11th Pathfinder Company
Unit Crests
1963 - 1972
11th Air Assault Aviation Group (Test);
1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
1963 - 1967
Background: ‘Unofficial’ design was approved for use by the 11th Air Assault Aviation Division (Test) at Fort Benning, Georgia in late 1963 or early 1964. Either division command or Colonel Seneff, who at the time was Commanding Officer of 11th Air Assault Aviation Group (Test), made this decision.
Crest was utilized by the 11th AAAD (Test) for the remainder of its existence at Ft. Benning then carried forward with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) to South Vietnam in 1965 by 11th Aviation Group. It remained as the ‘Unofficial’ unit crest until 22 December 1967 when the United States Army approved an official design and motto for 11th Aviation Group.
Motto: “WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE”
Symbolism: A medieval sky-blue kite shield having a Silver outer band that is indicative of air operations and dominated by a large twin-wing Silver hawk that is symbolic of courage, aggressiveness, and assault from the sky.
Source: Ride at a Gallop by Col. (Ret.) Benjamin S. Silver, page 156, “None of the new Aviation Battalions had a crest or unit insignia…early in November 1963 and gave him the job of developing ideas for a battlion crest and motto.”
[Note – this was in reference for the 228th Assault Support Aviation Battalion (Test) commanded by then Lt. Col. Silver. He goes on to state “I then showed it to Colonel Seneff, who was working on one for the Aviation Group and he immediately wanted the “Winged Warrior” motto for a Cavalry unit.”]
11th Aviation Group,
1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
1967 - 1971
Crest: Official design was approved by the Department of Army for use by 11th Aviation Group, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) on 22 December 1967.
Motto: “WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE”
Symbolism: The blue background denotes sky while the eagle is used to symbolize the superior flying ability of the Group. The wings displayed with claws extended represent the unit’s outstanding record of revolutionizing airmobile warfare. The arrows further represent speed in flight, while one arrow on each wing gives numerical distinction to the Group.
Background: Crest was utilized by 11th Aviation Group, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) until the division left South Vietnam in April, 1971. 11th Aviation Group remained in-country, moving its headquarters to Marble Mountain in I Corps.
Background (cont.): 11th Pathfinder Platoon remained with 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Separate) coming under administrative control of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion.
[Note – By Fall, 1967 unit staffing levels had reach a critical stage. Consequently, the General Support team was disbanded with remaining personnel reassigned to either 227th, 228th, or 229th teams.]
[Note – In late 1968 or early 1969, the 11th Pathfinder Company was re-designated as the 11th Pathfinder Platoon with team designations also impacted (i.e., 227th became Team 1, 228th became Team 2, and 229th became Team 3). These changes are believed to have been driven by the Army’s converting the 101st Airborne Division to their second airmobile organization. Consequently, changes were made to update and standardize “Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) for these airmobile divisions.]
Source: U.S. Army Heraldic Crest: A Complete Illustrated History of Authorized Distinctive Unit Insignia by Barry Jason Stein w/P.J. Capelotti, General Editor
229th Assault Helicopter Battalion,
3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Separate);
Task Force Garry Owen
1971 - 1972
Crest: After nearly two and one half years of testing the airmobile concept and seven months conducting actual combat operations in Vietnam, this distinctive unit insignia was approved for use by 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion on 6 April 1966. Later it was re-designated by the Department of the Army for use by the 229th Aviation Regiment with its description and image slightly revised on 21 July 1989.
Motto: “WINGED ASSAULT”
Symbolism: A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall, consisting of a shield blazoned: Per bend Tenne and Azure, in bend a flash throughout between an arrowhead and a demivol conjoined and a sword per pale point up, all Argent. Attached below the shield a Silver scroll inscribee “WINGED ASSAULT” in Black. The wing alludes to flight, the arrowhead symbolizes Accuracy, and the sword to Combat. It is dominated by a flash that is indicative of the swiftness of the strike and its downward travels from upper left to lower right refers to its association to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).
Background: In early February, 1963 in order to test the viability of the airmobile concept, the United States Army authorized the formation of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) at Fort Benning, Georgia. Training and testing for personnel and equipment lasted from 1963, throughout 1964, and into the first part of 1965.
The aviation component of this newly formed unit was under the command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 11th Aviation Group (Test). A portion of ‘HHC’ 11th Aviation Group (Test) was HHC 229th Assault Helicopter Battaion (Test) which comprised the following individual units: ‘A’ Company, 4th Aviation Battalion; ‘A’ Company, 5th Aviation Battalion; 194th Aviation Company (Aerial Helicopter); and the 131st Aviation Company (Aerial Weapons).
When HHC 11th Aviation Group (Test) was reflagged under the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) and prior to leaving for South Vietnam in 1965, HHC 229th Aviation Battalion units were re-designated as: A Company, B Company, C Company, and D Company.
[Note – The historical organization of the 11th Pathfinder Platoon and its organic composition from April, 1971 to August, 1972 while under administrative control of HHC, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion is presently being research.]
Sources: The Institute of Heraldry; The 1st Air Cavalry Division, Vietnam, August 1965 To December 1969, Editor-In-Chief Major J.D. Coleman, Printed by DIA NIPPON Printing Company, LTD. Tokyo, Japan; 1st Cavalry Division History – Vietnam War, 1965 – 1972 from “first-team-us” website.