AVIATION REPORT

"NAM" has often been referred to as the Helicopter War because of the presence of

helicopters on all fronts. Most notably, the helicopter was used to insert/extract combat

troops and to provide direct combat support. Additional functions included

reconnaissance, medivac services, supply services, artillery/bomb spotters, etc. 5,086

helicopters were destroyed, out of a total of 11,827. The death rate from helicopter crews

amounted to about 6%, vs. 2.75% for the general populace.

Republic of Vietnam in early 1967. At Bearcat, and later at Dong Tam, there were two

Battalions of aviation units.

Headquarters Company (Anywhere – Anytime)

A Company – (Jayhawks) Escort and Utility Company

B Company - Assault Helicopter Company

Aero Scout Platoon (WarWagons) consisted of 10 Loaches

Aero Weapons Platoon (Crusaders) consisted of 9 Cobras guards the Aero Scout

Aero Rifle Platoon ((Doughboys) consisted of 40 Recon. Troops

Maint. Platoon (Scavengers) consisted of rep/maint & Headquarters

Headquarters Company (Cougars)

Types of Helicopters used during the early years.

Huey Models UH1D and UH1H, typically referred to as slicks, are most noted for

insertion/extraction of combat troops. Each had a pilot and a copilot which were

generally Warrant Officers or Lieutenants, and the Platoon Leaders were usually

Captains. The crew consisted of the Crew Chief/Door Gunner (67N) who was generally

a Spec. 5 and the Door Gunner (11B) who was generally a Spec. 4. The crew chief and

door gunner sat on either side, behind the cargo department and each were armed with a

swivel-mounted M-60 machine gun with 500 rounds of 7.62 ammo and an M-16, along

with an assortment of smoke grenades. Because of the extreme heat (which negatively

affects the engine output), each helicopter could transport a maximum of six U.S. troops

at any one time.

Huey Model UH1B and UH1C, typically referred to as gunships, are most noted for their

firepower during insertions/extractions. The crew was generally the same makeup as the

slicks. The crew chief and door gunner sat on either side of the cargo department and

each were armed with a hand-held M-60 machine gun with up to 3,000 rounds of 7.62

ammo and an M-16, along with five extra barrels for the machine gun. There were also

8-barrel miniguns on each side of the helicopter armed with 1,000 rounds of 7.62 per

mini-gun and also 7-barrel rocket launchers on each side of the helicopter armed with

2.75 inch rockets, and on some gunships there was a 40 mm grenade launcher in lieu of

the miniguns. The co-pilot was responsible for aiming and firing these weapons.

LOH-6A, typically referred to as a Loach, is most noted for their reconnaissance (aero

scout) missions, however they frequently worked in tandem with the Huey Cobra

gunships. The crew consisted of a pilot, co-pilot, and a doorgunner. The doorgunner was

armed with a hand-held M-60 machine gun and their was one minigun.

Huey Model AH-1G, typically referred to as a Cobra, was most noted for their firepower.

The crew consisted of a pilot and a copilot. They were armed with two miniguns,

Calton, and any additions/deletions/corrections or whatever would be greatly appreciated

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