45th Transportation Battalion, United States Army, Vietnam War

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Vietnam_War Military_and_War

October 1961, President Kennedy sent a letter to President Diem pledging "the United States is determined to help Vietnam preserve its independence..." The United States then sent additional military advisors as well as the first American helicopter units to help transport and assist South Vietnamese troops. The 45th Transportation Battalion was deployed to provide command, control, staff planning and administration supervision over the CH21 light helicopter companies and one aviation company made up of U-1A Otter aircraft sent to Vietnam. It also oversaw maintenance, logistical and medical services for its assigned and attached units.

In December 1961 the USS Core, arrived in Saigon carrying the first American helicopter units consisting of 33 CH-21 Shawnee helicopters (nicknamed the "Flying Bannana") and 400 air and ground crewmen to operate and maintain them. The first two of the 45th Transportation Battalion's Companies, the 8th Transportation Company and the 57th Transportation Company, arrived in December 1961. The rest of the Battalion's Companies arrived in Vietnam from January 1962 through September 1962.

With the escalation of the conflict in Vietnam came the arrival of more and more helicopter and aviation companies. Command quickly began to realize the need for a better command structure among its helicopter and aviation companies and battalions. In 1963 the 45th Transportation Battalion was reorganized and nearly all of its companies were redesignated by September 24, 1963.

By 1965 the existing Combat Aviation Battalions were consolidated under the command of the newly activated USA Aviation Brigade (Provisional), which in March 1966 became the 1st Aviation Brigade.

The following are the original companies that made up the 45th Transportation Battalion and their new designations:

8th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) December 1961 – June 1963 - redesignated the 117th Aviation Company "Warlords" (fka "The Beach Bums")

18th Aviation Company (Fixed Wing Light Transport) July 1962 - September 1963 - Transferred to the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion

33rd Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) September 1962 – June 1963 - redesignated the 118th Aviation Company "Thunderbirds"

57th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) December 1961 – June 1963 - redesignated the 120th Aviation Company "Deans" "Razorbacks"

81st Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) September 1962 – June 1963 - redesignated the 119th Aviation Company "Alligators" "Crocodiles"

93rd Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) January 1962 – June 1963 - redesignated the 121st Aviation Company "Soc Trang Tigers"