Part #3, Army Helicopter Crewmen:

Captain, 3-17 Crusaders Slick-Pilot:

The 3rd Brigade of the 17th Cavalry Regiment had been constituted on 1 July 1916 as part of the Regular Army, the 17th Cavalry at Fort Bliss in Texas, and originally inactivated on 26 September 1921 at the Presidio of Monterey, California. They were then disbanded on 9 March 1951.

They were reconstituted on 4 May 1959, as a part of the Regular Army as Troop G, 17th Cavalry. And they were activated on December 6 1962 at Fort Ord, California.

They then became known as “HHT”, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, and constituted on 1 February 1963, and Troop B (Air) was activated on 7 February 1963, at Fort Rucker, Alabama. LTC John B. Stockton, the originator of the Air Cavalry tradition of the Stetson, commanded the Squadron, which was constituted on 15 February 1963, and assigned to the 11th Air Assault Division (Test).

The rest of the Troops were activated on 19 March 1964, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Squadron began its history by taking part in the initial training of air assault and air mobility tactics and operations at Fort Benning, Georgia. After completing this mission, the Squadron was redesignated as 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, and deployed to Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division. Meanwhile, the 3-17 Cavalry designation was deactivated until the United States began a significant build-up of forces in South Vietnam, They would make another one.

The uniform story starts with a typical fatigue shirt of the 1960s. It already has the subdued format, with the unit’s patch in the pocket-hanger form, so it was removable. His ball cap, never had the cloth-type insignia applied to it and retains the metal pin-on insignia.

The helmet is of the early type and in the safety white finish. these were often over-sprayed with od green paint, which due to the glossy white / waxed helmet finish was often scratched and rubbed off quickly. However this seems to be the reverse of that, the white is chipped off, and although the visor cover shows little wear, is of a softer plastic, rather than the fiberglass type. The backside of the helmet received some attention, with the addition of the Crusader’s Ancient Cross applied to the back at some point.

Warrant Officer 2, 3-17 / C Co. ‘Badgers’ :

The Three Seventeen was redesignated to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 7th Squadron 17th Cavalry Regiment (organic elements concurrently constituted) as of 27 September 1966. The Squadron then activated on 25 November 1966 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. With the 17th reactivated on 25 November 1966, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, 3-17 Cavalry soon deployed to Vietnam.

The Squadron comprised five troops with a headquarters troop, three flight troops, and an armored scout (infantry) troop. Headquarters Troop (HHT, “Redhorse”) was a flight troop but was also responsible for all the support functions of the Squadron. Alpha (“Silver Spurs”), Bravo (“Burning Stogies”), and Charlie (“Charlie Horse”) Troops were the primary aviation troops with the majority of the aircrews and aircraft.

The 17th Cavalry was chopped up and moved around aircraft and troops came and went, so like many of the Helicopter units in Vietnam, they were in perpetual change morphing and merging with a number of larger outfits from time to time, and this makes it hard for me to get these uniforms and insignia in the correct order, but I try and a few times have used insignia no one ever saw or knows anything about, but it is none the less possible there was a lot of insignia that has not made the marine stream historical pictures…yet. At any rate, here is another representative of the outfit 3/17 C Co. as depicted on his pocket hanger ID., while serving in the Republic of Vietnam.

He wears the typical fatigue shirt once again, as the most commonly seen up into 1967-1968, though it retains the full-color insignia applied to it as was done in the 1950s and early 1960s, the subdued format soon was pushed in, and logically so, but some of the colored insignia units stayed around til near the end of our time there, especially the “Pocket Hanger” ID patch.

Of note we notice he has a prior tour already with the 1st Cavalry Division, being a Warrant Officer, it’s not likely he served in the Korean War, but as soon as the Cav. deployed to Vietnam. His old ball cap carries only his Warrant Officer Eagle on it. His helmet is completely as issued except for the WO2 Rank, with his name painted on the back.

Captain, 17 Cavalry Regiment, (Air Element) Ruthless Riders:

At the time the 17th would serve in the RVN. Among the many un-named events they fley in and out of, some of the more famous battles of the Vietnam War Battles, like the Counteroffensive, Phase III, the Tet Counteroffensive, Phase IV, Phase V, Phase VI Counteroffensives, Tet 69/Counteroffensive, Summer-Fall 1969, Winter-Spring 1970 Sanctuary Counteroffensive, Phase VII Counteroffensive, Consolidation I, Consolidation II and into the Cease-Fire. Rarely were any two troops located in the same location at the same time.

On 20 July 1970, 3-17 Cavalry was assigned directly to II Field Force, Vietnam, and then later that year, the Squadron was placed under the operational control of the 1st Cavalry Division. The 1st Cavalry Division combined the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry with the 1st Squadron, and 9th Cavalry to form the Army's first “Air Cavalry Brigade” and they had excellent results.

This uniform represents one of these men, wearing the fire-retardant flight shirt, who may have had matching trousers as well. the blouse insignia is all in the subdued format, as it was late in the war, and wears a pocket hangar of the “Riders” Patch dangles from a button.

He has the 1 Aviation Brigades patch on the arm, so has been working threw them while assigned to the Squadron. His cap does not have the pilot’s wings above the captain’s bars, perhaps because he works routinely with the infantry scouts. The helmet has withered time pretty well, and has not deteriorated too bad, and retains a colored version of the Ruthless Rider insignia, and pretty decently done at that, with his rank and name boldly painted across the visor cover.

Spec 5., Crew Chief, 17 Cavalry Regiment Door-Gunner:

Then there was D/17 or Delta Troop aka the “Blue Tigers” and they were the ground cavalry reconnaissance troop.
The Squadron arrived in Vietnam during the period of 14 October through 2 November 1967 and was assigned to the 12th Aviation Group. Shortly after arriving, the Squadron was called upon to prove itself in battle during the Tet Offensive in January 1968, and the fight was on. Stationed primarily at Di An, the Squadron was responsible for air cavalry support in the western part of the III Corps Tactical Zone, consisting of attack, reconnaissance, air assault, and resupply missions.

On 30 April 1972, the Squadron was then redeployed to the United States as the second-longest serving air cavalry squadron in Vietnam. For its actions in Vietnam, the squadron was awarded the Valorous Unit Award with a streamer embroidered, "Cambodia" and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, streamer embroidered, “Vietnam 1967-1968”.

Assigned on 13 September 1972 to the 1st Cavalry Division, following its redeployment, the squadron was inactivated on 19 June 1973, at Fort Lewis, Washington. then they were relieved on 21 July 1975 from assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division. They were inactivated on 16 July 1986 at Fort Hood, Texas.

This uniform represents the typical set of figures, in the all-subdued format. The ball cap and helmet all completely regulation, and not fooled with, no color insignia or dolled-up helmet.

SFC, 17 Cavalry, Reconnacace Platoon:

This is a Sergeant First Class, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment was the ground reconnaissance element of the 3rd Brigade Task Force, 82d Airborne Division in Vietnam. It arrived in Vietnam on 18 February 1968 and departed on 11 December 1969.

This is another strack & textbook book jungle fatigue uniform. The cap is in typical form, with a brand new issued helmet.

**** Note: Dang it again, the CIB should be over the Jump Wings! I’ll fix this somehow at some point!

C -17 Cav. light horse, Pilot:

I’m kind of making myself crazy with every uniform unit history, it is tricky for me, and time-consuming, and frankly I get confused, like the last few 17th Cavalry Regiment, had different companies B (Leg-Recon), C and D, and the group broken up further from time to time, a place to place, the same unit, but in maybe a different time, as these elements morphed into other bigger units like divisional level, and jumped around even there, I guess by nature helicopters to say in one place very long. They even changed their name or shoulder patches and sometimes their missions, so, that said, at the verge of burnout, I’ll leave it at that this near the same time as the prior uniform example, albeit now a “Light-Horseman”.

2nd Leutnant Knox here, Has had a prior tour with the 1st Cavalry, wearing the famous 1st Aviation Brigade on the Left shoulder, officially working along their paper trail I guess one could say. Wearing the fire-retardent shirt, he may have been issued the matching trousers, nice and lightweight, they were popular if not rare really. I’m guessing this uniform represents the 17th Cavalry time around 1969-70, a period perhaps prior to the 2nd Field Force control.

He has a senior pilot star over his pilot’s wings, indicating he’s been flying for some time and may have earned his Infantry Assault Badge before that even as a “Leg Troop” with one of the early infantry units that came over in 1965 and 66 or around there, where he possibly decide I’ll be back, but I ain’t going to be a Grunt! And asked to go to Helicopter School? I’m guessing all of this too but may have gone something like that.

He would have had a Chicken-Plate flight vest, a personal sidearm, or a few, and even a knife perhaps. and still wears his worn-out black leather army boots. He has a ball cap, and it still has metal wings, and brown bar, and 2nd lieutenant rank pinned on it. His helmet is nicer than the shirt even and reflects his present duty with the C/17 Light Horse, Airo-Rifle Platoons.

Staff Sergeant, Crew Chief, C Troop 17-3 Cavalry Regiment, Cambodia:

Having been reactivated on 25 November 1966, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, 3-17 Cavalry soon deployed to Vietnam. The Squadron comprised five troops: a headquarters troop, three flight troops, and an armored scout (infantry) troop. Headquarters Troop (HHT, “Redhorse”) was a flight troop but was also responsible for all the support functions of the Squadron. Alpha (“Silver Spurs”), Bravo (“Burning Stogies”), and Charlie (“Charlie Horse”) Troops were the primary aviation troops with the majority of the aircrews and aircraft. Delta Troop (“Blue Tigers”) was the ground cavalry reconnaissance troop.

The Squadron arrived in Vietnam during the period of 14 October through 2 November 1967 and was assigned to the 12th Aviation Group. Shortly after arriving, the Squadron was called upon to prove itself in battle during the Tet Offensive in January 1968, and the fight was on. Stationed primarily at Di An, the Squadron was responsible for air cavalry support in the western part of the III Corps Tactical Zone, consisting of attack, reconnaissance, air assault, and resupply missions.

Rarely were any two troops located in the same location at the same time. On 20 July 1970, 3-17 Cavalry was assigned directly to II Field Force, Vietnam, and then later that year, the Squadron was placed under the operational control of the 1st Cavalry Division. The 1st Cavalry Division combined the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry with 1st Squadron, and 9th Cavalry to form the Army's first air cavalry brigade with excellent results. On 30 April 1972, the Squadron redeployed to the United States as the second-longest serving air cavalry squadron in Vietnam.

The uniform shows us he’s been through some serious operations already in I Corps and II Crops Operating Zones, and the leap into Cambodia, albeit possibly before it was officially admitted by the United States.

The Staff Sergeant wears the typical late-period jungle fatigue jacket and trousers, with a slip-belt, he may have had some extra weapons, stashed around him when he flew around. Leather Boots, and a Chicken-Plate vest over him when he flew. His ball cap might be stuffed in a pocket when he got ready to fly, but it still retains metal insignia.

His helmet has seen better days and appears he has made quite an effort to keep the shell of the helmet green, It has been touched up so much, that it has made it have its own form of camouflage. he is NCO, but kind of a high rink for a crew chief, this was seen more often (seems to me) on the bigger Helicopters like the CH 46/47 Aircraft, as Master Crew-Chiefs and the like, but hey if he has been with the Huey’s for some time, and good at it, why the heck wouldn’t you want him on your aircraft.

Warrant Officer, D - 17 Cav Scout Pilot:

This D Troop, WO, from the 17th Cav. The regiment is a good representative for the Scouts of the unit. his green fatigue shirt carries a silver-edged WO bar on the collar and a colored scroll on the sleeve. his cap carries metal pinned-on insignia, and his helmet was nicely personalized. Across the Visor are foot-track, or bot tracks rather, possibly what he was looking for as a scout, but unless NVA were there, he’d be looking for Sandle steps actually ( The VC wore “Ho-Chi-Minh Sandles, made out of truck tires). Yes, there should be a lot more story added here, I have a lot to add yet.

Updated-

Warrant Officer, 17 Cavalry, Tiger-Striped Uniform, Laos (1971-72):

Then there were the “Tiger-Striped” uniforms, originally The Army did not officially authorize their use with the soldiers, but they came in to use, especially for those who worked in the field, and out in the bad-lands in small groups, like the Armies Special Forces, made up of indigenous groups, they started using the “American Duck Hunter” patters, but even they were mostly made overseas, and the ARVN had been using first the English and French uniforms, and copies of them, till they then developed their pattern that we basically copied-with small changes and colors, that became the 3 or 4 color-tones Wooland patterns and the US derived ERDL patterns.

What was better than the other really all depended on the area you operated in. Ad the Tiger Pattern itself was a Vietnamese development, and we see them as Navy Seals, and maybe Army LRRPs, and Marine Reconnaissance Units. but they were all over Vietnam, and you could get them, and have them made, It wasn’t uncommon even to see worn-out ones used as patches and custom pockets on others even though they were mismatched, and a bit different patterns. But not common for air crewmen, but not unheard of. The Army did finally approve this version of the Tiger-Striped pattern (made for use in Bamboo). So I have to show how a helicopter pilot might have one of these uniforms.

Warrant Officer Corbins has decided, with what he’s seen and heard from down flight crewmen, is sometimes you have to hide, and best be ready for the worst and hope for the best in these conditions, Being prepared is often played down for various reasons, but if you are going to live, your training, abilities, health and strength, motor memory will all help get you through it, but you're not going to make if you don’t have some luck too. so, he feels he maybe gets a bit of edge wearing the suit, he’s the guy with the M-16 and sawed off M-75 by his seat, and has great paint in one of his pockets as a good luck charm.

Leaving off any identifying insignia deliberately (though if caught-they would figure your probably from the down bird). It’s possible he was flying around hauling Special Forces personnel all over or other operatives as well. He may have flown about searching for the enemy down low and knew the odds were he get taken down one day, or every day “Bus Driver” flying Slick Helicopters in and out of hot spots.

Or maybe he made his way into one of the Cobra Helicopter Gunships, that started showing up in 1969, I’ve heard many of those came down hard, and always rolled over on their sides, perhaps because the enemy feard them so much, they would throw anything, and everything they had at them, and deliberately set of cross-fire trap’s and bring them into heavy caliber weapons of 51 calibers, and 20mm, that was like being shot at with explosive baseballs and basketballs…on fire, coming at you, from various angles, while you flew in slow motion!

Heavy bunkered strong points would bring them in, and the surrounding hiss would shoot at them, The NVA learned how to deal with them and made for vicious battles, and then they obtained RPG weapons with proximity fuses, and outright heat-seeking missiles that gave them 5-seconds to respond, and no real getting away from them, that just made them a giant fireball-no auto-rotations there.

They were utterly devastating to the helicopters and air-crewmen. Again, if you were by any chance able to get out of these downed aircraft alive and in one piece, camouflage came in real-handy about then, and a radio…and gun. Again, I have a number of extra pocket-hanger unit patches I could put on here, and it would work fine, and I still might do that.

The uniform, Depicts the use of the Tiger Stripped uniform, being used by a Copper Pilot, Exactly what type we have to speculate, but I imagine a '“Slick” myself, but at the end of US involvement in the Vietnam War, as these guys were told to take ARVN troops in the cross-border operations, the jacket is clearly marked for use with US troops but was never issued to them in bulk, but they were attained through various means, perhaps the Army Stores. His helmet is as issued, and he hasn’t had time to personalize it, These were trying times for the American forces, and no one wanted to be the last troops in-country. Note the last picture is of a troop with the Warloards/Little-Annie Fanny.

48th AHC Blue Stars, Slick Pilot:

The 48th Aviation Company was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia on 5 July 1965 with Major Keith L. Groom as their first Commanding Officer. Then the 48th Aviation Company deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, arriving at Phan Rang, on 26 November 1965. As of 1 January 1966, the 48th Aviation Company had become the 48th Assault Helicopter Company now with Major Charles H. Drummond Jr. as their Commanding Officer as an element of the Airmobile Light. But Major Roper had designed the 48th Company's Crest.

It was derived from the original (and still-in-effect) unit call-sign the "Blue Stars", and the unit was the motto "SKILL NOT LUCK". All the 48th Helicopters carried the Blue Star on their tail boom, and most of the men in the company wore the 48th AHC Blue Star on their right breast pocket. There were three flight platoons all having their own patches, 1st Flight Platoon the "Dancing-Snoops" and "Slick-hounds", 2nd Flight Platoon the "Wild Deuces" and the 3rd Platoon Gunships the "Jokers".

Warrant Officer McClary wears the late pattern jungle fatigues, with regulation subdued insignia, except his unit patches, proudly left in the full-color format. They were kept in the helmet bag, which kept them pretty clean. At your service, with Fire Support by the jokers under the 48 Blue Stars “Star” with the scroll saying their motto “Skill Not Luck”. A pretty extravagant paint job, probably by the pilot.

Warrant Officer, 48th ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY, 10th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade:

There were three flight platoons in the 48 AHC., all with their own specific emblems on their patches. The 1st Flight Platoon was the "Dancing Snoopys" and later I think became more commonly known as the "Slickhounds". The 2nd Flight Platoon was called "Wild Deuces" with the 3rd Platoon (the Gunships) taking the name of the "Jokers".

The 48th had been in-country since 1965, and they did a fine job too, they did everything asked of them and had done their mission. But they were told to stand down in August 1972 and returned to Fort Benning. The 48th AHC had been “twice awarded” the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Valorous Unit Award twice as well. The Blue Stars were one of the best of the best Assault Helicopter Companies to serve in Vietnam and helped write the Air Assault Bible in Blood. The Blue Stars and Jokers remain on active duty today as part of Task Force Storm, Company A, 3-158th Aviation Regiment, Shindand Airbase, Afghanistan.

The uniform depicts a fellow during the later years of the war, wearing the olive green, light-weight flight shirt. The insignia is all the subdued cloth type, except the 1st Aviation Brigade, and this was a common practice as well. But hod pocket patches are color, and I don’t think ever really used in the subdued format, and sewn in place. His Slickhounds Patch is the 2nd design for the 48th 1st Flight Platoon, it replaced the Dancing Snoopy Patch. This patch was worn from 1971 to 1972.

In the shoot his ball cap was dolled up a bit with the 1st Brigade emblem, This is unique to this guy, and may not have really been seen in Vietnam, but you never know, The helmed received full attention and marked up really nice, this was certainly not to regulation’s but is many “Flyers” di this to their helmets as photographic evidence shows. He would have had a vest, and some Nomex, of jungle fatigue trousers, a weapon, and leather boots. he may have had leather gloves or the official green and gray gloves on when he was flying.

There are a lot of guesses and by-golly in the photos, taken off the internet, for use with the story of the uniform, there not mine, and I’m not wanting to trigger anyone's personal story, as there from real events, but to help tell some this one, I have no idea even where to get approval, so bear with me.

Sergeant, 48th ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY, “Wild Duces”:

In January of 1971, they received orders to report to Dong Ha in I Corps, where they were to support operation "Lam Son 719" in the Kindom of Laos, to knock down the enemy’s supply depots in sanctuary along the border with Vietnam. The Troops on the ground were ARVN soldiers conducting the operation. The real idea was that there would be time for the US forces to leave the Republic of Vietnam, without it becoming a route. But the invasion itself was not really overly successful. The 48th was one of the last aviation units to leave South Vietnam.

They stood down in August 1972 and returned to Fort Benning. The Blue Stars had twice been awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and twice well the Valorous Unit Award. It has been said they helped to write the book on Air-Assault.

This particular Door Gunner, Sergeant Wallace, has the “Wild Duces” (2nd Flight Platoon) on the left pocket as well, This patch was seen from 1967 to 1972. He wears a typical fatigue shirt of the 1960s, with the 1st Aviation Brigades patch on the sleeve in the subdued form. Where the Navy and Airforce may have every unit they ever were attached to applied to their jackets the Amy-helicopter guys, wore specific insignia of the unit they were assigned to, sometimes in the form of a rocker or scroll over their right sleeve patch, or in the form of a pocket patch sewed onto a pocket (sometimes clean through the pocket-to keep it flat), or as a pocket hanger that was removable quite often, so they could keep it when they washed their clothes or removed for other reasons.

His name tapes follow suit with the black-on-green look. His cap like his shire collar has the sergeant strips on it, but it does not have the wings over the top, as was common. His helmet has been taken care of as well, and as one would have it marked up and personalized, not a common “ARMY” thing but definitely a flyer thing.

48th Guns, Joker, Door Gunner:

The 48th Joker Gunships provided support for their Blue Star Transport Helicopters.

The 48th AHC arrived in Vietnam in 1965 and was initially based at Phan Rang. During their stay in Vietnam, they were variously based at Tuy Hoa, Duc To Supporting US Special Forces Missions into Laos and Cambodia, Phu Hiep, Ninh Hao, Marble Mountain, and Dong Ha.

They operated throughout the mid-1960s with the Elite Korean Marines. They also flew missions into the DMZ, Khe Sanh, Hue, Da Nang, and Nha Trang in support of US Special Forces ground operations for the area.

This uniform depicts the early use of the “Joker” emblems, they change quickly, but there were many variations painted onto their aircraft. He has chosen a pocket hanger rather than sewing on a patch, as these were unofficial, Some higher officers may have frowned on them, so they were removable, and may not have been used on actual missions. the rest of his insignia is in the subdued format, on a typical fatigue shirt. he would have had at least a chicken plate over this, sometimes a regular flack jacket under that! fatigue trousers and black leather boots finished the uniform.

48 Gun Ptn. Jokers Crew Chief:

Neil Diamond’s 1969 tune “Brother Loves Traveling Salvation Show” may not register with today’s age group, but for the age of the ‘Vietnam” generation and Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Rick Lester, the words and melody were a “direct hit.” Flying the UH-1C Gunships, then CWO2 Lester was on his second tour in Vietnam. He was assigned to the “Jokers” in the 48th Assault Helicopter Company (AHC), his guns platoon mission was to protect the ‘Lift Ships” transporting the infantrymen into battle, and out, and protect the ‘Base Camp”.

The 48th AHC’s base camp was located adjacent to a mountain peninsula, just west of Highway 1 near the village of Ninh Hoa. The mountain which the troops dubbed “Big Charlie” was the high ground where the NVA and VC had been launching early morning mortar and rocket artillery attacks into their compound. The ‘Jokers’ would respond to the attacks, but since the enemy forces could observe the launch of the aircraft, they would cease fire, and hide behind cover before the ‘Jokers’ would find no targets. The Jokers were frustrated that they were forced to be a ‘reactionary’ in response (always the wrong way to win a fight) in response to these attacks on the base ( action better than reaction is much more effective).

The 48th AHC deployed Rick Jester and his Joker fire team to support the 155th AHC on a 6-day mission along the Cambodian border. The team released late in the evening but postponed the flight till early in the morning, in the hopes he would be arriving back to the base camp, about the same time as the rocket and mortar attack would be occurring. As the team neared the base camp, they climbed to 10,000 feet, flying south of the peninsula, Lester and the aircraft in trail entered auto-rotation and began a quiet gliding left and back around “Old Charlie” and there on the beach, They saw a group of sampans and medium-size boats being off-loaded of Rockets and boxes by NVA Soldiers.

The shrieking of inbound Joker rockets caught the enemy by surprise as Lester fired off a pair of rockets with 17-pound, high explosive warheads installed on them and smashed into the largest boat. The impact triggered a long and violent series of secondary explosions encompassing the surrounding vessels and all the unloaders on the beach! The explosions continued as other explosives onboard continued to blow enemy rockets into the air and onto the beach, a real fireworks display, Lester fired more of his rockets into the center of the mess, now a cluster of burning debris.

The crew chief called out ‘Listen to the sounds! Lester was directing the trail aircraft directing them into the attack., The crew chief shouted again at him to listen to the Armed Forces Network? which was tuned in on the ADF Radio, Flipping the toggle switch for the radio Lester could hear what he was yelling about! It was Niel Diamond, and he was singing “Brother Loves Traveling Salvation Show”, ‘Thars you Sir’, “Brother Love” The crew chief shouted, we should name our aircraft -” Brother Loves Traveling Salvation Show”, Lester replied, ‘Chief-it’s your aircraft’! Later that day the Crew Chief and the Door Gunner knocked on Lester’s hootch, carrying the avionics access door, the freshly painted name under the Joker Face the rest of the platoon had adapted.

The depiction here represents this unit’s crew chiefs, and the many helicopter crews of the Vietnam War, Sergeant Castor here has proudly added his chopper logo to his helmet. on his party hat, ‘GUNZ’ in ink and other notes on it, maybe a work hat, he has experience on the other side of the gunship support, having earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the last tour he started out as a leg troop, may have moved into a gunners position before the end of that one, and now on the second is a crew chief. Obviously, he knows the value of a keen aim of his M-60 machine gun and the need for the flawless performance of the 2.75 Rockets, mounted in the pod hanging outside each door of his Huey UH-1 Gunship.

Castor’s field customized ball cap, made upon a beer-infested hot night, was worn only amongst friends, his helmet he wore at work, received some attention too, But the Nomex flight shirt is missing his infantry combat patch for his previous tour that would be on the right sleeve, lack any patches a possibility.

57 Avn. ‘Avengers’ Major:

The 57th Aviation Company was in Vietnam by the end of December 1965, They were a CV-2 Caribou “Fixed Wing Aircraft” Company stationed at Vung Tau. In the summer of 1967, though all the Caribou were handed over to the U.S. Air Force Command, with the 57th Stooding-down. But the 57th Aviation Company was reorganized back in the States, and activated in the fall of 1967, at Fort Bragg - North Carolina, but now as an Assault Helicopter Company. The 57th Assault Helicopter Company then deployed to Vietnam in October 1967.

The 57th was assigned to the 1st Aviation Brigade's 17th Combat Group, and the 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion's "Flying Dragons" and they made their first base in Kontum, located in the Central Highlands of “II Corps”. The 57th AHC was also based at An Khe and Camp Holloway near Pleiku.

While at Fort Bragg the 57th elected to call themselves the "Avengers." In as much as all these "nicknames" are unofficial, to begin with, there was, of course, no central agency controlling what unit decided to call themselves, and no one knew there was already a unit in-county calling themselves the "Avengers".

The original 57th pocket patches said, Avengers on them, but it was discovered the name was in use in the country, so they adapted the "Gladiators" call sign and phased out the Avengers. So new hand-sewn "Gladiators" Pocket Patches began getting obtained locally. In October 1967, they would be flying missions in support of various outfits in the Northern II Corps. 24th Special Tactical Zone, and provided helicopter air support for MACV / SOG forces, providing Medical and Special Assistance Missions, supplying and providing fire support for the Special Forces Camps, ARVN II Corps, and the 4th Infantry Division in the Dak To Tactical Zone.

They went on to participate in the Battles of Dak To, the sieges on Ben Het in 67 and 69 and Dak Seang in 1970, and the bloody battle for the infamous Hill 875 of 173rd Airborne Brigade fame. In January 1968 the 57th began preparations for assuming the FOB II Special Forces mission from the "Alligators" and "Crocodiles" of the 119th Assault Helicopter Company; a normal rotation that occurred every 60 days within the assault helicopter units of the 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion.

They also had the largest number of aircraft in their flight platoon with three slick platoons all having eleven lightly armed UH-1 Hueys and a guns platoon of eight heavily armed AH1G Cobra Gunships. The 57th AHC served in Vietnam from October 1967 until standing down in March 1973. The 57th was the last United States Assault Helicopter Company to leave Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, the 57th AHC was awarded the Valorous Unit Award and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

The uniform represented here, is the olive-colored, lightweight-fire-retardant type in the subdues format as per nor with these, but the Brigade shoulder patch is not, The pocket unit pocket patches usually were also in full color/ and applied a nice rendition of the unit identifier on the back side of his helmet.

2nd Lieutenant, Lucky Stars, 2nd Flight Platoon, 61st AHC:

Captain, 68 Assault Helo. Co. “One for Uncle Jack”:

Originally the 68th Aviation Company (AHC) was activated at Fort Ord, California in April 1960 but the company was inactivated by December 1961. They were reactivated as a Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter Company in July 1962 and sent to Okinawa in so doing, they became the Army’s first Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter Company.

By October 1962, the Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter Company was deployed to Vung Tau, Vietnam. The “UUT” became history in July 1964, and the unit was redesignated, becoming the “68th Assault Helicopter Company” They were assigned to the 145th Combat Aviation Group, and thus, a part of “Airmobile Light”. So the 68th AHC began supporting the 18th and 199th ARVN Units, and the US. Military Forces in the area. They worked in the III Corps flying over the Mekong Delta and through the rugged mountains around Song Be.

The 68th AHC. had acquired a young Bangle Tiger Cub, and it became their mascot, and that’s why they were nick-named the “Tigers”, but there were objections from other, older “Tiger” Units, so it was decided the 68th title would be the “Top Tigers”! and their motto was, “Every Man A Tiger”. 

In March 1965 the 68th Assault Helicopter Company was redesignated again and became the 197th Armed Helicopter Company In April 1966 the unit received the Presidential Unit Citation, the first to be awarded since the Korean War. Later the TOP TIGERS were assigned to the 145th Aviation Battalion under the 1st Aviation Brigade, and they flew out of Bien Hoa, Vietnam.

Dedicated to my Uncle, Jack Bowen (Caption, Pilot of several tours of Vietnam) RIP, however, I never found out what outfits he had flown with after he got divorced, and I lost touch with a lot of people.

Warrant Officer, 114 Avn. Co. “Knights Of The Air’ Pilot:

January 30, 1963 (Headquarters, Department of the Army General Order) Fort Knox, Kentucky Troop C, 17th Cavalry was inactivated and all personnel from Troop C were assigned to the 114th Aviation Company. They were in Vinh Long, Republic of Vietnam by May of 1963, becoming the Army's first UH-1 “Airmobile Company” to be deployed to Vietnam. Prior the this, the only other helicopter unit in Vietnam was the Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter Company (UTTCO or UTT) an experimental unit that was there since 1962 testing the concept in-country, along with the 45th Transportation Battalion.

After the 45th Transportation Battalion arrived in Vietnam from December 1961 to 1962, the 114th Aviation Company was assigned to operate with them but in 1963, the 45th Transportation Battalion was reorganized and redesignated. Then in July of 1963, all these Aviation Companies were placed under the control of the Delta Aviation Battalion (provisional). It was not until June 11, 1963, that the 114th Aviation Company officially took part in its first “Air Assault” along with the 57th Transport Co.

Note that the 57th Transportation Company soon after this was redesignated the 120th Aviation Company. Vinh Long Army Airfield was renamed In July 1964 becoming “Shannon-Wright Compound” to honor two fallen crewmen from the 114th Aviation Company, Specialist Fifth Class Wyley Wright Jr. Who was Killed in Action, on March 9, 1964, and 1st Lieutenant, Kenneth Arthur Shannon who had felled in battle on March 16, 1964.

In June 1966 the 114th Aviation Company received another platoon, the “Lancers”, the only, Aviation Company in Vietnam to have two gunship platoons. The 114th was by this time a part 1st Aviation Brigade's 13th Combat Aviation Battalion and made their base Vinh Long Air Field. The "Knights of the Air" now comprised four flight platoons. The “Lift Platoons” were the White Knights and Red Knights, and their “Gun Platoons” were the Cobras, and Lancers operated only like this from 1966-1967.

There also was The Gold Knight the "Commander", and the Blue Knight who was the "Matainance Service". I haven’t the space for all their achievements, but they had served in 16 combat campaigns in their 9 years in the country and earned as a unit the award of the Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Awards, and Meritorious Unit Commendation. In February 1972 the 114th stood down, and departing the Republic of South Vietnam in February 1972, the 114th Aviation Company was assigned to the Panama Canal Zone where it served with distinction.

A short nod the 114th, In late 1964 a civilian visited Vinh Long Army Airfield, his name was Hans Weichsel and he had been the Vice President of logistics and marketing for the military, commercial, and international customers during the 1960s for the Bell Helicopter Company. He toured Vietnam, visiting the various Army Aviation Companies, one was the 114th Aviation Company. He returned to the United States and Bell Helicopter with a wealth of information obtained from the soldiers on what they perceived they needed.

He was in fact working on the AH-1 gunship prototype project, and Mr. Weichsel mentioned the name of the 114th's ARA platoon, “The Cobras”, to General Howze. Mr. Weichsel later sold the idea of the AH-1 as an attack helicopter to General Westmoreland and soon the AH-1G Cobra’s Vietnam started to arrive in 1967. The name would stick, and be most appropriate to the new specialized gunship, but the 114th was the first to apply the name for their gun platoon.

The uniform is well-used and has been worn out, and reused several times, likely by different troops, and now by Warrant Officer Cline. It retains a lot of the state-side color insignia. A Senior Pilot already, he is also a Master Paratrooper. His choice of headgear is a locally purchased cowboy hat, a sort of cheap, light, locally made souvenir type item, but it works fine for him. His white helmet implies early an issued item, is as issued. He would have had a chicken plate vest, black leather boots, and a side arm.

*PFC, 116 AHC Hornets, Door Gunner, RVN:

* Picture of book I read, that enlightened me on some of the units’ operations and people who were involved, good book.

* Note: Pocket Patch (or Fob as we call them) I got a while ago, and assumed it was this outfit, It is not, and it’s a bit unclear at the moment, but thought a post-Vietnam unit.

I got the pictures off the internet, and no idea who to really thank for them, The uniform is for you guys that flew in these birds, back then in that faraway land, in order to try to keep peace in the world.

Major, 117th WARLORDS, 1st AVN:

The 8th Transportation Company had been one of the first Aviation Units sent to Vietnam (as an entire unit), and on 11 December 1961, they arrived. When all the aircraft came together, they began flying about, and after checking them out, and when formed back up, the 117th started their tour of Vietnam, It turned out to be a very long War.

The 8th Transportation Company had its name changed when they were assigned base camp in Qui Nhon. The 117th then became a part of the Flying Dragons with assignment to the 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion. The formation then moved to Dragon Mountain and Camp Holloway. The new area was Pleiku in the Western Tactical Zone, and it was a part of the Central Highlands of II Corps.

The 1st Flight Platoon had adopted the handle of "Little Annie Fanny's", the 2nd Flight Platoon was called the "Pink Panthers" and the 3rd Platoon Gunships were known as the "Sidewinders", and they all began the tasks assigned to them in the II Corps area, conducting, troop movement and the moving of supplies to troops in the field, resupply, and the movement of the wounded and the dead, with the scouts and gunships hovering around them the whole time. Three aircrews were sent to Quang Ngai for assignment with MAAG operations.

It wasn’t till 1965 that the Government said we’ll be sending troops to Vietnam, but obviously many were already there, beyond advisors by this point, the 117th being one of the outfits well aware of what was going on there. On 1 July 1966, the 117th Aviation Company received another name change, becoming the 117th Assault Helicopter Company.

The 117th AHC started assisting operations with the 101st Airborne, 4th INF. Division, 25th Division, 5th Special Forces Units, Korea White Horse's Division, and various ARVN units. The 117th 3rd Platoon Guns, "Sidewinders" was assigned as gunship escort for the Air Force's Green Hornets, Transport Slicks (helicopters).

Sidewinders Gunships flew escort sorties to Bong Son and Tuy Hoa and had gunships at Dong Ha supporting the Marines. 117th AHC flew missions to Phan Rang and Phan Thiet supporting the 101st Airborne along with the 5th Special Forces Units out of Ban Me Thout, Bong Son, and Pleiku as an element of Airmobile Light during Operation Attleboro near Tay Ninh.

The 117th AHC was one of the original Aviation Units to arrive in Vietnam and the last Aviation Unit to leave Vietnam as a unit. During their time in Vietnam the unit acquired quite a few decorations (as a single unit) the Presidential Unit Citation, three (3) Valorous Unit Awards, two (2) Meritorious Unit Commendations, three (3) Republic of Vietnam's Gallantry Cross with Palm, and two (2) Republic of Vietnam's Civil Action Honor Medal FC. After their Vietnam experience, the 117th AHC stood down, and on 27 December 1972, But they relocated to South Korea with the 8th Army. The 117th AHC on arrival in Korea changed their call sign and became the "Toros” and new chapters on their history to be written.

Sergeant Major, 117 Sidewinders ‘Guns’:

The 117th Aviation Company was originally the 8th Transportation Company, flying H-21 Helicopters. That unit served in Vietnam from December 1961 until June 1963. It was located at Qui Nhon. In June 1963 the 8th Transport Company became the 117th Aviation Company.

The 117th served in Vietnam till 1972. The 117th originally served under the 52nd Aviation battalion., unit September of 1965, when the unit was assigned to the 10th Aviation BN. 1st Aviation Brigade. It was at this time the unit relocated to Dong Ba Thin, near Cam Ranh Bay. While here they took the name of ‘Beach Bums’. Later when they moved to Long Binh, they would change their company ‘Call Sign’ to “Warlord”.

WO-3, 117th AHC. 3rd Platoon, “Sidewinders” Long Binh 1967:

In 1967 the 117th Gun Platoon was flying the ”Charlie Model” Huey gunships under the call sign “Side Winders” supporting the '“War Lord” lift platoons. On December 7th of that year, the company was asked to fly ARVN Paratroopers to a remote Special Forces observation site that had gone quiet.

Five “Sidewinders” were flying cover for fifteen ‘Slicks’ loaded with the ARVN Paras. The lead ‘Sidewinder’ aircraft marked the site with smoke. Command had reported the area as “safe” but the Pilot had no eyes on any Special Forces troops or any reaction from the ground. Warning the inbound “Warlord” elements he was going to make a second pass as the area “just didn’t feel right”! And on the second pass, the jungle ‘Opened Up’, erupting in heavy weapons fire, instantly wounding the ship's Crew Chief’ in the shoulder. The Ships door gunners ‘opened up’ as the Pilot ordered the ‘Warlord” Slicks to abort the mission.

The loaded ships chopped at the air too quickly worked to get altitude again, and the other four ‘Sidewinder’ gunships began working over the periphery of Landing Zone with Mini-Guns, M-60 machine guns, and their rockets, vaporizing much of the jungle as the lead gunship came around again it ran the gauntlet of enemy fire as he covered the withdrawal of the Huey Lift platoons, as they were passing over the area! Continuing enemy fire again wounded the crew chief, and blew apart his M-60 machine gun. Both mini-guns and rocket pylons had been damaged beyond use in the foray, the rocket tubes still held many of the rockets and they had been riddled with bullet holes through and through. The front chin bubble was shattered, and the air was blasting into the cockpit. Hydraulic oil was leaking out of the controls, the pilot radioed in he was losing control of the aircraft.

Picking a muddy rice paddy on the extreme northwest of the LZ he put the ship down in it. Toggling the engine ‘KILL’ switch he found the turbine would not shut down remaining at idle. As the enemy fire began to blow pieces off the aircraft, the crewmen abandoned the ship, making some cover in the paddy. The other Sidewinder began to unleash all their reserve weaponry on the enemy positions, and an already very heavy ‘Lift-Ship” came in to pick up the air-crewmen, landing directly in the paddy, With the downed crew climbing onto the on-board paras, the pilot got the much-overloaded ship back into the air again.

Then Tactical Air responded to the urgent need of support call, bringing in fast movers to the show, and the pound (what turned out to be an NVA Regiment) that had overrun the American Special Forces compound and wiped out everyone there. But they paid a hell of a price for firing too early on the inbound lift ships. A Strike Evaluation the next day found the ‘Sidewinder’ bird’s engine was still idling! But were unable to recover the 117th chopper and decided to destroy it in place.

Selfless and Gutsy actions by all the members of the “War Lords” made sure that only they would joke about themselves being ‘Beach Bumms’. The Warrant Officer was a Medic with the 101st Airborne Division, he wore the Combat Medics Badge, which is just as respected as the ‘Combat Infantryman Badge’. As the Army’s requirement for aviators began to increase he applied for aviation school and passed, becoming a Warrant Officer, now occupying a senior position in the company.

He wears the standard-issue (late in the war) flight shirt, and trousers along with a flight helmet when in the air, The helmet seems to depict some designs from different points in time, or outfits he worked with, On the ground, he just wore the normal ball cap with crossed sabers on it, and helmet if stuck on the ground with incoming or a base-firefight.

117th guns - Little Annie Fanny, Spec. 4, Gunner:

This uniform represents one of the troops of the 1st lift platoon, while still operating out of Qui Nhon. after being assigned to the Flying Dragons of the 52nd CAB. The “Little Annie Fanny's" were using the early Huey Lift Ships, and they while loved and cherished, under the battlefield conditions, of Vietnam, and operating in the Highlands, thinner air, and downright hot air in the lowlands, could not carry the number of men and their equipment often only 5 maybe 6 fully rigged troops, as they had all their gear with them and ammo they could carry, the had the base at Dragon Mountain, often with less than ideal conditions, the enemy were all over Central Highlands of II Corps.

And they fought like hell right up to Tet of 68, then the fighting was literally everywhere. After that they were called upon to work with the Marines around Phan Rang and Phan Thiet, They would support the 101st Airborne and 5th Special Forces Units out of Ban Me Thout, Bong Son, and Pleiku as an element of Airmobile Light during Operation Attleboro near Tay Ninh.

Specialist Garcia has found some time to paint his portrait- firing a Mini-Gun, maybe not really appropriate for a Gunner on a Slik Aircraft generally, but he had one at some point and liked it. As a Specialist, and a Gunner, he would be in charge of cleaning all the weapons and doing the minigun all the time would have taken the edge off of the “Fun” of the weapon fairly quickly, but damned effective none the less.

118th Bandits, Guns Platoon, 2nd Lt. :

At the time of its start, they were an element of the 33rd Transportation Company, and they were at Ft. Irwin, CA. 3rd Platoon nicknamed the "Bandits", did not exist within the 33rd Transportation Company and they had only two platoons with 10x CH-21B &C "Shawnee" Helicopters each. Even as it was deployed to Vietnam there was no Gunship support assigned to them, they just didn’t really exist in any production form.

Not until 16 September 1963, that the 118th Aviation Company officially begin to fly the UH-1B "Huey Helicopters." Assigned as the 3rd Platoon these early “Gunships” became known as "Bandits. And the Bandit’s gunship platoon modified their ships with various rocket and gun combinations. They started with rock boxes, on either side of the cabin, and one or two received the “Frog” formatted Huey, using an automatic 40mm grenade launcher mounted in a turret on the front of the aircraft. Eventually, the platoon fitted the mini-gun and rocked pod variations

This uniform depicts the early 1960s period of the unit while flying the aircraft with a white eagle and lightning bolt on the tail. and color markings, but they subdued them pretty quickly. The uniform follows suit with full-color insignia on the fatigues, and his uniform managed to receive a lot of care and unofficial markings. I’ve photographed it with one of my “Chicken-Plate” flight vests.

Platoon, Spec 4, 120th Aviation Company, “PACK RAT”:

The story as I configured it, is that on 11 December 1961, the United States escort carrier the USS Core tied up to the dock in downtown Saigon. And the CH-21 Helicopters were untied, uncovered, greased, and offloaded from the ship and fueled up, and started their mission.

The aircraft were those of the 57th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) 400 men were from Fort Lewis, Wash., and the 8th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) came from Fort Bragg, they were really the first major symbol of United States combat power in Vietnam.

The 1st Lift Platoon of the 120th Aviation Company was called “Snoopy” originally (I think) with the CH-21 Shawnee. The 57th and 8th merged and became the 120th Aviation Company. Then the 1st and 2nd Lift Platoon was the “Pack-Rat” with Huey “Slick” Aircraft, and when they received a Gunship Platoon, they were given the call-sign “Razorbacks”. And they served in Vietnam from the period of June 1963, until October 1972.

WO2 Pilot, 120th Razorbacks:

EDITING >>>> Were is this story!, Funny the Chief Warrant Officer is knick-named Captain Guts! There are a million variations in insignia, and haw its been applied, this is interesting that his cloth rank is outlined in silver, later there was silver 1,2,3, and gold backing looking the same but really indicating being 4,5 and 6! This Warrant Officer stuff has done nothing but confuse me more, I think at this time the top was 3, and of them darn few.

Spec.4, "Soc Trang Tigers" 121st Aviation Company, Slick Gunner:

EDITING >>>> On 15 December 1961 the 93rd Transportation Company (Helicopter) departed the continental United States relocating to the Republic of South Viet Nam to provide Aerial Transportation for the armed forces of the Republic of South Viet Nam (ARVN).
Operating from Da Nang they quickly gained an outstanding reputation for providing helicopter assault techniques, transporting supplies, and medical evacuations. In September 1962 the unit relocated to Soc Trang and became the first Army Helicopter Company to operate in IV Corp's Mekong Delta. In January 1963, the unit was presented with a fifteen-week-old Bengal Tiger.

Although the Tiger, named "Tuffy", only stayed with the unit until June of 1963 his legacy inspired the unit name, "The Soc Trang Tigers". On 25 June 1963, the 93d Transportation Company was re-designated and became the 121st Aviation Company becoming an element of "Air Mobile Light".

On 4 July 1963 the 121st was assigned to the newly activated "Delta Battalion", later renamed the 13th Combat Aviation Battalion (CAB) at Can Tho. In 1964 the unit's CH-21 Double Rotor Helicopters were replaced by the New Bell Helicopter's UH-1 Huey's.

The 121st was renamed to the 121st Assault Helicopter Company creating three flight platoons, 1st Airlift, "Blue Tigers", 2nd Airlift, "White Tigers" and the third Gunship Platoon, "The Viking".

Spec. 5, 121st AHC Vikings:

Editing Still,

The 121st AHC won a stunning victory over the Viet Cong in the Mekong Delta of IV Corps. The 121st were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, Distinguished Unit Citation, and the Valorous Unit Award. In December 1970 the 121st AHC stood down.

I finally took the pictures taken finally. The “Vikings” were the Aircraft of the Gun Platoon of the 121st AHC.

This outfit, I think one of my uncles may have worked in the support of, or maintenance section of, as it says on the back of a couple of pictures things like “My Hootch-in the Viking Compound” and the Red Beach bunker near the compound. Still working on that mystery.

129th Avn. Co. 1st Avn. Bg. WO-2:

getting their start on 3 July 1965, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 129th soon deployed to Viet Nam and went to Tuy Hoa in October 1965 as part of the 10th Aviation Battalion. The company moved around several times, from Tuy Hoa to Dong Ba Thin, then finally to Quin Nhon in 1966 where they remained until stepping down. The 129th made the base of operations at Lane Army Airfield.

After in-country orientation, the company underwent a name change and became the 129th Assault Helicopter Company. They were re-assigned to the 1st Aviation Brigade's 17th Combat Aviation Group, 298th Combat Aviation Battalion, and operated as an element of "Airmobile Light".

They operated in II Corps. Tactical Zone providing air support for the Korean Capital Division, the 101st Airborne Division, the 25th Infantry, and the ARVN Forces. During the Cambodian invasion in 1970, they supported the 4th Infantry. The "Bulldogs" and "Cobras" as they were called, were involved in places like Tuy Hoa, Dong Ba Thin, and Quin Nhon. After standing down, the 129th departed Viet Nam in March 1973.

The 129th AHC had earned as a whole the Valorous Unit Awards (1 Jan - 24 66; 1 - 20 Jun 66) and the Meritorious Unit Commendations (Dec 1965 - Sept 1966; and 5 Sept 1966 - 31 Mar 1967), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal 1st Class.

During the Post Viet Nam years, in 1979 the 129th were reassigned, becoming an element of the 82nd Combat Aviation Battalion, "B" Company, and served in Grenada, Desert Storm, Iraq, and in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Wilson, 170 AHC 1st Lift Platoon:

The uniform here depicts the early time in Vietnam, in the mid-1960s were the Contenental fatigue shirt in use, The Sergeant would have been one hard-charging fellow, having been through jump school, and having already earned the “Combat Infatrymans Badge”, and overseas deployed with the 82nd somewhere? they were only a Battalion sent to Vietnam, and early on, not the only interesting bit of insignia, he had been through Pathfinder School and had been through the Recondo School with the (LRRP) trainees in Vietnam...So maybe my uniform is just a bit far-fetched, this guy is one driven troop!

That said a Seargent who had been through all that and maybe got tired of sleeping in the woods and was good to have on the team, so, maybe he requested to be door gunner, was given the job, or is now in his third tour (as he is also a Senior Flight Crewman) he is a necessary part of the ship, and calls it his home and keeps a roof over his head. He carries the early 1st Lift Platoon pocket ID Patch (I think?) on his shirt and he added his flight helmet with his own artistic ability, having the 1st Aviation Brigade unit insignia on in, and a subdued one on his shoulder.

A stateside type Seargent rank, and wrapped on the some 7.62 belted ammo, as one might under the band of an infantryman helmet, perhaps to show he was an infantryman first. Covering the back is an elaborate 1st lift-platoon marking, and it’s the wrong type of paint and is very thin. This uniform has been around for years and years, I’m glad Super Soldier found a home here, he leads us into another Vietnam War Helicopter unit story.

So the 170th Aviation Company was activated on September 1, 1965, like many others at Fort Benning, Georgia. And in November, the 170th departed Oakland, California, The destination was Qui Nhon, the Republic of Vietnam (often referred to as South Vietnam), and they arrived on there December 22, 1965, and thus began their year-long deployment. They were assigned to the 10th Aviation Battalion.

Then on January 10, 1966, the company was redesignated the 170th and had “Assault Helicopter” to their title, then assigned to the 52nd Aviation Battalion. “Air-Mobile Light” as they were being called, assigned with them the famed "Flying Dragons" gunship platoon, and with them, they would fly through the rain, fog, and cloudy mountains of the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, searching out the elusive North Vietnamese Forces, a very dangerous foe. The American soldiers would come and go, and more would come and the unit and its helicopters stayed there.

170th AHC, Bikinis - Gunner:

As the war escalated they were moved to Camp Holloway, in Pleiku, which was in the Central Highlands, and soon hooked up with the 119th AHC, 155th AHC, and 219th Aviation Company, and went to work, to inflict as much pain as they could on the enemy, the searched them out bringing in the reconnaissance teams and dropping them off, and they were often followed with bringing in the ground force elements to follow up on what was found, or to help them search for infiltrating enemy.

The 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion, built itself up continually, with more flight groups assigned to work with them, they became quite a deterrent to the enemy. they were combined with the 57th AHC, 189th AHC, 361st Aerial Escort and Weapons Company, and the 179th ASHC by May of 1969 there were a lot of ongoing operations.

Following this at the height of the War, the 170th went to work with the SOG mission, learned what worked, and what did not, and then transferred that information when trained the 57th AHC for that mission, so the Bikinis rotated between the two different units for that period. The 361st Aerial Weapons Company was exclusively equipped with Cobra Helicopters while the Huey Hog Gunships were the fire support for the 170th. Without question, the 170th AHC was one of the most elite helicopter units of the Vietnam War.

WO, 170 Bikinis Squadron, Dragon Platoon (Guns):

The uniform depicts a Warrant Officer, assigned to the early 52nd Aviation Battalion in January of 1966, the 170th Assault Helicopter Company the "Flying Dragons" as part of Airmobile Light. Operating out of Camp Holloway, in Pleiku, They would operate with 119th AHC, 155th AHC, and 219th Aviation Company.

2nd Lieutenant, 170th AHC, Buccaneers (Guns):

The 170th had been assigned to operate with the SOG missions, They had to learn a new game, move different people, to a different place, and try to be stealthy about it, They were sneaky, and developed some special skills, and once dialed in they then were assigned to training the 57th AHC in that mission and they did it well. They rotated between two units for much of the time period. The 361st Aerial Weapons Company was exclusively equipped with Cobra Helicopters while the old Huey UH-1 Gunships provided the fire support for the Bikini Group.

The 170th AHC became one of the most elite helicopter units of the Vietnam War. The 170th proudly led the way in establishing the Traditions of Army Aviation and helped write the Bible on Air Assault. During their time in Vietnam, they suffered as well, all of the people there suffered, but they were recognized with earning two Presidential Unit Citations, the Valorous Unit Award, five awards of the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Civic Action Honor Medal, First Class. The men of the 170th earned numerous individual awards, however, Fifty Seven (57) Bikinis lost their lives. The 170th AHC was awarded the Valorous Unit Award. While the pilots and crewmen, and ground crew as individuals earned much respect.

Sergeant First Class, Curtis, 170th Assault Helicopter Company, Maintenance - Support Crew Chief / Mechanic ‘Keep ‘em Up’:

After nearly five years in-country the 170th AHC moved to Kontum Airfield for their last tour of duty in January 1970. The Bikinis replaced the 57th AHC. With the move, the company elements were renamed. Headquarters Section became the "Bikini Dropouts"; 1st Flight Platoon became "Blue Snoopy"; 2nd Flight Platoon adopted the "Red Baron"; the 3rd Flight Platoon remained "the Buccaneers" while the Service / Maintenance Platoon became "Dry Dock".

The Tech Supply Section adopted the "Instant Parts" logo; the Motor Pool became "Bikini Wheels"; the 154th Medical Detachment proclaimed to be the "154th Mad Medic" Through February 1971, the 170TH's primary mission was insertion and extraction of Special Force reconnaissance patrols on the Ho Chi Minh Road network in Laos. Simultaneously Bikini pilots were training South Vietnamese helicopter pilots while maintenance personnel were rebuilding battle-damaged 170TH UH-IH model slicks to the better-than-new standard of the VNAF program.

The company also defended its compound, Bikini Beach, against North Vietnamese infantry at night until there were not enough Americans to man the perimeter. Finally, in mid-March, the unit moved south to Pleiku and Camp Holloway for demobilization and return to the US. Nick-named the ‘Flyin’ Wrench’ SFC Curtis’s helmet is on his head or near his mobile toolbox in the platoon’s chase aircraft ‘Bikini Chaser.’ Possibly based on an acquaintance the blond on the back keeps her identity concealed behind aviation sunglasses.

Note: I hope I’m getting these guys’ stories right, The units jump around all over the place if I can even get half the story in these small spaces, but I’m trying to do them all some justice. The uniforms, obviously are generally not real people’s uniforms, name changes, and insignia have been moved around. Some of the helmets have gotten more upgrades, and clean up at least, and some I rebuilt what was left, but none work just plug-in and work now, Some are in good shape though but it’s all about representing the men, and their units and helping tell their stories.

They have been kept for a long in big piles, and boxes at storage sheds for many many years winter and summer, then under the house, now in a dry warm area, and the site is being made and re-organized for the fourth time. and recording of it, some may have the incorrect patch for a particular time or the wrong helmet and jacket match. Sorry if so, trying to match these right the best I can, get the unit’s story, and something about the uniform represented, and stow away in an organized way. All these collections were moved around several times as well so stuff was lost and many bits missing, so I fix them up as I go.

Note: in the pictures, I have provided a picture of the “Defoiliant” Setup of the helicopter, It is just another example of how much it was used- they killed all the places they worked out of all around the parameters, and all over the jungles and paddies where we operated looking for the enemy. And that just really bothers me. I’ve heard so many stories of working in it, doing guard duty, driving through these areas, and walking in the slime and dead plants, it’s just negligence of biblical proportions.