First Regiment of Dragoons
March 2012 - William Lavery
The 1-1 CAV up to 1988, was all Armor (M68 tanks and M113 APCs) and based out of Schwabach, West Germany. At that point in time the Squadron was made up of HQ, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Troops. In the spring of 1988 the Squadron was reorganized. Charlie Troop was disbanded as an armor Troop and reactivated as an air Troop. In addition to Charlie Troop as an air Troop, Delta Troop was formed. This made the 1-1 CAV a "2X2 CAV Squadron"...2 ground Troops (A and B) and 2 air Troops (C and D).
Along with reorganization in 1988, the Squadron also relocated, leaving Schwabach for its new location at Katterbach Army Airfield. Katterbach was the perfect location for such a unit, having the proper billeting, motor pool and airfield for the new air Troops. 1st AD HQ was also a short distance down the road from Katterbach, in the town of Ansbach.
I was an Aero Scout Section Sgt and acting Platoon Sgt for the Scout Platoon of Delta Troop from 1988 to 1992. Delta Troop, as well ...as Charlie Troop, was comprised of 4 AH-1S Cobra helicopters for the Gun Platoon, and 6 OH-58's for the Aero Scout Platoon.
Eventually Alpha and Bravo Troops traded in their M68s and M113s for the new Bradley AFV.
In the fall of 1990 the Squadron was activated for deployment to Operation Desert Shield and served there through Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort. On April 29, 1992 the unit redeployed back to Germany where it was deactivated as a "2X2" CAV Squadron.
The colors were cased and the Squadron reactivated in Buedingen, Germany as an all aviation CAV Squadron.
These events that took place in 1-1 CAV history, between 1988 and 1992, always seemed to be overlooked or not documented correctly. Hope this information can be of help on your web site. Thanks for preserving the history of my unit.