page_title: History of the German Army Aviation Corps
section_title: The early years 1955 - 1960
hierarchical_section_title: History of the German Army Aviation Corps / The early years 1955 - 1960
caption_attribution_description: Aircraft_Dornier_Do-27_B_LH.jpg
context_page_description: The history of the German Army Aviation Corps goes back to the time when the German Wehrmacht first began to develop helicopters.
  The first helicopter flight in Germany took place on 26 June 1936 with a Focke-Wulf Fw 61. The Focke-Wulf Fw 61 was, however, an experimental helicopter and only two examples were ever built. Yet, Ernst Udet, head of the Reich Air Ministry development wing, having seen the demonstration flights, became a proponent of this relatively new type of aircraft.
  During World War II, several types were considered to be procured for the three different branches of the Wehrmacht. The German Army initially ordered 1,000 Flettner Fl 282 reconnaissance helicopters, however the production plant was destroyed and so only about 40 helicopters entered service. Another project, the more complex Focke Achgelis Fa 223 multi-role helicopter was beset with problems so that ultimately only 11 aircraft were delivered.
context_section_description: With the foundation of the Bundeswehr in 1955, a decision was made that every branch of the Bundeswehr should have their own helicopter units, operating within the framework of the tasks designated to each branch of the armed forces. Thus, the German Army Aviation Corps was founded.
  Even before helicopters had been purchased by the German government, the first officers to become helicopter pilots in the newly formed German Army began their training in August 1956 in the United States at Fort Rucker.
  In September 1956, the German government purchased the following types of helicopters for the German Army Aviation Corps:
  11 Saunders-Roe Skeeter
  14 Bell 47G
  26 Sikorsky H-34
  28 Vertol H-21
  26 Sud-Ouest SO 1221 Djinn.
  Additionally, with the Dornier Do 27 a conventional aircraft was also procured.
  On 7 November 1956, Colonel Horst Pape became the first head of Department German Army Aviation Corps within the General Staff,  after having been responsible since 1954 for the planning and setting up of the German Army Aviation Corps.
  On 7 January 1957, the German Army Aviation Corps took over Mendig Air Base air base from the French Armed Forces. The first aircraft to be used was a Dornier Do 27.
  In March 1957, 130 conscripts started their basic training within units of the German Army Aviation Corps.
  During 1957, several new bases and squadrons were founded. Niedermendig, later renamed to Mendig, Fritzlar and Celle were the first bases with flying units.
  On 9 March 1959, 130 SA318 Alouette II were bought. For more than 40 years, this helicopter was to be the training helicopter of the German Army Aviation Corps.
  The first German Army Aviation School (Heeresfliegerwaffenschule) was founded in Niedermendig on 1 July 1959. Its first commanding officer was Colonel Kuno Ebeling.
  On 12 January 1960, the instruction unit was transferred to former RAF Bückeburg, now Bückeburg Air Base, at Achum near Bückeburg.
caption: German Dornier Do 27, the only fixed-wing aircraft in service with German Army Aviation Corps
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