The Combat Aviation Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division is a subordinate command of the 42nd Infantry Division. Once contained solely within New York, force reductions and reorganizations have resulted in units from several different states making up the brigade.
Structure Source DMNA. Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), Latham, NY 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment, Ronkonkoma, NY Company A, Latham, NY Company B, Ronkonkoma, NY Company D, Latham, NY Company E, Farmingdale, NY Detachment 2, Company A, 1st Security & Support Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment (S&S) Detachment 3, Company E, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment 642nd Aviation Support Battalion (642nd ASB), Rochester, NY HHC, Rochester, NY Detachment 2, HHC 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment (3-126th Aviation Battalion) (TOC) at Rochester Detachment 1, Company B, 3-126th Aviation Battalion (heavy lift) at Rochester Detachment 2, Company D, 3-126th Aviation Battalion (maintenance) at Rochester Detachment 2, Company E, 3-126th Aviation Battalion (support) at Rochester Company A, Dunkirk, NY Detachment 1 at Olean, NY Company B, Ronkonkoma, NY Company C, Brooklyn, NY C Company 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment (C-1-171st GSAB) at Rochester Detachment 2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (2-HHC), 1-171st GSAB at Rochester Company C, 1-171st GSAB at Rochester Detachment 2, Company D, 1-171st GSAB at Rochester Detachment 1, Company E, 1-171st GSAB
Activation and history
The New York National Guard played an active role in Army aviation from the early 1900s through the end of World War II.Deseret News, Militia Officers May Learn to Fly, 11 October 1915Deseret News, New York First State to Organize Militia Aviation, 22 August 1921 The Combat Aviation Brigade, 42d Infantry Division traces its history from 1947 when the post-World War II reorganization of the United States military created the United States Air Force as an entity separate from the Army. This reorganization also led to the creation of the Air National Guard.Arnold L. Punaro, editor, Commission on the National Guard and Reserves: Transforming the National Guard and Reserves, 2008, page E-5
In 1947 the New York Army National Guard fielded a fixed-wing aviation detachment of L-19 "Bird Dogs" assigned to Miller Field on Staten Island.New York Times, Aviation Unit to Move; Police Will Shift From Staten Island to Floyd Bennett, 17 January 1947 This detachment and aircraft from the II Corps and 101st Armored Cavalry Regiment were organized as the 42d Aviation Company at Huntington Station, Long Island in 1959.Steven Pettibone, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs, New York’s Aviation History from Bird Dogs to Blackhawks, 8 October 2009
In 1963, the 42d Division's aviation units were reorganized as the 42d Aviation Battalion, based at Zahn's Airport, Long Island. The battalion was equipped with O-1A Bird Dog and U-6 Beaver fixed-wing aircraft.Steven Pettibone, New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Office of Public Affairs, Media Advisory, New Commander For Army National Guard Assault Helicopter Battalion, 5 December 2009
The battalion expanded as the United States Army began fielding helicopters, including the creation of "lettered" subordinate companies (Company A, 42d Aviation Battalion, and so on) and companies from other states. In 1968 the battalion received OH-13s and OH-23s. In 1971, Company A (Niagara Falls) and Company B (Long Island NY) received Bell H-13, UH-1 and OH-6 helicopters. These companies consisted mainly of "lift" capacity and fielded the Delta and Hotel model UH-1, but each company had "Attack" platoons that flew "Charlie" and "Mike" model gunships.
By 1985 the 42d Aviation Battalion was fielding the Bell AH-1 Cobra and Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, as well as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois.Schenectady Gazette, Cobra Power, 26 September 1984
In October 1986 another reorganization resulted in the creation of the Aviation Brigade, 42d Infantry Division, and the expansion of the 42nd Aviation Battalion into two. The 1st Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment (Attack) headquartered in Latham, was established in 1989, and the 2d Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment (Assault) in Niagara Falls, New York in 1991.Richard Goldenberg, New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Office of Public Affairs, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade History, 2011
In 1995 the Army’s "Aviation Restructuring Initiative" again reorganized the Aviation Brigade. 2-142d Aviation was inactivated, moved to Rochester as the redesignated as 1-142d, and received the AH-1 ‘F’ model helicopter. 1-142d in Latham was re-flagged as the 3d Battalion, 142d Aviation Regiment (Assault), and received the UH-60 ‘Blackhawk’ helicopter.New York Division of Mililary and Naval Affairs, Office of Public Affairs, 3-142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion History, 2011
Operation Iraqi Freedom
The Aviation Brigade headquarters deployed to Iraq as part of the 42d Division (Task Force Liberty) in May, 2004 and returned in November, 2005.Shomial Ahmad, Long Island Newsday, , 9 July 2006 Units subordinate to the Aviation Brigade in Iraq included:
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 42d Infantry Division 642d Aviation Support Battalion 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Regiment (General Support), NJ ARNG 1st Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment (General Support), CA ARNG 8th Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment (Attack), USAR 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
Post Iraqi Freedom
The 2005 modular reorganization of Army combat divisions included the redesignation from "Aviation Brigade" to "Combat Aviation Brigade" (CAB). In 2006, the headquarters of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 42d Infantry Division was relocated to Latham, New York.New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Media Advisory, New Aviation Leadership Transfer of Command Between State Aviation Office and 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 11 September 2008
As part of planned force reductions following military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 42nd Infantry Division has reconfigured and redistributed subordinate units. As of 2013, the Combat Aviation Brigade has units in eleven states. Units based in New York include: Dunkirk; Jamestown; Olean; Rochester; Latham; Brooklyn; Patchogue; and Ronkonkoma.
New York Army National Guard Aviation units and individual volunteers have also continued to serve overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. In 2013, the Combat Aviation Brigade was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom under the command of Brigadier General Jack A. James Jr.
Note: While commonly referred to as the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, the U.S. Army Center of Military History confirms that its correct designation is Combat Aviation Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division.
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