OPERATION MUSKETEER
The 1st Combat Aviation Brigade’s recent rotation saw US Army equipment arrive at Dunkirk for the first time in decades,
OPERATION MOUSQUETAIRE (MUSKETEER) occurred between late February and early March this year. Across 30 days or so, part of the US Army’s 1st Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB)/1 American Infantry Division (AID) shuttled between Dunkirk and Calais airport in northern France The 1st CAB from Fort Riley, Kansas, moved to Germany, Poland, and Latvia to replace the 101st CAB.
The ‘Demon’ Brigade (based at Fort Riley) arrived at the port of Dunkirk on March 6, on board the ARC Endurance, chartered by the US Navy Military Sealift Command. The 50,000-ton ro-ro (roll on-roll off) was loaded with 55 helicopters, 610 vehicles and 312 containers. The aviation brigade comprised approximately 50 UH-60 and HH-60 Black Hawks, 10 CH-47 Chinooks, 25 AH-64 Apaches and 1,800 wheeled vehicles and pieces of equipment. Some of them used other European ports. Another portion of the brigade's equipment arrived in Alexandroupoli, Greece, in late February on board freight trains.
