11th Combat Aviation Group - Da Nang - We Make the Difference

Presidential Unit Citation—23 Oct–26 Nov 65, Valorous Unit Award—1 May–29 Jun 70, Meritorious Unit Commendation—Sep 65–Nov 66

The 11^th was constituted 1 February 1963 in the Regular Army as 11th Air Assault Aviation Group, and assigned to the 11th Air Assault Division. It was Activated 5 February 1963 at Fort Benning, Georgia. On 1 July 1965 it was reorganized and re-designated as 11th Aviation Group; concurrently, relieved from assignment to the 11th Air Assault Division and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. It was relieved 5 May 1971 from assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division. The group was then assigned to 1st Aviation Brigade and moved back to I Corps at Da Nang, where it was rebuilt with units remaining in Vietnam. It remained there until March 1973. Then reorganized and re-designated 16 October 1987 as 11th Aviation Brigade. Then reorganized and re-designated 17 November 1993 as 11th Aviation Group.

Decorations: Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for PLEIKU PROVINCE, Valorous Unit Award for FISH HOOK, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1965-1966, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1965-1969, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1969-1970, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1970-1971, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1971-1972, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1969-1970

11^th Group Org - November 1971		11^th Group Org – January 1973
223^rd Battalion including: 48^th AHC (Assault Helicopter Co) 116^th AHC 173^rd AHC 478^TH HHC (Heavy Helicopter Co)	212^thBattalion including: 21^st RAC (Recon Airplane Co) 62^nd CAC (Corps Aviation Co) 131^st SAC (Surveillance Airplane Co) 220^th RAC 282^nd AHC 213^th ASHC (A/228^th) (Assault Support Helicopter Co)	62^nd CAC A/228^th ASHC F/4^th Air Cavalry D/17th Air Cavalry 142^nd Transportation Co 321^st Aviation Detachment 519^th Medical Detachment

If your unit is not on this page, you will find it by referring to the Brigade Org Chart for 1969 on the home page www.1stavnbde.com

48^th Assault Helicopter Company by R.N. Appleby, 1972

Units that were part of the 1st Aviation Brigade 11th CAG 1972 - 1973:

Headquarters and Headquarters Company – DaNang

• 321^st Aviation Detachment
• 519^th Medical Detachment

11^th Pathfinders Detachment

48th Assault Helicopter Company - Blue Stars, Jokers – see article

Valorous Unit Awards—1–20 Jun 66; 8 Feb–24 Mar 71

Meritorious Unit Commendations—Dec 65–Sep 66; 5 Sep 66–31 Mar 67

http://www.raydon.com/48ahc/

The company operated out of Ninh Hoa II Corps until 1971, then moved to I Corps Dong Ha and Phu Bai. They were with 11th Group from Apr 1972 to Aug 1972.  This unit served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1972, transferring over from our 17th Group when the group departed RVN.

62nd Corps Aviation Company - Royal Coachmen – Phu Bai, Da Nang

http://www.62ndcacrc.com

The 62nd was in Vietnam from August 1964 with our 212th Battalion in Phu Bai. They operated in support of XXIV Corps. Then they operated out of Da Nang from Dec 1971 to Mar 1972. This company flew high level officers and visiting VIP’s in their Huey’s, Kiowa’s and U21 airplanes. The maintenance standards were extremely high as was the attention to detail.

142^nd Transportation Company – Da Nang

http://home.comcast.net/~jshebert142/index.htm

Meritorious Unit Commendations—1 Nov 68–31 Jan 70; 1 Feb 70–31 Jul 71

In country from 1966 to 1972, the 142nd Transportation Company supported numerous types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Its specialists and technicians provided aircraft maintenance and repair-parts support - for the aircraft and also their armament. The 142^nd served most of its tour as part of the 58^th Transportation Battalion (Allied Aircraft Maintenance and Supply) and came over to our brigade during its final year.

A/228^th Assault Support Helicopter Co. – Wildcats – with us Apr 1971 into 1972

Presidential Unit Citation—25 Aug 66–4 Apr 67, Valorous Unit Award—1–31 Oct 67

http://webpages.charter.net/228th/index.htm

When the 1^st Cavalry Division stood down in Vietnam Mar 1971, a number of units remained in country. The 3^rd Brigade continued to operate with the addition companies of their 229^th Aviation Battalion. Six of the 1^st Cavalry helicopter companies came over to serve with our brigade in various battalions for the remainder of 1971 and early 1972. A/228^th was assigned to the 11^th Group. Companies A/227 and C/228 went to our 52^nd Bn, 17^th Group. Companies B, C and D of the 227^th Bn went to our 10^th Bn, 17^th Group. Company B/229 went to our 222^nd Bn 12^th Group. You can find them on the appropriate battalion pages of this site.

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Take a tour of I Corps

D Troop (Air) 17^th Cavalry – Sabre – with us Apr 72 to Feb 73

Valorous Unit Award—31 Jan–19 Feb 68

1st Platoon - Presidential Unit Citation—5–10 May 68

D Troop initially deployed to Vietnam as part of the 199^th Light Infantry Brigade in October 1966. In Oct 1970 it was inactivated, then reactivated in Dec 1971 using assets of D/3/5^th Cavalry until Mar 1972. The troop was reactivated in April 1972 this time with assets from D/1/1^st Cavalry and was assigned to the 11^th Group. It departed Vietnam in Feb 1973.

F Troop - 4th Air Cavalry – Centaur

http://www.3-4cav.com/

http://centaurs.org/

Cu Chi - III Corps - then to Quang Tri in I Corps with 1st Aviation Brigade from Feb 1971 - Feb 1973. When the  3^rd Armored Cavalry Squadron left Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division, the Air Cavalry Troop remained in-country. D Troop was re-designated F Troop (Air), 4th Cavalry Regiment on 10 February 1971 as a separate Air Cavalry Troop, retaining the CENTAURS unit call sign and logo.

F Troop CENTAURS initially flew in Support of the Second Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Then remained in Vietnam when the Division returned to Hawaii. F Troop was later assigned at various times to the 11th Aviation Group and the 12th Aviation Group, flying in support of South Vietnamese military units. F Troop continued to accumulate individual and unit honors while operating as an independent Air Cavalry Troop and was one of the last U.S. Army units to depart Vietnam - standing down on 26 February 1973.

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