223rd Combat Support Aviation Battalion – Nha Trang, Qui Nhon - II Corps

See 1968 Article, See 1969 Article, See 1971 Article

Headquarters & Headquarters Co. – Qui Nhon Valorous Unit Award—8 Feb–24 Mar 71

All companies in the battalion were airplane companies. The battalion flew support in I and II Corps, the northern half of Vietnam. The battalion flew support for US, ARVN and Korean Army units and occasionally other branches including spotting for Navy warship artillery. Nearly 80% of the intelligence gathered in I and II Corps was the result of the 223^rd Bn recon and surveillance flights. The 223^rd was activated in Vietnam on May 15, 1966 in Nha Trang and assigned to the 17th Aviation Group; it moved to Qui Nhon in January 1967. In 1971 it was assigned to the 11th Aviation Group and stayed at Quin Nhon until March 1971 then moved to Dong Ha. The battalion supported the huge Lam Son 719 incursion into Laos in 1971.

1966 Lineup:	1968 Lineup:	1970 Lineup:
	5^th Aviation Detachment
18^th Aviation Co.	18^th Utility Airplane Co.	18^th Utility Airplane Co.
131^st Aviation Co.	183^rd Recon Airplane Co.	183^rd Recon Airplane Co.
135^th Aviation Co.	185^th Recon Airplane Co.	185^th Recon Airplane Co.
163^rd Aviation Co.	203^rd Recon Airplane Co.	203^rd Recon Airplane Co.
219^th Aviation Co.	219^th Recon Airplane Co.	219^th Recon Airplane Co.
220^th Aviation Co.	225^th Surveillance Airplane Co.	225^th Surveillance Airplane Co.

Below is a little about each company with the battalion in 1969 or later. Other companies will be found in the battalion they were a part of in 1969 – see 1^st Brigade Org Charts

Photo by Joe Whinnery - 1969

18th Utility Airplane Company – Low, Slow, Reliable - Nha Trang, Qui Nhon – See Article

(N) PUC—29 Mar 66–30 Jun 67

Meritorious Unit Commendation—Oct 64–Dec 65

• 163^rd Med Detachment – Qui Nhon

The 18th was the first fixed wing company in Viet Nam - arrived in Nha Trang, Vietnam March 1962 and was part of the 14^th Battalion; then in September 1966 was transferred to the 223^rd Bn at Quin Nhon. It remained in country until 1971. A unique attribute of the Otter airplane was its ability to glide long distances very quietly.  It’s planes flew the entire length of the country. There were few aircraft that could do this as well as the U-1 single engine Otter and during the "secret" invasion of Cambodia they were on standby several times to fly night missions of this type. 

183rd Reconnaissance Airplane Company - Seahorses – Dong Ba Thin (Cam Rahn Bay)

http://www.183seahorse.org/

2d Platoon Valorous Unit Award—31 Jan–25 Feb 68

The 183rd arrived in Vietnam June 1966 and provided aerial reconnaissance (day and night) of enemy areas for the purpose of terrain study, locating, verifying and marking targets for artillery, naval gunfire, and helicopter gun-ships throughout the II Corps Tactical Zone. They also did general support for U.S. and ARVN Forces in Vietnam until 1971.

185th Reconnaissance Airplane Company - Pterodactyls - Ban Me Thout

http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/Pteradactyl185/index.html

In Vietnam from May 1967-1971. The unit operated as a reconnaissance and forward air control unit for air strikes and artillery fire.  They flew the small Cessna O-1 Birddogs.

203rd Reconnaissance Airplane Company - Hawkeyes - Phu Hiep, Tuy Hoa

Patch from ljmilitaria.com site

A birddog Airplane Company, arrived in Vietnam in October 1967. In August 1982, the 203rd located in Wertheim, Germany, was reassigned to VII Corps and joined the 223rd Aviation Battalion, 11th Aviation Group. The unit remained the 203rd Aviation Company until November 1987 when it re-designated as C/6-159th Aviation Regiment. In August 1992, the company was reassigned to V Corps as part of the 5-158th Aviation Regiment.

219th Reconnaissance Airplane Company - Headhunters - Pleiku - See article

http://219headhunters.com/

Valorous Unit Award—18 Sep–28 Oct 65

Meritorious Unit Commendation—Jun 65–May 66

Detachment - Valorous Unit Award—28–30 May 66

The 219th arrived in Vietnam in March 1965 as part of the 52^nd Bn, then transferred to the 223^rd Bn when it was formed in mid 1966. One of the early campaigns they supported was operation Masher / White Wing in support of the 101^st Airborne, near An Khe. They flew single engine bird dog airplanes out of Camp Holloway, Pleiku. Did treetop level recon missions or flew high and directed artillery fire at enemy forces.  It departed Vietnam in 1971.

225th Surveillance Airplane Company - Phantom Hawks - Phu Hiep, Tuy Hoa - See article

(Patch is Cecil Jarman's)

http://www.ov-1.com/225th_AVN/225th-first.html

The 225th was in Vietnam from May 1967 to December 1971.  Located at Phu Hiep, and then moved to Tuy Hoa in October 1970.  The company flew OV-1 Mohawk surveillance airplanes providing sustained radar coverage of border areas, infrared surveillance of known infiltration routes and visual reconnaissance of the II Corps coastline.

225^th SAC OV-1 Mohawk by Gordon Darragh

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