Nicknamed “First in Flight” in tribute to its home in North Carolina, the 449
th Theater Aviation Brigade was originally constituted as the 449
th Aviation Group on 1 October 1987, about two-and-a-half weeks after it had been organized and Federally recognized in the North Carolina Army NationKinston, North Carolina. The Group was organized under the 11
th Aviation Regiment until 1 September 2006 when, as part of the Army Aviation Transformation, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 449
th Aviation Brigade (this info is per the U.S. Army Center of Military History’s Lineage for the the unit—the unit’s Web site says it was redesignated a Theater Aviation Brigade and that the date was 2005).
Ordered into active Federal service in September 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Brigade was honored with a Meritorious Unit Commendation and earned credit for participation in the Iraqi Surge campaign in the War on Terrorism. Headquartered at Kinston, the Brigade provides command and control of the 66
th Theater Aviation Command’s assault assets. It comprises just under 4,000 Soldiers and has over 130 AH-64D Longbow, UH-60L Blackhawk, and UH-72 Lakota helicopters in its two Battalions, the 1-130
th Attack Reconnaissance and the 2-130
th Aviation Operations.
Related items
449th Theater Aviation Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)
449th Theater Aviation Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)