3,200-strong combat aviation brigade with 152 helicopters heading to Baghdad for 'surge'

Deploying 45 days early to support the 'surge', the brigade's helicopters include Boeing AH-64Ds, CH-47 Chinooks, Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60s (Blackhawks) and Bell Helicopter OH-58D Kiowa Warriors, all to be transported on ships out of Savannah, Georgia.

BAGHDAD — The final troop contingent in President Bush's controversial plan to improve security, a brigade that includes 152 attack and transport helicopters, will soon arrive in the capital, a U.S. commander said.

With the arrival of the 3rd Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Ft. Stewart, Ga., the addition of 28,500 troops begun in mid-February will be complete. The brigade will be based at Camp Victory near Baghdad International Airport, Maj. Gen. James Simmons, deputy commander of multinational forces, said in an interview Friday...

The new air combat brigade will increase the U.S.-led forces' helicopter fleet by 34%. Also coming are 3,200 pilots, crew members, mechanics and other support personnel.

Read the rest at the LA Times

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