Research for Attack Helicopters

In September 1994, after months of unsuccessful diplomatic negotiations to restore the legally elected president of Haiti, the United States undertook the forcible removal of the military junta then in power. As part of this effort, two aircraft carriers (CVs) left Norfolk with a rather unusual mission. The fixed-wing aircraft and most of the air-wing personnel assigned to each of the CVs had been removed to make room for joint (mostly Army) assault forces and the helicopters to carry and support them. These forces were to have been the cutting edge of the planned assault of Haiti. This report contains observations of the operation of those forces from the CVs, with an emphasis on air operations.