RED HORSE IN EUROPE   

MISSION for RED HORSE Squadrons
The RED HORSE mission is to support combat air power worldwide, RED HORSE provides the Commander of Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) a dedicated, flexible, airfield and base heavy construction and repair capability.  RED HORSE also provides many special capabilities that allow the COMAFFOR to move and support missions as the air order of battle dictates.  The standard RED HORSE capability consists of 404 personnel (engineers and support personnel) with approximately 1,000 short-tons of vehicles, heavy construction and support equipment.  This organic support allows the unit to operate independently for extended periods of time until normal supply channels are established.  In addition to the standard capability, the RED HORSE special capabilities consist of approximately 2,200 short-tons, which can be tailored to meet specific construction and repair requirements.  When operating in a higher threat, non-permissive environment outside a forward operating base or collocated operating base, the RED HORSE commander, in coordination with the area commander (i.e. combat arms land force commander), determines additional security requirements based on operational risk.

MISSION of these RED HORSE Flights
During the late 1970s, United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) leadership requested and received prepositioned RED HORSE assets in Europe to alleviate time delays in case of war.  These RED HORSE Flights jobs were to equip, store, and maintain heavy-repair vehicles and support equipment and move it to forward operating locations as required.

HISTORY
On 8 Apr 1979, with the cold war heating up with the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) and the possibility of a war or imminent threat within Europe, the 819th Civil Engineering Squadron, Heavy Repair was relocated to Royal Air Force, Wethersfield, United Kingdom.  Additionally, in January 1985, the 7219th RED HORSE Flights (RHF) at Spangdahlem AB, Germany and the 7319th RHF at Aviano, Italy were stood up.  These units maintained pre-position equipment and assets around USAFE, both units were available to quickly provide heavy repair vehicles and tools.

Between 1981 and 1984, a special project that involved both AF RES and ANG RED HORSE units was initiated to bed down pre-positioned RED HORSE equipment in Europe.  Over a two-year period, the 307th CES, HR, the 200th CES, HR, and the 201st CES Flight HR, participated in a coordinated effort to build six large hard-ribbed warehouses.  The warehouses were needed to store and secure the 400 pieces of prepositioned RED HORSE equipment.

In 1990, as the Cold War in Europe drew down, on August 30th the 819th RED HORSE Civil Engineering Squadron inactivated, but the 7219th and 7319th RED HORSE Flights personnel and equipment remained in place for future use.

In 1990, most of the 7219th and 7319th RED HORSE Flights equipment and personnel deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield.  The unit’s deployed personnel and equipment were absorbed into the deployed RED HORSE units in place; neither personnel nor equipment returned to their units.

On 1 December 1994, the 616th RED HORSE Flight, was activated at Camp Darby, near Livorno Italy and served there until it was consolidated with the 31st RED HORSE Flight, which was inactivated on 1 August 1996.

In 1996, the 7219th and 7319th RED HORSE Flights equipment and personnel that were not deployed to Operation Desert Shield were consolidated at Camp Darby, near Livorno Italy.  The unit was redesignated the 31st RED HORSE Flight at Aviano AB Italy, under Aviano’s 31st Fighter Wing.

On 22 March 2004, the 31st RED HORSE Flight, was inactivated and redesignated the 712th RED HORSE Flight.

On 22 March 2004, the 712th RED HORSE Flight, was activated at Camp Darby, Italy under the 712th Air Base Group.

On October 2006, the 712th REDHORSE Flight was inactivated and their guidon was officially retired.

OPERATIONS
These RED HORSE Flights in Europe were frequently tasked with bedding down and simultaneously supporting multiple contingencies and Joint-Chiefs-of-Staff exercises.  They became the most experienced RED HORSE units with regard to logistical movement of every type of heavy construction equipment available, including every configuration of airlift, sealift, rail, or truck.

UNIT PATCHES

LINEAGE
819th Civil Engineering Squadron, Heavy Repair, in Europe
     8 Apr 1979 – 819th Civil Engineering Squadron, Heavy Repair
     1 Mar 1989 – Redesignated 819th RED HORSE Civil Engineering Squadron
     31 Aug 1990 – Inactivated

7219th  and 7319th RED HORSE Flights
     23 Jan 1985 – organized
     30 Nov 1994 – Inactivated

616th RED HORSE Flight
     1 Dec 1994 – organized
     1 Aug 1996 – inactivated

31st RED HORSE Flight
     1 Aug 1996 – organized
     22 Mar 2004 – Inactivated

712th RED HORSE Flight
     22 Mar 2004 – organized
     23 Oct 2006 – Inactivated

STATIONS
819th Civil Engineering Squadron, Heavy Repair
     Royal Air Force, Wethersfield, United Kingdom

7219th  and 7319th  RED HORSE Flight
     7219th RHF, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
     7319th RHF, Aviano AB, Italy

616th RED HORSE Flight
     Camp Darby, Aviano AB, Italy

31st RED HORSE Flight
     Camp Darby, Aviano AB, Italy

712th RED HORSE Flight
     Camp Darby Aviano AB, Italy