The Helicopter War in Vietnam

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• Soc Trang Army Airfield

• Vinh Long Army Airfield

• Please note, at this time the focus of this page is on the U.S. Army Helicopter war and the 1st Aviation Brigade. Helicopters were also employed by the other branches of the U.S. Military, some are briefly mentioned below.

... ... ... participated in the Vietnam War. Join: Vietnam War Project Discuss: Vietnam_War

early years helicopters.

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 CH-21 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.

USS Core 1967.

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.

The first troop lift was dubbed Operation Chopper and it took place 12 days after the helicopter companies first arrived. Over 1,000 ARVN who were accompanied by US Advisors were successfully airlifted into a suspected enemy base.

Right after the 8th and 57th Transportation companies arrived in Vietnam the, 57th Medical Detachment (also known as "The Original Dust Off") arrived, bringing with it some of the first Huey UH-1 helicopters to be used in Vietnam.

Sikorsky HUS-1 (UH-34D) Seahorse, HMM-362 in Vietnam, 1962.

But the US Army was not the only American Military Service to send helicopters to Vietnam. April 1962 saw the arrival of the first Marine helicopter squadron equipped with the Sikorski H-34 helicopter. The Marine squadron was initially stationed at Soc Trang, but after only two months it was relocated to Da Nang to trade places with one of the Army helicopter companies there. The Army's CH-21 Shawnee was not suited to the higher altitudes in the northern parts of Vietnam so the Army's CH-21 companies were relocated to the lower elevations of the Mekong Delta.

1962 also saw the arrival of the new Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter Company (UTTCO or UTT). This new Company was made up of 15 Huey UH-1As, each armed with two .30 caliber machine guns and 16 2.75 inch rockets. It served as an armed escort to the 33rd, 57th and 93rd Transportation Companies at Tan Son Nhut. In November UTTCO received 11 of the first new Huey UH-1B helicopters. The new Huey UH-1B model boasted a more powerful engine, 4 M-60 machine guns and a new mount for 16 2.75 inch rockets. The new armored helicopter company proved to be effective enough in the role of armored escort that US Marine H-34 crews at Da Nang even began to request Army armored helicopter escorts.

Huey UH-1 Wreck at Ap Bac January 1963.

On January 2, 1963 the first real disaster occurred at the Battle of Ap Bac. It was deemed a win, but many would probably consider it a defeat. The incident underscored the fact that armed helicopter escorts simply were not an adequate substitute for a fixed wing escort when facing a determined entrenched enemy. The fact that the CH-21 Shawnee helicopter was only a single engine, tandem rotor helicopter that was under powered for its size and not easily maneuvered didn't help the situation at Ap Bac. The CH-21 was armed with a .30 caliber machine gun, but the design of the helicopter greatly limited the effectiveness of the .30 cal gun's use against the enemy. The events at Ap Bac were the first sign that the VC had been planning and were now losing their fear of the helicopters as they devised ways to fight back. It was time to rethink the way troop lifts and armed escorts were being conducted.

To read about the Battle of Ap Bac from the perspective of helicopter company personnel involved you can read "A STORY OF AP BAC: January 2, 1963" by Charlie Ostick available here at the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association website.

Downed CH-21 Shawnee Helicopters at Ap Bac January 1963.

In May of 1963 the 45th Transportation Battalion received an addition to its ranks in the form of the 114th Aviation Company which was the US Army's first UH-1 airmobile company to be deployed from the USA directly to Vietnam.

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 and the Delta Aviation Battalion (provisional) was formed.

Ca_Lu combat Base chopper

Flying Banana helicopters, '62-66

Original Companies that made up the 45th Transportation Battalion and their new designations:

8th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) Dec 61 – Jun 63 - Became the 117th Aviation Company

18th Aviation Company (Fixed Wing Light Transport) Jul 62 - Sep 63 - Transferred to 145th Combat Aviation Battalion

33rd Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) Sep 62 – Jun 63 - Became the 118th Aviation Company

57th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) Dec 61 – Jun 63 - Became the 120th Aviation Company

81st Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) Sep 62 – Jun 63 - Became 119th Aviation Company

93rd Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) Jan 62 – Jun 63 - Became the 121st Aviation Company

Most of these units were formed in 1963 , 1964. 1965. After June 1966 only known active unit was the 46th. Or also known as the 7th flight platoon.These units were not assigned to a specific Company or Battalion. They were located and operated hundreds of miles away from their main unit. These units often found it difficult to get support and had to improvise in order to stay operational. - These Units operated outside of any main Unit and are difficult to find official information for, the following information is contributed by those who served with these Bastard Units.

Mission - Provide support to the Marines; Gunship support/assistance; Support the Special Forces camps in the I Corp area.

They got fed where ever they were. One day the Marines, the next the SF camps or a Navy base. The Unit obtained some equipment from the Marines, but they got their supplies as a bastard unit would, or they had a very good supply source, "I give you a bottle of Scotch for ?????."

Mission - Support for Special Operations

The 6th had it better then the rest of the independent flight platoons. It had all of Saigon in which to look for and acquire whatever they wanted. They also had a place to repair the A/C and a place to eat. However, they had all of the war zones around Saigon to get into trouble. Their main job was to move SF inserted teams where needed. However, aviation units in the area did not like the 6th as they could not use them but maintained units had to help with the 6th's maintenance.

Mission - Support for Special Operations

The 46th Flight Platoon was actually the 7th Flight Platoon but has been referred to as the 46th Flight Platoon because the 46th was a company of Special Forces in Thailand. The 7th Flight Platoon was sent to I Corp in Vietnam in its early days to support of SF camps before being transferred to Thailand to support the 46th SF Company.

The 46th Flight Platoon was made up of all Special Forces personnel. Its main base was in Okinawa before being ordered to Thailand. Their mission was to help the Thailand Army patrol their border. The 46th engaged forces from Laos and Cambodia trying to attack the military bases flying from Thailand to Vietnam. They also had to stop the Thailand Army and other tribes from the North from fighting each other, which was a constant problem. This one company had to patrol all of Thailand and fighting was constantly along the border.

Mission - Support for Special Forces/Delta Force

The 145th Aviation Platoon Airlift was formed from The 145th Aviation Battalion in Saigon in October 1964 and sent to the coastal area of Vung Tau. It was to start training to provide support to the Special Forces for Operations Leaping Leana, a top secret operation to provide support to drop off secret agents in North Vietnam. Captain Bob Layla was the commanding officer. Before training was to begin it was discovered that half the the secret agents were North Vietnamese agents who had infiltrated the operation and Leaping Leana was cancelled.

Colonel Strange wanted to keep the flight platoon and General Westmoreland agreed. The SF did not have aviation support with the exception of the South Vietnamese King Bees who flew CH-34s. Also, after giving support to the 5th SF the lending unit would pull the choppers in the middle of a mission and leaving a team stranded in the Jungle.

In January 1965 Captain Laya wrote a letter to Colonel Strange stating that if the platoon was to be assigned fully to the 5th Special Forces then they should be moved to Nha Trang. However, the 145th Battalion complained that if the platoon was moved 200 miles away then they would no longer support the platoon. So orders were written separating the platoon from the 145th Battalion to the 52nd Aviation Battalion. It was the same problem, a helicopter platoon 200 miles away from its Battalion and the Battalion would not support it. The Battalions could not use the choppers because they were for the exlusive use of the 5th SF. Therefore, it became a bastardized unit, not wanted by a Battalion and receiving no support.

The food came from the 14th Aviation, maintaining the A/C happened wherever the choppers were when they went down. The airfield unit would help to it back in the air, however, the platoon had very few tools, so as the crew was helping to fix the A/C the Crew Chief would put a tool in his pocket. For example, A/C 884 would say there was a problem. The pilot would then land at the 118th Aviation Company saying that the chopper need fixing. A production Officer would order a maintenance person to help repair, as he was looking at a bolt he would ask for a 1/4 wrench, the Crew Chief would hand him a 1/4 and at the same time put a 1/2 in his pocket. The most needed items were safety wire pliers and a truck to get from the barracks to the airfield. In Saigon, a Sargent knew a pilot of a C-123:loaded with a 3/4 ton truck from the Air Force flying to Nha Trang. They painted the truck to OD as:soon as it landed, costing the Platoon maybe 5 bottles of bourbon. This is how a bastard outfit got its supplies. By the time Project Delta took the Platoon over for covert operations the Platoon had 2 Jeeps,:1 VW truck, 2 3/4 ton trucks, and one extra UH-1B chopper. The UH-1B, even I don’t know where it came from. When Project Delta took over we were supplied by the 5Th Special Forces with Major Charlie Beckwith as our commander. Some men were down to two pairs of clothes, one sock, and boots with no heels or the front of the boot sole was flapping when you walked.

The 145th Aviation Platoon airlift was the only aviation platoon inbedded into the Special Forces in Vietnam. They built the Delta Hilton together, sleep next to each other, built the mess hall, and flew the SF to Saigon for rations. Major Beckwith wanted the Aviation crews and the Road Runner teams to work together knowing one would help the other. It proved to be a success and it lead to a full company of choppers, the 281st AHC, in May 1966, and years later the 160th Aviation Battalion.

The 145th airlift platoon was a top secret unit from October 1964 to May 1966 and will not be seen in a lot of lists of aviation units in Viet Nam . A lot of the people putting the lists together never knew of 145th Aviation Platoon, there were no ranks and no name tags or unit marking on uniforms or A/C. A General Larson stopped some men for not saluting and asked who they were. Their answer was "It’s classified." One man went to sick call at the 1st Infantry Division and the medic asked for his name. "It’s classified." A Medical Sargent called the man and said you're getting a shot, the man asked what do I have, and the medical Sargent said "It’s classified."

2nd platoon 171 Aviation Company The second platoon was not a different platoon but a way for the 145 airlift platoon to try to receive supply and equipment from support unit. Problem #1 a platoon stops at a parts and supplies group. (IE). Platoon Sargent stops at 34th support group, he needs a oil cooler for a UH-1B. The group supply tells him that they are not on his list. Then tells the 145 to see his company to requisition thru them in order to get one. The 145th tell group supply they do not have a company and are only a platoon. Group support says platoons can not request supply’s and must be thru a company, 145 say we do not have a company, group says every platoon has a company. So the 145th Sargent says I need the oil cooler bad how many bottles of scotch will it take? Now in Vietnam you can only get hard liquor if you have a ration card. Every man in the platoon goes to the class vi buys the liquor and gives it the the one doing the trading. However if you have a problem flying over a support unit you land and have your chopper repaired as a guess. But if your choppers are down and can not fly you have to trade. And the 145th changing it name did not improve. The name change was from January 66 to May 66. And as I remember I got a case of stakes for 2 bottles of bourbon in cam Ron bay. When Charlie Beckwith took over and we became part of B-52 project Delta, Except for Aviation parts Special Forces treatment was the greatest we vowed to fly into hell for them. In November 65 we looked like a bunch of hobos.

'

The 13th Combat Aviation (Delta Battalion) Regiment was formed on July 4, 1963 at Can Tho, Republic of South Vietnam. Its purpose was to provide airmobility to the IV Vietnamese Corps. It was originally called the Delta Aviation Battalion. The provisional headquarters assumed command over the 114th (Vinh Long Airfield) and 121st Aviation Companies (Soc Trang).

About a year later the 13th Aviation Battalion was activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Third U.S. Army General Order 215, August 5, 1964) and in September 1964 the 13th Combat Aviation Battalion replaced the Delta Aviation Battalion at Can Tho. It became known as the “Shield of the Mekong”. In December 1967, the 13th was assigned to the 164th Aviation Group. It supported combat operations for 3 ARVN divisions in the Mekong River Delta. In October 1968, the unit was moved to Soc Trang where it remained until 1972.

The following were assigned to the 13th Aviation Battalion during all or part of course of the conflict:

• 13th Security Platoon
• 53rd Quartermaster Detachment
• 62nd Quartermaster Detachment
• 5th Quartermaster Detachment
• 73rd Aviation Company (Surveillance Aircraft) / Reconnaissance Airplane Company - Bird Dogs
• Company A, 101st Aviation Battalion (Airmobile) - the 336th AC Thunderbirds & Warriors (prior to redesignation)
• 114th Aviation Company (Airmobile Light) - Knights of the Air
• 121st Aviation Company (Airmobile Light / Assault Helicopter Company) - Soc Trang Tigers
• 134th Aviation Company (Fixed Winged Transport)
• 147th Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter Company) - Hillclimbers - stationed at Vung Tau
• 162nd Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter Company) - Vultures and Copperheads - stationed at Dong Tam
• 175th Aviation Company (Airmobile Light) - Outlaws - stationed at Vinh Long
• 191st Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter Company) - Boomerangs - stationed at Can Tho
• 199th Aviation Company (Surveillance Light) - Swamp Foxes - stationed at Vinh Long
• 221st Aviation Company (Surveillance Light) / Reconnaissance Airplane Company - Shotguns - stationed at Soc Trang
• 221st Aviation Company (Surveillance Light)
• 235th Aviation Company (Aerial Weapons Company) - Delta Devils - stationed at Can Tho
• 244th Aviation Company (Surveillance Aircraft) - Delta Hawks - stationed at Can Tho
• 271st Aviation Company (Medium Helicopter)
• 271st Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter Company) -Innkeeper - stationed at Can Tho
• 336th Aviation Company (Airmobile Light / Assault Helicopter Company) - Thunderbirds & Warriors - stationed at Soc Trang
• Company A, 502nd Aviation Battalion (Airmobile) - the175th AC Outlaws (prior to redesignation) - stationed at Vinh Long
• Troop C, 16th Cav (Air Cav)

502nd aviation Btn

Vinh Long

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. It initially oversaw the 13th, 14th, 52nd and 145th Aviation Battalions. It provided and maintained tactical and administrative control over divisional and non-divisional aviation assets. In August 1965 the USA Aviation Brigade (Provisional) was redesignated the 12th Aviation Group which then, in March 1966, became the basis for the formation of the 1st Aviation Brigade.

Headquartered at Long Binh, the Brigade supported all United States (US), Army of Vietnam (ARVN), and Free World Military Assistance Forces (FWMAF) operating in the IV Corps area. The Brigade provided command, staff planning, and administrative supervision to its assigned aviation groups and battalions. It was the Army’s largest operational aviation command made up of over 50 combat aviation companies assigned in Vietnam from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to the Mekong Delta. In September 1967 it was composed of two combat aviation groups (the 12th and the 17th) and two combat aviation battalions (the 13th and the 210th).

At its peak the 1st Aviation Brigade oversaw 4,000 rotary and fixed wing aircraft and 24,000 soldiers. It was responsible for 40% of the Army’s helicopter assets (including 441 AH-1G, 311 CH-47, 2,202 Huey UH-1 and 635 OH-6A observation helicopters) and 100% of its fixed wing assets (641 fixed wing aircraft) and oversaw 7 Aviation Groups, 20 Aviation Battalions and 4 Air Cavalry Squadrons. In 1969, the 1st Aviation Brigade transported more than 6.5 million troops in over 4 million sorties, accumulating 1.5 million hours of flying time.

The 1st Aviation Brigade and its predecessors were instrumental in developing and perfecting the art of helicopter warfare.

Headquaters Locations
Tan Son Nhut Air Base - May 1966-December 1967
Long Binh - December 1967-December 1972
Tan Son Nhut Air Base - December 1972-March 1973

Commanders
Brigadier General George P. Seneff - May 1966-November 1967
Major General Robert R. Williams - November 1967-April 1969
Brigadier General Allen M. Burdett, Jr. - April 1969-January 1970
Brigadier General George W. Putnam, Jr. - January 1970-August 1970
Colonel Samuel G. Cockerham - Acting commander - August 1970
Brigadier General Jack W. Hemingway - August 1970-September 1971
Brigadier General Robert N. Mackinnon - September 1971-September 1972
Brigadier General Jack V. Mackmull - September 1972-March 1973

The following were assigned to the 1st Aviation Brigade during all or part of course of the conflict:

Rescue-Hoist, helicopter

11th AVIATION GROUP (1971-1973)

Battalions:

212th Combat Aviation Battalion - Road Runner

223rd Combat Aviation Battalion

12th AVIATION GROUP - Black Jack

In September 1967 it was headquartered at Long Binh and provided aviation support to II Field Force.

Group Commander - Black Jack 6

Battalions:

3rd Squadron /17th Air Cavalry - Red Horse

11th Combat Aviation Battalion (Pathfinder) - Buccaneers

11th Combat Aviation Battalion - Red Dog

145th Combat Aviation Battalion - Old Warrior

145th Combat Aviation Battalion (Pathfinder) - Cricket

210th Combat Aviation Battalion - Captial - Supported the Capital Military District, the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) and US Army Vietnam (USARV) headquarters.

222nd Combat Aviation Battalion - Skymaster

222nd Combat Aviation Battalion (Pathfinder) - Lazy Boy

222nd Combat Support Aviation Battalion - Rebel

222nd Combat Support Aviation Battalion Retrans - Rebel Retrans

269th Combat Aviation Battalion - Black Baron

269th Combat Aviation Battalion (Pathfinder) - Cavalier

308th (1966) Combat Aviation Battalion - Black Antler

16th AVIATION GROUP - Falcon (1967-1968)

Battalions:

14th Combat Aviation Battalion - Arab - Headquarters arrived in Vietnam on 14 October 1965

212th Combat Aviation Battalion

17th AVIATION GROUP - Eagle

In September 1967 it was headquartered at Nha Trang and supported I Field Force.

Battalions:

7th Squadron /17th Air Cavalry - Ruthless Rider

10th Combat Aviation Battalion - Vagabond - Headquarters arrived in Vietnam on 28 October 1965

52nd Combat Aviation Battalion - Dragons - Headquartered in Pleiku

223rd Combat Support Aviation Battalion - Griffen

268th Combat Aviation Battalion - Black Lightning

268th Combat Aviation Battalion HHC - Thunderbolt

34th AVIATION GROUP (1971-1972)

34th General Support Group (Aircraft Maintenance and Supply) stationed at Vung Tau

101st AVIATION GROUP

160th AVIATION GROUP

164th AVIATION GROUP - Delta

C Troop, CMB - Janopiper

Headquarter Aviation Platoon - King Bird

Air Traffic Control - Oxfoot

Battalions:

7th Squadron/1st Air Cavalry

13th Combat Aviation Battalion - Guardian- Provided direct aviation support to the ARVN IV Corp in the Mekong Delta.

214th Combat Aviation Battalion - Cougar

214th Combat Aviation Battalion (Pathfinder) - Leopard

307th Combat Aviation Battalion - Phantom

165th AVIATION GROUP

125th Bn

312th - 366th ASD’s

UH1D helicopters, Tet offensive

COMPANIES AND PLATOONS

17th Assault Helicopter Company

Kingsmen

Lancer

25th Aviation Company

Red Carpet

48th Assault Helicopter Company

Blue Star

Joker

57th Assault Helicopter Company

Gladiator

61st Assault Helicopter Company

Lucky Star

Star Blazer

68th Assault Helicopter Company

Mustang

Top Tiger

71st Assault Helicopter Company

Rattler

92nd Assault Helicopter Company

Side Kick

Stallion

114th Aviation Company – Knights of the Air

White Knights

Red Knights

Cobras

Lancers

Blue Knights

Gold Knights

116th Assault Helicopter Company - Arrived in Vietnam on 20 October 1965

Hornet

Stinger

8th Transportation Company/117th Assault Helicopter Company

Side Winder

Warlords

33rd Transportation Company/118th Aviation Company

Bandits

Thunderbird

81st Transportation Company/119th Aviation Company

Alligators

Crocodiles

57th Transportation Company/120th Aviation Company

Deans

Razorback

93rd Transportation Company/121st Aviation Company

Soc Trang Tigers

128th Assault Helicopter Company - Arrived in Vietnam on 20 October 1965

Gunslinger

Tomahawk

129th Assault Helicopter Company

Bull Dogs

King Cobra

134th Assault Helicopter Company

Demons

Devils

135th Assault Helicopter Company

Emu

Taipan

155th Assault Helicopter Company

Falcon

Stage Coach

161st Assault Helicopter Company

Pelicans

Scorpion

162nd Aviation Company

Vultures

Copperheads

170th Aviation Company

Bikinis

Buccaneers

173rd Assault Helicopter Company

Crossbow

Robin Hood

174th Assault Helicopter Company - activated 1 October 1965

Dolphin

Company A, 502nd Aviation Battalion/175th Aviation Company

Outlaws

Roadrunners

176th Assault Helicopter Company

Minute Men

187th Assault Helicopter Company

Crusaders

Rat Pack

188th Assault Helicopter Company

Black Widows

Spider

189th Aviation Company

Ghost Riders

Avengers

Silver Flight

Scarlet Flight

Caretaker

190th Assault Helicopter Company

Gladiators

Spartan

191st Assault Helicopter Company

Boomerangs

Bounty Hunters

192nd Assault Helicopter Company

Lonesome Polecat

Tiger Shark

195th Assault Helicopter Company

Sky Chief

Thunder Chicken

196th Assault Helicopter Company

Vikings

235th Aviation Company

Delta Devils

240th Assault Helicopter Company

Grey Hound

Mad Dog

243rd Assault Helicopter Company

Freight Train

272nd Assault Helicopter Company

Varsity

281st Aviation Company - Activated 7 October 1965

Intruders - Army's first Special Operations Helicopter Company

Mardi Gras

Wolf Pack

282nd Assault Helicopter Company

Black Cats

Alley Cats

UTT/68th Aviation Company/197th Armed Helicopter Company/334th Armed Helicopter Company

Sabers

Playboys7

Raiders

Dragons

Gangbusters

335th Assault Helicopter Company

Cowboy

Falcon

Company A, 101st Aviation Battalion/336th Aviation Company

Thunderbirds

Warriors

355th HHC

Work Horse

361st Assault Helicopter Company

Pink Panther

147th Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47

Hill Climber

178th Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47)

Box Car

179th Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47)

Shrimp Boat

180th Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47) - Arrived in Vietnam on 17 October 1966

Big Windy

200th Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47

Pachyderm

205th Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47)

Geronimo

213th Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47)

Phu Loi Black Cats

222nd Assault Support Helicopter Company (Pathfinder) (CH-47)

Lazy Boy

242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47

Mule Skinners

271st Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47

Innkeeper

273rd Assault Support Helicopter Company (CH-47

Super Hook

Super Hook Retrans

18th Utility Airplane Company (U-1A)

Low, Slow, Reliable

21st RAC (O-1)

Black Age

225th Surveillance Airplane Company (OV-1)

Black Hawk

54th Utility Airplane Company (U-1A)

Big Daddy

73rd Aviation Company – RAC (O-1)

The Warriors

74th RAC (O-1)

Aloft

131st Surveillance Airplane Company - arrived in Vietnam on 1 October 1965

Iron Spud

199th RAC (O-1)

Swamp Foxes

183rd RAC (O-1)

Sea Horse

184th RAC (O-1)

Non-Stop

185th RAC (O-1)

Pterodactyl

203rd RAC (O-1)

Hawk Eye

219th RAC (O-1)

Head Hunter

220th RAC (O-1)

Cat Killer

221st RAC (O-1)

Shotgun

244th Surveillance Airplane Company (OV-1)

Delta Hawks

245th Surveillance Airplane Company (OV-1)

Red Eye

7th Squadron/1st Air Cavalry

HHT - Blackhawk / King Bird

A Troop - Apache

B Troop - Dutchmaster

C Troop - Sandpiper / Comanche

D Troop - Powder Valley

3rd Squadron/17th Air Cavalry

Afld Control - Dragon Fly

A Troop - Silver Spur

B Troop - Burning Stogie

C Troop - Charlie Horse

D Troop - Blue Tiger

F/4 - Saber

7th Squadron/17th Air Cavalry

B Troop - Undertakers, Pall Bearers and Scalp Hunters

1st Helicopter Ambulance Company

45th Medical Company (AA)

50th Medical Detachment

54th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)

57th Medical Detachment - The Original Dust Off

68th Medical Detachment

82nd Medical Detachment (AH) – Delta Dustoff

101st Airborne Division, Air Assault Medical Company (AA) – Eagle Dustoff

130th Medical Detachment

159th Medical Detachment (HA)

236th Medical Company - “Strive to Save Lives”

237th Medical Detachment – DMZ Dustoff

247th Medical Detachment (RA)

254th Medical Detachment (HA)

283rd Medical Detachment (HA)

326th Medical Company

498th Medical Company (AA)

571st Medical Detachment [RA]

15th Medical Battalion, Air ambulance platoon, 1st Cavalry Division

326th Medical Battalion

Command Airplane Company (Provisional) - Long Trip

Cobra Nett) - Striker

201st Corps Aviation Company – Red Baron

345th – Cagey Tiger

346th – Cagey Tiger

347th – Cagey Tiger

Crew Chief – Described as a mechanic, gunner, and general handyman. Each helicopter has a crew chief assigned to it responsible for the general mechanical well-being of his assigned helicopter. In the morning he checks the head and stabilizing bar, the oil gauges, hydraulic system, electrical systems, and fuel intake. He also supervises loading to ensure a safe center of gravity. In flight, he listens for abnormal engine or transmission sounds, clears the tail rotor in tight landing zones, and inspects the aircraft whenever it is shut down. When in the air he is also responsible for manning the M-60 machine gun. At the end of the day, he cleans and greases the head, cleans the air filters, checks for loose or worn fuel and oil lines, and greases the tail rotor. He examines the entire engine for loose or worn parts. Before finishing his day, he checks the oil gauges, hydraulic and electrical systems, and the stabilizing bar, cleans and washes the helicopter and performs a reinspection. ^{[1] [2]}

Door Gunner – Responsible for protecting his helicopter on a mission, in the event the helicopter is forced down, the door gunner is responsible for setting up defense and guarding the helicopter until assistance arrives. He is responsible for cleaning, maintaining, and repairing his M-60 machine gun. The door gunner also assists the crew chief in maintaining the helicopter to keep it in top flying condition. ^[3]

Flight Engineer – (Chinook, CH-54 Flying Crane) - Responsible for seeing that cargo is picked up safely and efficiently, monitoring the sling during flight, and giving the pilot placement directions to insure the cargo is released as accurately as possible. The flight engineer is also in charge of the crew chief and gunner, ensuring that all maintenance is performed on the helicopter and all records and forms are kept up to date. During the Vietnam era flight engineers usually started out as crew chiefs and worked up to flight engineer as they gained experience and skill. ^[4]

In 1965, 334th AHC, 145th Combat Aviation Battalion, was charged with developing technics for utilizing armed helicopters for night combat operations to counter to nighttime VC activities. The team, directed by a mission commander, consisted of a helicopter armed with a .50 caliber machine gun (the “high” ship), a “light” ship and a “low” gunship. The “high” ship served as mission command and cover for the other two ships. The “light” ship was mounted with a cluster of seven C-130 landing lights and was responsible for searching for targets. The “low” gunship was mounted with a combination of miniguns and rockets, flew without marking lights and at an altitude ranging from the deck to a few hundred feet. Once a target was sighted by the “light” ship, the “low” gunship moved in to destroy the target (ie. sampans moving VC and supplies). ^[5]

CH-21 Shawnee aka Flying Banana

CH-47 Chinook

CH-54A Skycrane aka Sweet Thing

CH-37B Mojave

Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion -1967

AH-56A Cheyenne

Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach), 1965

Sikorsky H-34/CH-34 Choctaw

Huey UH-1

Huey UH-1B

Huey UH-1D -Bulldog

Bell AH-1 Huey Cobra

Bell AH-1J SeaCobra

Bell H013 Sioux

Bell Model 206 (JetRanger/LongRanger)

Bell OH-58 Kiowa

Bell UH-1 Huey Iroquois

Bell UH-1B/C Huey Cobra/Frog

Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight

Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH

Hiller OH-23 Raven (Model UH-12)

Kaman HH-43 Huskie

Kaman SH-2 Seasprite/Super Seasprite

Piasecki H-21 Workhorse (Shawnee)

Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw

Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant

U-1A Otter

O-1 Birddog

OV-1 Mohawk

To see a wider selection of helicopter nose art photographs, please visit the following collections:

• Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
• Vietnam Dust Off Association
• Chinook Helicopter

Pachyderms

Hercules

• My Vietnam Experience Blog

Comancheria nose art

Heli1 Nose Art

Little Annie Fate 1st Platoon Hueys

JC3 Nose Art

Peg O’my Heart Nose art.

Canned Heat

Every man a tiger, 1st Platoon Huey.

• Stars & Stripes Archives: "Tiny Base at Vinh Long has a Deadly Sting", By Bob Cutts, Published: November 18, 1965, https://www.stripes.com/news/tiny-base-at-vinh-long-has-a-deadly-sting-1.52351

• 114th Aviation Company Association, http://www.114thaviationcompany.com/ Copyright 1997-2017,

• The 121 AVN Association, http://www.121avn.org/

• “Vinh Long Outlaws”, http://www.vinhlongoutlaws.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

• "Vinh Long Army Airfied", Helis.com, https://www.helis.com/60s/vinh-long.php

• "Vinh Long, Vietnam", The Delta Dragon – Can Tho-RVN, Webmaster, Joe Moore, http://www.cantho-rvn.org/vinh-long.html

• "Vietnam Photo Album", Patrick Orlando, US Army, Crewchief - Red Knights, 114th Assault Helicopter Company 1969-1970, http://members.tripod.com/~pat_orlando/index.html

• "TET 1968", Navy Seawolves, History, http://www.seawolf.org/history/tet.asp

• "96th and 28th Avionics Signal Detachment Vinh Long Vietnam 1965-73", Ray Mahoney, http://testequipland.com/vinhlong/

• "Helicopter Unit Web Sites", Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, Copyright 2013-2017, http://www.vhpa.org/prod01.htm

• History of the 114th Aviation Company Birddogs – Before the 220th arrived in Vietnam”, 220th Aviation Company (Surveillance Airplane Light) (Reconnaissance Airplane) (Utility Airplane), http://www.catkillers.org/history-114th-Avn-Co.html

• "Evan Doorgunner Vietnam", By dcon1407ver5, Published on Jan 8, 2009, A Doorgunner with The 114th, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDTkVYoJ6YU

• "base camp vinh long", By jvern57, Published on Apr 19, 2007, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1PxZAEolts

• "114th Aviation 0001", By sjcyankee, Published on Sep 14, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXrz4fp6ItI

• "114th Aviation Co. 1965 Vietnam", By WonderManTN, Published on Aug 8, 2008, Images - Richard "Dick" Fortenberry, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWk6QmkffHI

• "114th Aviation Company", By Rich Benjamin, Published on Sep 25, 2014, Vietnam 1965 -1966, Photos - Dick Fortenbery, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqimznC4YeE

• "114th AHC "Cobras" Vinh Long Vietnam War home movies", vintagefilmarsenal.com, "Caviness's Cobras". Home movies filmed by PFC Victor Caviness, doorgunner with the 114th AHC "Cobras" at Vinh Long during 1966. https://youtu.be/2HrWGFK5VLE

• "Tet Vinh Long Vietnam: Photos of TET in Vinh Long Vietnam -1968", By Don Swift, Published November 19, 2006, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V10FbKy70zU

• "Outlaws and Mavericks 1967", By: joseph watson, Published on Mar 2, 2015, "Outlaws and Mavericks in Vietnam. A couple days in the life. 1967", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzCLmq3_--c

• "US Navy HA(L)-3 "Seawolves" Helicopter Squadron over the Mekong Delta (1967)", By sobchakvideos, Published on Sep 5, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKnwU2iMfW8

• "SCRAMBLE THE SEAWOLVES", By SCRAMBLE THE SEAWOLVES, Published on Oct 6, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4f_hQP1sdk

• "Vietnam in HD: The Seawolves | History", By HISTORY, Published on Nov 17, 2011, History Film Corps: The Seawolves, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdYjPsVs2Os

• "Soc Trang Tigers" Huey Gunships in Vietnam (1968)", By sobchakvideos, Published on Sep 13, 2011, 121st Aviation Company UH-1 Gunships with M60, M200, M5 and M6 Subsystems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpxsOsDdbZk

• "Soc Trang, Vietnam 1966 to 1968 Parts 1-7", By: TeeMackKC, Published Aug 2008,

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HASBPmRA9L8 ;

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q50FDM-Tpt8 ;

Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7choUeuX4tc ;

Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqmfXp0pCRY ;

Part 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM57xsjK9nE ;

Part 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckK1s8b5bT4 ; and

Part 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0neEzu-hrMg

• "Payton Rowan, SP5. Soc Trang, Vietnam", By Payton Rowan, Published on Jun 3, 2014, "Payton Rowan, SP5. U.S. Army Airfield in Soc Trang, Vietnam. 1962-63.", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITpquW-XNAk

• “Airmobile: The Helicopter War in Vietnam”, by Jim Mesko, 1984, Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc, Carrollton, Texas

• “History of the 114th Assault Helicopter Company and Attached Units (1 January 1966 – 31 December 1966”, Prepared by: Captain Frank H. Bosworth, 114th Assault Helicopter Company, Approved by: Robert I. Stoverink, LTC, Armor, Commanding, 13th Combat Aviation (Delta) Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army, Vietnam, United States Army, Pacific

• "Year of the Snake: One helicopter pilot's story of a year in Vietnam's Mekong Delta", by Lt Col Warren B. Jones Sr., Shade Tree Publishers, 2nd edition (1999)

• "Knights Over the Delta: An Oral History of the 114th Aviation Company in Vietnam, 1963-72", Edited By Steve Stibbens; Introduction By Horst Faas and Joseph L. Galloway, Published by 114th Aviation Company Association (2002).

• "Outlaws in Vietnam: 1966-67 in the Delta" by David Eastman, Publisher, Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2006.

• “Seawolves: First Choice”, by Daniel E. Kelly, Publisher: IVY Books, 1998.

• “U.S. Navy Seawolves: The Elite HAL-3 Helicopter Squadron in Vietnam”, By Daniel E. Kelly, Publisher: Ballantine Books, 2002.

• "Five Years to Freedom: The True Story of a Vietnam POW", By James N. Rowe, Publisher: Presidio Press; First Ballantine Books Edition: June 1984 edition (May 12, 1984). (The 114th Aviation Company was part of the flight of helicopters that rescued James Rowe.)

1. ↑ “MOS Spotlight: The Crew Chief”, Hawk, Vol 1, No. 1, September 1967
2. ↑ “Indispensable Man: Crew Chief” Hawk, Vol. II, No. 5, January 1969, pp 16-17
3. ↑ “Door Gunner”, Hawk, Vol. 1, No.3, November 1967, p 13
4. ↑ “MOS Spotlight: Flight Engineer”, Hawk, Vol 1, No. 5, January 1968, p 13
5. ↑ “Hunting Charlie by Night: Fire Fly”, Story by CWO Jay G. Goldsberry, Hawk, Vol. II, No 4, pp 4-5

• Access to Archival Databases (AAD) National Archives, https://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=WR28

• National Archives - Military Records, Vietnam War Records, https://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war

• The Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University, https://www.vietnamwarlegacy.ttu.edu/

• The Wilson Center Digital Archive - International History Declassified, Vietnam War, https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/collection/87/vietnam-war

• “Airmobile: The Helicopter War in Vietnam”, by Jim Mesko, 1984, Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc, Carrollton, Texas

• "Knights Over the Delta: An Oral History of the 114th Aviation Company in Vietnam, 1963-72", Edited By Steve Stibbens; Introduction By Horst Faas and Joseph L. Galloway, Published by 114th Aviation Company Association (2002)

• “1-13th Aviation Regiment”, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker. http://www.rucker.army.mil/usaace/1ab/1-13th/

• “1st Aviation Brigade”, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker. http://www.rucker.army.mil/usaace/1ab/

• "BATTALION HISTORY, 114th AIR MOBILE LIGHT (1963, part 1)", http://www.145thcab.com/History/NL29HIST.htm

• The Legacy of Valor, Vietnam Helicopter Images and Artifacts; 114th Assault Helicopter Company – “Red Knight, White Knight, Cobras”, http://museum.vhpa.org/companies/114ahc/114ahc.shtml

• “History of the 114th Aviation Company Birddogs – Before the 220th arrived in Vietnam”, 220th Aviation Company (Surveillance Airplane Light) (Reconnaissance Airplane) (Utility Airplane), http://www.catkillers.org/history-114th-Avn-Co.html

• “Vinh Long Outlaws”, http://www.vinhlongoutlaws.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

• "Outlaws in Vietnam: 1966-67 in the Delta" by David Eastman

• “History of the 114th Assault Helicopter Company and Attached Units (1 January 1966 – 31 December 1966”, Prepared by: Captain Frank H. Bosworth, 114th Assault Helicopter Company, Approved by: Robert I. Stoverink, LTC, Armor, Commanding, 13th Combat Aviation (Delta) Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army, Vietnam, United States Army, Pacific

• 1st Aviation Brigade Hawk, September 1967, Volume 1, Number 1 through Winter, 1972, Volume 6, No. 2