In 1947 the New York Army National Guard fielded a fixed wing aviation detachment of L-19 "Bird Dogs" assigned to Miller Field on Staten Island. This detachment and aircraft from the II Corps and 101st Armored Cavalry Regiment were organized as the 42d Aviation Company at Huntington Station, Long Island in 1959. In 1963, the 42d Division's aviation units were reorganized as the 42d Aviation Battalion, based at Freeport, Long Island. The battalion was equipped with O-1A Bird Dog and U-6 Beaver fixed wing aircraft.