! Aviation Regiment's Mission. To provide aerial reconnaissance and firepower in support of combat operations in a joint, combined, or interagency environment.

The Regiment can trace its origins to the amalgamation of 16 Air Observation Post Flight, RAAF (1944), and 1 Army Aviation Company (1957) into 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron (16 ALA Sqn). Created at Amberley in December 1960, command of this organisation passed from the RAAF to Army in December 1964.

On the 26 April 1966, 16 ALA Sqn changed its name to 1 st Divisional Aviation Regiment, and this date has become the unit's official birthday. Eleven months later, on the 31 March 1967, the Regiment was officially retitled 1 st Aviation Regiment (1 Avn Regt). The Regiment was structured with three squadrons as follows:

1. 16 Aviation Squadron (Reconnaissance)
2. 17 Aviation Squadron (Training)
3. 18 Aviation Squadron (Headquarters), which was not raised at the time.

The Squadrons were made up of flights. At its formation the Regiment already had two flights deployed overseas; they being 161 Reconnaissance Flight in South Vietnam and 182 Reconnaissance Flight in Malaya. From the late 1960’s a number of significant changes occurred, particularly the raising of a number of new flights (162, 163, 182, and 183 Reconnaissance Flights, and 171 Air Cavalry Flight) as well as the operation of new aircraft types such as the Pilatus PC-6B Porter and Bell OH-58A Kiowa. Throughout this period the Regiment continued to have one or more flights deployed on operations.

In 1971, 162 Reconnaissance Flight redeployed to Townsville under the command of the 3rd Task Force, whilst 161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight returned from war service in South Vietnam after six and a half years of duty. 161 Flight distinguished itself very well, having received amongst its many awards 14 Distinguished Flying Crosses, a US Bronze Star and the US Army Meritorious Unit Citation.

Three pilots from 161 Flight lost their lives on operations in Vietnam, they were:

• MAJ George A. Constable, Officer Commanding, flying an 0-1 Bird Dog, 23rd May 1968
• CAPT Barry C. Donald. 3 December, 1968. Pilatus Porter, A14-686
• 2LT Allan D. Jellie. 3 December, 1968. Pilatus Porter, A14-686

Until 1972, the 1st Aviation Regiment was the only Army flying unit on the Order of Battle. On 1 August the following Army units were raised from the Regiment nucleus:

• Headquarters Army Aviation Centre
• 1st Aviation Regiment (new establishment) from 16 Aviation Squadron
• School of Army Aviation from 17 Aviation Squadron
• Army Aviation Centre Base Squadron from 18 Aviation Squadron.

In April 1973 the Regiment was operating from a number of locations - Oakey (161 Reconnaissance Flight); Townsville (162 Reconnaissance Flight); Goroka, PNG (163 Reconnaissance Flight); Holsworthy (171 Air Cavalry Flight); Singapore (182 Reconnaissance Flight); and Lae, PNG (183 Reconnaissance Flight).

From January 1974 all flights were redesignated as squadrons and as part of the restructure elements of two of these squadrons were ‘mixed and matched’, resulting in 161 Reconnaissance Squadron at Holsworthy and 171 Operational Support Squadron (formerly Air Cavalry) at Oakey. April 1976 saw the last remaining deployed element return to Australia when 183 Reconnaissance Squadron returned from Papua New Guinea after eight years of overseas service; it was disbanded in October of that year, as similar fate to some other squadrons before it.

Changes in roles and aircraft types over the next 20 years saw the Regiment tasked to provide reconnaissance, surveillance, command and liaison, operational and general support mainly to the 1st and 3rd Brigades (formerly 1st and 3rd Task Force).

During the 1990s the Regiment again deployed aircraft overseas. 171 Operational Support Squadron deployed to the South West Pacific to conduct cyclone relief & SAR in the period July 1991 – January 1992; their performance earning a Chief of the General Staff Commendation. Other squadrons were later deployed on operations in Bougainville, East Timor/Timor Leste, Christmas Island, and the Solomon Islands.

An interesting piece of history was created in 2000 when all flying squadrons of the unit were deployed at the same time. 161 Reconnaissance Squadron was on active operations supporting OP TANAGER in East Timor, 171 Operational Support Squadron was on OP BEL ISI in Bougainville, 162 Reconnaissance Squadron and a command element from Regimental Headquarters were providing Defence Aid to the Civil Power on OP GOLD during the Sydney Olympic Games, and 173 Surveillance Squadron performed tasking for all three operations.

To date throughout its history, the Regiment has flown many aircraft, they being the Cessna 180A, Bell 47G Sioux, Pilatus PC-6B Porter, Cessna L19 Bird-dog, Bell OH-58A Kiowa (on loan from US), Bell 206B-1 Kiowa, GAF N22 & N24 Nomad, Bell UH-1H Iroquois (Slicks and Gunships), Embraeir EMB110 Banderente, Beechcraft King Air 200, and the De Havilland DHC-4 Twin Otter.

In late 2004 the unit re-organised for its new role that will accompany its new aircraft – the Eurocopter EC665 Tiger, or Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter. As part of this restructure, 171 Operational Support Squadron and 173 Surveillance Squadron were placed as direct command units of 16 Brigade (Aviation). During 2005 and 2006, the Regiment consolidated all of the remaining squadrons into one location for the first time in its history, at Gaza Lines, in Darwin’s Robertson Barracks. Under the command of the Regiment Headquarters are the following sub-units:

• 161 Reconnaissance Squadron
• 162 Reconnaissance Squadron
• Technical Support Squadron
• Logistic Support Squadron

The 1st Aviation Regiment is capable of operating in centralised, dispersed and independent roles, either in support of, or commanding a combined arms force at combat team or battle group level. Currently operating up to 18 Kiowa aircraft, from 2008 the Regiment will have intermediate training conducted on the Eurocopter EC135 as a temporary lead in measure prior to the Regiment being fully equipped with Tiger helicopters.

A summary of the Regiment's key operations and activities is listed below:

Dec 1960: 16 ALA Sqn Dec 1960

• SAR, Pirimapeon, Western New Guinea, Nov 1961 [16 ALA Sqn Det]
• UNTEA, Western New Guinea, Nov - Dec 1962 [16 ALA Sqn Det]
• New Guinea , Sepik District, Army Tropical Trials, 1963 [16 ALA Sqn Det]
• Vietnam War , South Vietnam , Sep 1965 - Mar 72, 14 DFC’s were awarded to members of the Flight [161 (Indep) Recce Flt]
• Malaya Confrontation, Indonesia & Singapore, Oct 1965 - Oct 1973 [182 Recce Flt]
• Lae, Support to PNG Command, 1965 [16 ALA Sqn Det]

26 Apr 1966: Renamed 1 Div Avn Regt

31 Mar 1967: Renamed 1 Avn Regt

• PNG, Survey Ops, Jul 1968 - Apr 1976 [183 Recce Flt]
• Indonesia & PNG, Survey Ops, 1970 - 1973 [163 Recce Flt]
• Cyclone Althea, Townsville, Dec 1971 - Jan 1972 [162 Recce Flt]
• OP CENDERAWASIH, Indonesia, mapping program, c1978 [173 Gen Spt Sqn]
• Flood relief, Atherton and Cairns, Jan 1979 [162 Recce Sqn]
• OP ANOPHELIES, AUS / PNG malaria research, c1986 - 1997 [162 Recce Sqn]
• US Army Meritorious Unit Citation (1RAR BG 1965-66), Jul 1991 [161 ( Ind) Recce Flt]
• South West Pacific cyclone relief & SAR Jul 1991 - Jan 1992, awarded a CGS Commendation [171 Op Spt Sqn]
• OP BEL ISI, Bougainville, May 1998 - Aug 2001 [171 Op Spt Sqn]
• INTERFET & OP STABILISE / WARDEN, East Timor, Sep 1999 – Feb 2000 [161 and 162 Recce Sqns, 173 Survl Sqn]
• UNTAET & OP TANAGER, East Timor, Feb 2000 – May 2002 [161 and 162 Recce Sqns, 173 Survl Sqn]
• NSW, flood assistance, Mar 2001 [171 Op Spt Sqn]
• OP GOLD, Sydney Olympics Aug – Sep 2000 [RHQ, 162 Recce Sqn & 173 Survl Sqn]
• MV Tampa crisis, Christmas Island, Aug-Sep 2001 [171 Op Spt Sqn]
• UNMISET & OP CITADEL East Timor May 02 – Jun 03 [161 and 162 Recce Sqns, 173 Survl Sqn]
• OP ANODE, Solomon Islands, Jul-Nov 2003 [171 Op Spt Sqn]
• OP GUARDIAN II, CHOGM, 2003 [162 Recce Sqn]
• OP ASTUTE, Timor Leste, May 2006 – present [1 Avn Regt Det]