16 Air Assault Brigade was formed on 1 September 1999 from an amalgamation of 24 Airmobile and 5 Airborne Brigades.  It is a unique formation within the British Army, bringing together aviation and parachute capabilities. A rapidly deployable brigade, it is designed to open or secure points of entry for other land or air forces.

Bringing together capabilities from the airmobile and airborne brigades has created a formation that considerably strengthens the combat potential of our Armed Forces.

With the introduction of the Apache attack helicopter, 16 Air Assault Brigade will have a new generation weapons system at the forefront of military capability. The 6,000-strong Brigade is a key part of the Joint Helicopter Command, which was formed in October 1999.  The JHC has brought together the battlefield helicopters of all three services under single joint command.

16 Brigade has replaced 24 Airmobile Brigade as one of the four formations assigned to NATO's Multinational Division (Central) - the European focus for air manoeuvre doctrine and training. The Brigade therefore plays an important part in the development of specifically European capabilities within NATO.

24 Airmobile Brigade

24 Brigade was first formed in November 1914 as part of the 8th Division.  It saw action in the First World War at Ypres and The Somme, with members winning 2 VC's before being demobilised in March 1919.  In february 1940 The Brigade was reformed as 24th Guards Brigade serving throughout the Second World War with service in the Norwegian Campaign, North Africa and Italy.

The Brigade was commanded by Major General FAM (Boy) Browning, whose family crest inspired the Gryphons wings emblem adopted by the Brigade.  In 1947 it became the 24th Infantry Brigade and served in a variety of roles in Kenya, Aden and Northern Ireland before returning to the UK in 1955 and reformed again as 24 Airmobile Brigade in 1988.

The Brigade moved to Colchester from Catterick in 1993 when it was assigned to the Multinational Division (Central) (MND(C)) as part of the Allied Command Europe (ACE) Rapid reaction Corps (ARRC).

5 Airborne Brigade

On the 22nd of June 1940, Sir Winston Chirchill sent a note to the War Office asking them to raise a Corps of at least 5000 parachutists.  By the end of 1942 the 1st Airborne Division had been formed with a compliment of supporting arms and services, trained to land by parachute or glider.  The Brigade was commanded by Major General FAM (Boy) Browning DSO, who had previously commanded 24th Guards Brigade.

During the winter of 1942, the 1st Parachute Brigade fought in the Tunisian hills, earning the reputation within the Army as 'High Class Infantry' and from their German opponents 'The Red Devils'.  In 1943 6th Airborne Division was created, based on the 3rd Battalion and two air landing Battalions.  The 6th Airborne Division took part in the famous airborne assault onto Normandy to sieze the important bridgeheads.  This succesful operation was followed in September 1944 by the largest airborne operation of World War Two, when the 1st Airborne Division, together with the Polish Brigade, carried out a surprise landing at Arnhem with the objective of seizing the road bridge over the Rhine and holding out until relieved by the 2nd Army advancing from the South.

After the war, British Airborne Forces were reduced to the 16th Independent Parachute Brigade, which involved in maintaining security of the Suez Canal area.  It also conducted an airborne intervention operation to capture the airfield at Port said in 1956.

In 1977 the Brigade was disbanded, although the Parachute Regiment itself was maintained.  In 1981, 5th Infantry Brigade was deployed to Operation CORPORATE, the highly succesful capture of the Falkland Islands.  In 1983, 5th Infantry Brigade was enlarged and redesignated 5th Airborne Brigade.