52nd Combat Aviation Battalion - Flying Dragons – Camp Holloway (Pleiku) - II Corps

See May 1968 Article, See Dec 1969 article, See Jun 1969 article, See October 1970 article

http://52dcab.org/

Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Co. – Pleiku

Presidential Unit Citation—29 Oct–30 Nov 67

Valorous Unit Awards—18 Sep–28 Oct 65; 28–30 May 66

Outstanding Army Aviation Unit of the Year - 1967

The 52nd battalion arrived in Pleiku, RVN in February 1963 and operated throughout the war. This battalion, the largest in 1^st Aviation Brigade; covered the central highlands, mountainous terrain with 7,000 foot peaks. The terrain made flying even more dangerous with fog in the valleys and emergency LZ's hard to find.  They supported the 4th and 25th Infantry Divisions as well as the ARVN units.  The battalion participated in Tet ‘68, and in 1970 spearheaded flight support for the NE Cambodian operations. The battalion departed Vietnam in April 1972.

1966 Lineup:	1968 Lineup:	1970 Lineup:	Joining later
119^th Air Mobile Light Co.	119^th Assault Helicopter Co.	119^th Assault Helicopter Co.	C/228^th Assault Support Helicopter Co (1971-72)
155^th Air Mobile Light Co.	155^th Assault Helicopter Co.	361^st Aerial Weapons Co.	A/227^th Assault Helicopter Co (3^rd Assault Helicopter Co) (1971-72)
170^th Air Mobile Light Co.	170^th Assault Helicopter Co.	170^th Assault Helicopter Co.
179^th Air Mobile Light Co.	179^th Assault Helicopter Co.	179^th Assault Helicopter Co.
	57^th Assault Helicopter Co.	57^th Assault Helicopter Co.
	189^th Assault Helicopter Co.	189^th Assault Helicopter 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

361st AWC Cobras by Covey Rider Luke Dove

· 52d Aviation Platoon

Valorous Unit Award—18 Sep–28 Oct 65

· 52^nd Security Detachment – Arrived September 1966. Provided base protection on the perimeter and via patrols with the ARVN infantry.

· 68^th Infantry Detachment – Radar – Used PPS-5 radar equipment to detect enemy soldiers within 5000 yards of the base or airfield.

· 344^th Aviation Support Detachment

· Camp Holloway Dispensary Link

The Camp Holloway Dispensary Medics were highly motivated, disciplined, physically fit, competent Soldier Medics with a Warrior Spirit that emulate the Army Values whether on Flight Status or at the Dispensary. The Dispensary was comprised of four medical units from three Helicopter Companies, 94th Med Det (119th AHC), 519th (189th AHC), 755th Med Det (170th AHC) and HDD Med Det, from 52nd Battalion.

52nd Pathfinder Detachment – See 1968 Article

The pathfinders filled a critical role since WWII being the first in "Semper Primus"  to drop zones for airborne parachute drops including D Day.  In Vietnam they played a similar role in clearing areas for LZ's and also in helping with rigging of difficult loads to be carried by our Chinook and Sky crane choppers.  Several of our battalions had pathfinder detachments including the 11th, 52^nd, 222nd and 269th.

57th Assault Helicopter Company - Gladiators, Cougars - Kontum, An Khe, Pleiku

Valorous Unit Award—14 Aug 69–20 Jan 70

Meritorious Unit Commendation—Dec 65–Jun 66

http://www.57thahcgladiators.com/ - Official Org site

http://web2.airmail.net/glad13/

• 321^st Aviation Support Detachment

• 154^th Med Detachment Valorous Unit Award—14 Aug 69–20 Jan 70

Meritorious Unit Commendation—16 Aug 71–30 Apr 72

The 57^th Aviation Company arrived in Vietnam December 1965 as a CV-2 Caribou fixed wing company stationed at Vung Tau. When the Caribou’s were turned over to the Air Force command, the 57^th was reorganized as a helicopter company and in October 1967 became part of the 52^nd Bn. The company departed in March 1973. Flew missions in support of Northern II Corps area 24th Special Tactical Zone (STZ), MACV, medical and special assistance missions, Special Forces Camps, ARVN II Corps, and the 4th Infantry Division in the Dak To area. The unit was involved in several major battles including Dak To in 1967, and relieving sieges on Ben Het in 69 and Dak Seang in 70. Patches from CW2 Lee Westbrook's 57th AHC site

119th Assault Helicopter Company - Alligators, Crocs - Pleiku, An Khe

Valorous Unit Awards—18 Sep–28 Oct 65; 28–30 May 66

• 94^th Med Detachment Valorous Unit Award—18 Sep–28 Oct 65

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/1534/

Formed in June 1963, with assets from the 81^st Transportation Co. (light helicopter); which arrived in Vietnam in December 1962. Departed RVN March 1972. The 119th Aviation Company was located at Camp Holloway near the town of Pleiku.  Camp Holloway, established in 1962 was one of the oldest bases in Vietnam. It also had the distinction of being the highest permanent helicopter base in the country with a field elevation of 2640 feet. In 1979 the 119th was transferred to the 82nd Combat Aviation Battalion, as Company A, and has since served in Grenada, Desert Storm and the current Iraq conflict. More on them at www.bragg.army.mil/82ash

170th Assault Helicopter Company - Bikinis, Buccaneers - Pleiku, Kontum

Valorous Unit Award—28–30 May 66

• 755^th Med Detachment  

http://www.170th.org/

Arrived December 1965, stationed at Can Tho as part of the 13^th Battalion prior to the formation of our brigade. The 170^th (Air Mobil Light) was transferred to the 52^nd Bn in 1966. They departed April 1971. Like the others in this battalion, the 170th ranged over the central highlands, doing combat assaults, re-supplying bases, inserting LRRP teams, medevacing casualties and providing cover for convoys. W.E.B. Griffin's fictional book "Brotherhood of War" has a main character from the 170th.

179th Assault Support Helicopter Company - Shrimp boat – Pleiku – See Article

www.179thash.org

 Arrived in June 1966, and departed August 1971. The Chinook helicopter company moved cargo and supplies to units in the field and to remote firebases, some of them at 5,000 feet elevation.  They also moved artillery, ammo and other heavy loads.

189th Assault Helicopter Company - Ghost Riders, Avengers - Pleiku

http://www.189thahc.org/

The 189^th Assault Helicopter Company was activated November 1966 at Ft. Carson, Colorado. The unit deployed to the Central Highlands of Pleiku Providence Republic Of Vietnam in May 1967 and was base camped at Camp Holloway. The unit was a support helicopter company to the 4^th Infantry Division, U. S. Army Special Forces and other US and ARVN units within the Central Highland area of Vietnam. The 189^th AHC was deactivated in March 1971.

361st Aerial Weapons Company - Pink Panthers – Pleiku – See 1970 Article, See 1972 Article

Valorous Unit Award—14 Aug 69–20 Jan 70

• 665^th Transportation Detachment Valorous Unit Award—14 Aug 69–20 Jan 70
• 621^st Security Detachment

http://361awc.com/About_Us.html

The unit arrived in Vietnam in August 1968 and was assigned to the 52nd Battalion in Pleiku.  It supported primarily the 5th Special Forces on insertions and extractions within II Corps and across the border.  When not working with the Special Forces, it supported the 4th Infantry Division. The 361st was the first all Cobra unit in II Corps.  It departed in August 1972.

A/227th (3rd Aviation Company) - Chickenman – Pleiku (with 1^st Cavalry 1965 – 1971, our brigade 1971 – 1972)

http://mysite.verizon.net/chknmn/

Presidential Unit Citation—27 Jan–4 Apr 67

Valorous Unit Award—31 Mar–16 Apr 71

Patch is from VHPA Museum

The 3rd Aviation Company was a U.S. aviation company that reformed as A Company 227th Bn, 1st Cav, which served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1971.  The name was reused beginning in 1971 when the 1st Cavalry stood down.  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 operated 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. Companies A/227 and C/228 went to our 52^nd Bn, 17^th Group. A/228^th was assigned to the 11^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.

C/228^th Assault Support Helicopter Co. – What More Can We Do - An Khe, Camp Evans, Phuoc Vinh (with 1^st Cavalry 1965 – 1971, our brigade 1971 – 1972)

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

Presidential Unit Citation—25 Aug 66–4 Apr 67

Patch is Bill Lee’s from VHPA Museum

See above - When the 1^st Air Cavalry stood down in Vietnam, 5 of their companies were transferred to our brigade and served another six to nine months in country from 1971-1972. C company became part of our 52nd Battalion.

Return to 17^th Group Home page Return to 1^st Aviation Brigade Home page