The Combat Aviation Brigade, 34th Infantry Division is a Combat Aviation Brigade of the Minnesota National Guard and the United States Army. The brigade provides aviation capabilities to the state of Minnesota when in State Active Duty Status. The brigade is based in Saint Paul and uses UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and C-12 Huron fixed-wing aircraft for federal and state missions.
On 1 April 1963, the 47th Aviation Company of the 47th Infantry Division (United States) was reorganized and redesignated as the Headquarters Company, 47th Aviation Battalion, an element of the 47th Infantry Division. It was reorganized and redesignated on 1 January 1965 as the Headquarters Detachment, 47th Aviation Battalion. It was reorganized and redesignated 1 June 1971 as Headquarters Company, 47th Aviation Battalion.
HQ Company 47th Aviation Battalion was reorganized and redesignated 2 October 1986 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 47th Infantry Division.
It was redesignated again, on 10 February 1991 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 34th Infantry Division.
In 2008-2009, more than 700 brigade soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2010, the Saint Cloud-based Company B, 2d Battalion (General Support), 211th Aviation Regiment, departed in November for an Iraq War Operation New Dawn deployment. Flying CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopters, Company B moved troops, equipment and supplies for maneuver, combat and combat service support operations.
In May 2013, the brigade provided CH-47 and UH-60 helicopters and personnel to local government agencies to fight and contain three wildfires in northwest Minnesota. In 2013, the Combat Aviation Brigade welcomed home the St. Cloud-based Company C, 2d Battalion (General Support), 211th Aviation Regiment from a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where they conducted more than 650 medical evacuation missions and flew 1,700 accident-free flight hours. The company also received six new CH-47F Chinook helicopters and trained more than 30 personnel in their operation.
In 2023, the Minnesota-based subordinate units of the 34th CAB included:
Outside Minnesota, in 2016-18 the 34th CAB was providing training and operational guidance to the: