Why are Aircraft in the Army predominately named after the Native Americans? I have done some research prior to asking this question. Thus far, I have not come up with a lot.
Thank you in advace.

Army aviation began in Ft. Sill and is surrounded by many reservations and they decided to name helicopters after tribes. It was made official with AR 70-28 in 1969. The AH-1 Cobra broke the tradition when the Army was afraid of naming a gunship after a tribe but received many inquiries from tribes as to why they stopped and the policy was continued.

I've always wondered this myself so I learned something new today.

This is a little off subject but U.S. Army also honors Native Americans with insignia items. For example, 2nd & 98th Infantry Divisions have "Indian Head" SSI while that of 36th Infantry Division is an "Arrow Head" & 45th is a "Thunder Bird." I don't know but suspect that numerous unit DUI were designed to honor Native Americans.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Long_Thrust_VI,

The 45th INf Div originally wore a swaztika on their patch. Again, a Native American design. It was changed before US entry into WWII.

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My ansestors were Cherokee and Chickasaw no military aircraft with those names just a jeep and a country song!

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Like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_H-19 perhaps?

Native Americans played a key role in WWII in the Pacific I though with the Navajo Code Talkers.

The Japaneese had compromised our other code methods but could not break the Navajo language.

I am sure that is part of the reason for honoring them as well as they were both worthy adversaries and honorable allies earlier in the settlement of the country and during the Civil War......just a guess though.

Although you never hear about it, there were numerous other Tribes involved in the Code Talkers program. Code Talkers were also used by the Army.
The Arizona National Guard was using Code Talkers in the early 30s.

Cherokee may not have been used because they were nicknamed "The Civilized Tribe" because of Sequoya's development of an alphabet and dictionary for their language. Between 1814 and the 1830s, they began living in towns with homes, schools, and churches; printed their own books and newspapers, and took on European apparel to prove they could peacefully co-exist. When still threatened with removal by Pres Jackson and Georgia, they sued in the Supreme Court to retain their property rights AND WON! But Pres Jackson refused to accept the Supreme Court Ruling, and the Army forced the Cherokee west during the winter on the "Trail of Tears" to Oklahoma, during which, several thousand died from exposure and hunger...

Considering this history, maybe the Army decided to avoid any potential opening of old wounds - -

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Originally posted by JPfromTN:
Army aviation began in Ft. Sill and is surrounded by many reservations and they decided to name helicopters after tribes. It was made official with AR 70-28 in 1969. The AH-1 Cobra broke the tradition when the Army was afraid of naming a gunship after a tribe but received many inquiries from tribes as to why they stopped and the policy was continued.

Actually there are no Indian Reservations in Oklahoma. There are, however, lots of tribes due to the US Government's policy of relocation of the tribes during the late 1800s early 1900s.

Many of the frontier Army scouts were Kiowas.

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Originally posted by gumbydammit:
The 45th INf Div originally wore a swaztika on their patch. Again, a Native American design. It was changed before US entry into WWII.

Navajo

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Originally posted by greywolfghost:
Cherokee may not have been used because they were nicknamed "The Civilized Tribe" because of Sequoya's development of an alphabet and dictionary for their language. Between 1814 and the 1830s, they began living in towns with homes, schools, and churches; printed their own books and newspapers, and took on European apparel to prove they could peacefully co-exist. When still threatened with removal by Pres Jackson and Georgia, they sued in the Supreme Court to retain their property rights AND WON! But Pres Jackson refused to accept the Supreme Court Ruling, and the Army forced the Cherokee west during the winter on the "Trail of Tears" to Oklahoma, during which, several thousand died from exposure and hunger...

Considering this history, maybe the Army decided to avoid any potential opening of old wounds - -

There were 5 civilized tribes that made the trail of tears.

Cherokee, Chicisaw, Creek, Choctaw, Seminole

I've been told Native Americans have a higher percentage of veterans than any other group of Americans (my son being one). Can anyone confirm the stats?

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Actually there are no Indian Reservations in Oklahoma. There are, however, lots of tribes due to the US Government's policy of relocation of the tribes during the late 1800s early 1900s.
Many of the frontier Army scouts were Kiowas.

True. Should have used 'had been' instead of 'is'. My father's family is from OK. and they still refer to different areas as Reservations.

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Originally posted by BSmitty56:
I've been told Native Americans have a higher percentage of veterans than any other group of Americans (my son being one). Can anyone confirm the stats?

Ive heard this too. Dont have a reference or stats though.

Great Thread, how have I missed this!!!... Does anyone remember the Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne attack helicopter, the pre-AH-1 Attack helicopter that was cancelled???...
There is a U-Tube Video about it… Anyway, not much credit is given to the U.S. Army Apache Scouts of the late 19th century… Some even served into the early 20th Century. I read a great Book:

Buffalo Days: The Personal Narrative of a Cattleman, Indian Fighter & Army Officer, by Homer W. Wheeler, COL, U.S.A. (Ret.)

Colonel Wheeler (Ret.) got a direct commission into the 4th U.S. Cavalry, he had great career and he at one time commanded a Company of Apache scouts. In his book Buffalo Days, he listed the names of his assigned Apache Troopers… His First Sergeant’s name was listed as just “Meat”… This book was at one time listed on the University of Oklahoma Press as I remember. It is a great read about the Old West, The Army of say 1876 to the late 19th century. Boy I highly recommend it if you can lay your hands on a copy…

First Sergeant “Meat”…Kinda’ has a kewl ring to it don’t you think????

I used to go all over the country in the 80s to VN memorials and reunions.
A few still on going, like Kokomo.
There were always a lot of indian vets around.
They did a lot of ceremonial stuff.

One thing was that they were welcomed home into their native culture as actual warriors.

The military was a way off the "res" for many.

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Originally posted by IC2SS19Z50C5:
Great Thread, how have I missed this!!!... Does anyone remember the Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne attack helicopter, the pre-AH-1 Attack helicopter that was cancelled???...

There used to be a Cheyenne on display at Ft Eustis. It was a flying battleship. Kinda like the MI-24. (wonder where the Russians got the idea?)

If I remember right, the Cheyenne competed against the Cobra.

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Originally posted by gumbydammit: There used to be a Cheyenne on display at Ft Eustis. It was a flying battleship. Kinda like the MI-24. (wonder where the Russians got the idea?)

Yep, Gumby, been there also back in August of 2006 and saw it too. It was pretty big!!! There was at one time a mock-up of half of one at the Ft. Knox museum... As I remember it was cancelled by McNamara due to cost over runs????... I think???...

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Originally posted by gumbydammit:

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Originally posted by IC2SS19Z50C5:
Great Thread, how have I missed this!!!... Does anyone remember the Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne attack helicopter, the pre-AH-1 Attack helicopter that was cancelled???...

There used to be a Cheyenne on display at Ft Eustis. It was a flying battleship. Kinda like the MI-24. (wonder where the Russians got the idea?)

If I remember right, the Cheyenne competed against the Cobra.

There is still one on display at Ft.Campbell.