Army Aviation

• • • • • Following the establishment of the U.S. Air Force as a separate service in 1947, the Army began to develop further its own aviation assets (light planes and rotary wing aircraft) in support of ground operations. The Korean War gave this drive impetus, and the war in Vietnam saw its fruition, as Army aviation units performed a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, transport, and fire support. After the war in Vietnam, the role of armed helicopters as tank destroyers received new emphasis. In recognition of the growing importance of aviation in Army doctrine and operations, Aviation became a separate branch on 12 April 1983, and a full member of the Army's combined arms team.Authorities:

        • Title 10, United States Code, Section 3063(a)(13).

        • Department of the Army General Orders, No. 6, dated 15 February 1984.

Now if you want to look at the beginnings of Army aviation in terms of the creation of the United States Army Air Service then you have a much earlier date to observe, as the Air Service began on 24th of May, 1918.