WHY ARE ARMY HELICOPTERS NAMED AFTER NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES?
From the UH-60 Blackhawk to the AH-64 Apache, Native American history is at the forefront of Army helicopters. In fact, several U.S. Army helicopters get their names from tribes or figures. These military Army helicopters serve not only the nation, but serve as a reminder of the history and cultural significance of Native American tribes.Read next: Here’s How to Look Up Military Records
Army Helicopters and Native American Blessings
The tradition began in 1947 when Army General Hamilton Howze did not like the names Hoverfly and Dragonfly for the military's two choppers. He wanted a name that was stronger, and one that had some type of connection to American military history. That's when he came up with Native American names. In 1969, an Army regulation made the naming protocol official. The bureau of Indian Affairs, at the time, made name suggestions.Most recently in 2012, the Lakota U.S Army helicopter received its name in honor of the Great Sioux nation in North and South Dakota. Additionally, elders of the Lakota tribe at the Standing Rock Reservation blessed two Lakota choppers.David Sibley, a military historian at Cornell University said, “I think the idea of naming weapons and ships and planes is a good one as a way of invoking the history, the tradition, the ethos of the military. It's a way of invoking the long history of the United States and the U.S. military. And sometimes even including the folks we were fighting against, who we've now come to peace with, as is the case with Army helicopters.”
Additional Military Equipment Names
Army tanks have been getting their names from military generals since World War II. For example, the Sherman tank is after William Tecumseh Sherman who was a civil war general. There are also two Army missiles that get their names after snakes. They are Titan and the Sidewinder. Furthermore, this shows how the names of military equipment can be inconsistent and sort of random.
These Army Helicopters Are Paying Tribute to Native Americans
A few Army helicopters that pay tribute to Native Americans are as followed:UH-60 Black Hawk: The Black Hawk helicopter is a utility helicopter used for missions including air assault, medical evacuation, and search and rescue. This helicopter name is after Chief Black Hawk, a Native American leader of the Sauk tribe.AH-64 Apache: The Apache helicopter is an attack helicopter known for its firepower. This name is after the Apache Native American tribe. CH-47 Chinook: The Chinook helicopter is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter that is used for troop transport, artillery placement, and battlefield resupply. Furthermore, this helicopter got its name from the Chinook Native American tribe located in the Pacific Northwest. It symbolizes the strength and endurance people know the Chinook people to have.OH-58 Kiowa: The Kiowa helicopter, which is used for surveillance missions, is named after the Kiowa Native American tribe. Furthermore, this name reflects the helicopter's main objective, searching for and observing enemy movements, like the historical scouting duties of the Kiowa people.Suggested read: The AC-130 J Ghostrider Laser Weapon Dream Has Officially Ended
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