1st Military Intelligence Battalion (United States)

1st Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), nicknamed the "Flying Eye Battalion",[1] is a unit of the United States Army which specializes in the acquisition of aerial signals information in direct support of the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade. 1st MI Battalion (AE) is currently headquartered at Lucius D. Clay Kaserne in Germany.

1st Military Intelligence Battalion
(Aerial Exploitation)
1st Military Intelligence coat of arms
Active1957–1982
1984–present
Country United States of America
Branch United States Army
TypeIntelligence battalion
RoleAerial Signals Information Acquisition
Part of66th Military Intelligence Brigade, Regular Army
Garrison/HQLucius D. Clay Kaserne
Nickname(s)Flying Eye Battalion[1] (Special Designation)
Motto(s)Infomare Laboramus ("We labor to inform")
EquipmentRC-12 Guardrail
RQ-5 Hunter
EngagementsKorean War
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom III-IV and V-VI
Operation Enduring Freedom VI
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Superior Unit Award
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

Battalion history

The unit was originally formed on 14 December 1956 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Air Reconnaissance Support Battalion, and formally activated 1 February 1957 at Fort Polk, Louisiana. It was reorganized and redesignated 1 May 1959 as Company A, 196th Aerial Photo Interpretation Detachment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Then on 20 March 1962 it was converted and redesignated the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion (Air Reconnaissance Support). In October 1962 the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion (ARS) was instrumental in identifying Russian missile activity from clear photographic evidence produced from Air Force U-2 Spy Planes.[2] Upon its return from Vietnam in 1973, 1st MI was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and eventually inactivated 15 July 1982.[3] Reactivated 14 January 1984 in Germany as V Corps' aerial exploitation battalion, 1st MI is currently assigned to the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade out of Lucius D. Clay Kaserne, Wiesbaden, Germany, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

1st MI Battalion has served in

Current unit organization

The battalion has undergone various reorganizations. Currently it comprises four companies:

  • Headquarters and Headquarters Service Company – Runs battalion command and control and provides logistics support
  • Company A – Provides aerial images through the use of the Hunter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
  • Company B – Produces SIGINT collection and Aerial Electronic Warfare with the Guardrail Common Sensor
  • Company C – Conducts analysis and dissemination of SIGINT

Vietnam unit organization

The unit served in Vietnam from 23 December 1965 from Ft. Bragg and departed Vietnam on 19 April 1971 to return to Ft. Bragg, as 1st Military Intelligence Battalion (Air Reconnaissance Support)(MIBARS).[5] Detachments were stationed in multiple locations during the battalion's deployment. Each detachment consisted of an operations/imagery interpretation section, a reproduction section and a supply and maintenance section.[2]

  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company was based in Saigon at Muscara Compound. It included an aviation platoon ("The Good Guys").
  • Detachment A was based at Biên Hòa and supported III Corps operations.
  • Detachment B was based at Da Nang and supported I Corps operations.
  • Detachment C was based at Cần Thơ and supported IV Corps operations.
  • Detachment D was based at Nha Trang and supported II Corps operations.
  • 45th Military Intelligence Detachment was assigned to 1st MI Battalion in 1968 and was based in Phu Bai. It was eventually organized as Detachment E and supported operations in I Corps.

Decorations

The following decorations have been awarded to the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion:[6]

  • Presidential Unit Citation (Air Force) for Southeast Asia 1966–1967[7]
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Vietnam 1965–1966
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Vietnam 1966–1967
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Vietnam 1967–1968
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Vietnam 1969–1970
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Vietnam 1970–1972
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Iraq 2005–2006
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Afghanistan 2007–2009
  • Army Superior Unit Award for 1995–1996
  • Army Superior Unit Award for 1999–2003
  • Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star for Vietnam 1965–1971

Company A is additionally entitled to:[6]

Notes
Citations
  1. "Special Designations", United States Army Center of Military History
  2. Finnegan and Danysh, p 132
  3. Finnegan and Danysh, p 260
  4. Finnegan and Danysh, p 147
  5. Stanton, p 236
  6. Finnegan and Danysh, p 261
  7. "Lineage and Honors Information", 1st Military Intelligence Battalion, U.S. Army Center of Military History
References cited

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army Center of Military History document: "1st Military Intelligence Battalion Lineage and Honors".

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