The US Army’s 12th Combat Aviation Brigade has reactivated the 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, at Katterbach, Germany, restoring a historic attack aviation unit to service in Europe.
The move, effective 14 October 2025, is part of the Army Aviation Transformation Initiative and continues the brigade’s long-standing Apache operations on the continent, the service stated.
The change effectively redesignates the brigade’s existing 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, as the 2-159th “Gunslingers.” Personnel, helicopters, and equipment remain in place, ensuring no loss of capability for the U.S. Army Europe and Africa command.
“We are redesignating back to 2-159th, and my team is excited to resume the heritage of this storied unit,” said Lieutenant Colonel Comador Ferguson III, the battalion’s commander. “We will continue to fly and fight the world’s most technically advanced Apache with a laser-like focus on addressing potential near-peer threats, while continuously showcasing our expertise in hard-hitting, gritty lethality.”
Colonel Adam Bock, commander of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, said the return of the 2-159th name reaffirmed both the unit’s legacy and its connection to Germany. “Katterbach has always been more than a duty station; it’s a home to generations of Soldiers, families, and our German neighbours who have welcomed and supported us,” he said.
“As we reactivate the 2-159th Attack Battalion, let us also rededicate ourselves to the mission, to one another, and to the trust placed in us by our nation.”
The 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment was first constituted in 1968 and previously served in Germany before being reflagged in 2015 as the 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment.
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