Cobras take last flight;
new chopper takes over

A ceremonial flight today marks
the end of the Vietnam-era helicopters
for the 25th Infantry

Star-Bulletin

One of the 25th Infantry Division's aviation units will undergo a transformation as it phases in a new helicopter.

Members of the 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, previously maintained and flew Cobra attack helicopters, which are being replaced by OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters.

The last flight of the Cobra helicopters was scheduled to take place this afternoon with a formation of eight Vietnam- vintage aircraft.

Joining the Cobras will be four new Kiowas and one UH-1 Huey. They will pass over the USS Missouri and the USS Arizona memorials in Pearl Harbor and over the Leeward Coast, then will fly through Kolekole Pass.

The Cobras were developed in 1965 and have been deployed in every U.S. combat mission since Vietnam.

The flight today was to be the last one by an active-duty Army unit.

Only 38 current members of the 1st Battalion will remain while 95 soldiers will be transferred to the division's other units.

About 90 members of the unit have chosen to leave the Army or will go to other duty stations.