 17
Subject: 4 1 AVIATION BATTALION HISTORICAL RECORD OPS                    

Box  ID: BX001066

Document Number:          9

Folder Title: MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION-4TH BN-1ST AVN REGIMENT                                           

Folder Seq #:         11

Unit: 1ST ID      

Parent Organzation: VII  CORPS  







               24 January
                       Two Kuwaiti nationals, SGT Ahmed and SGT Ayman, were assigned to the EH-60
                 platoon as translators.

               25 January
                       The EH-60 platoon received its first SEMA mission.
                       2AD moved to TAA Roosevelt and was attached to 4-1 Avn B n, supporting the I st ID with
               general support and VIP missions. This brought the total number of personnel in the Battalion to
               326 soldiers. The 2AD @) Aviation Detachment was commanded by CPT Eddie Melton.
               Detachment NCOIC was SSG Charles Agers .

                                       RECONNRISSRNCE/PRE-COMBHT PHRSE

               27 January
                       An OH58D (726) took off at 0125, crewed by pilot B. Smith and AO Jarvis. The mission
               was to provide night security for 1/4 Cav, which was screening 4-1 Battalion's western flank. An
               unforecasted severe rain storm blew in from the south, reducing illumination to 0% and visibility to
               fifty meters. Mr. Smith could not climb due to enemy radar to the north, so he attempted a
               landing. While attempting to land he encountered brown out conditions, and the aircraft contacted
               the ground and rolled. None of the crew on board were injured, but the aircraft was destroyed.
               Tle aircraft was replaced with a VII corps float from Talon airfield.

               30 January
                       4-1 Avn Bn participatedp in AT-4 and M60 ranges at Jayhawk range. PFC Allmett of
               H-HC scored a direct hit with his AT-4.

               2 February
                       2AD's aircraft were augmented by two OH58C's from 1-1 AVN, 4th Bde, lst ED.
                       Reports were received concerning contaminated fuel, so the battalion ordered aircraft fuel
               samples tested. None were found to be contaminated.

               4 February
rew accidently released two flares while conducting ground tests. Two
               soldiers were slightly injured.

               8 February
                       LTC Wilkerson directed that D Co. and E Co. be redesignated as A Co. and B Co.
               respectively. The Non Directional Beacon was destroyed when a vehicle ran over it during the
               night.

               14 February
                       4-1 AVN BN moved forward to FAA Nomad, arriving at 1200 hours. FAA Nomad was
               located at NS4788, approximately fifty kms northwest of Hafar al Batin. B Company's
               Blackhawks helped airlift the battalion while continuing to support DISCOM.
                       At this time the 507th medical company, commanded by NMJ Griffin, was attached to 4-1
               Avn Bn, bringing the total personnel in the Battalion to 366 soldiers.
                       Throughout the deployment the ALQ-144 Infrared Jammer suffered due to the effects of
               sand ingestion. CW2 Tripodi devised a simple but effective filtration system, field teardown, and
               cleaning methods. This significantly improved the battalion's ALQ-144 operational readiness.
               These procedures were adopted by many VII Corp units.



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