The 212th Combat Aviation Battalion - Wings of Freedom - I and II Corps – Marble Mountain

(Da Nang)

– See 1969 Article  , See 1970 Article , 1971 212^th Bn Yearbook (Courtesy of Stan Bloom)

Consisted of airplane and helicopter companies covering I and II Corps. The battalion reported to the 16^th Combat Aviation Group from 1966 to 1968, then directly to 1^st Aviation Brigade. The battalion provided air recon and surveillance support primarily to the Americal Division, the 101^st Airborne, ARVN’s and the Navy.

1968 Lineup:	1970 Lineup:	Joining Later
	21^st Recon Airplane Co.	A/228^th (213^th Assault Support Helicopter Company
131^st Surveillance Airplane Co.	62^nd Command Airplane Co.
220^th Recon Airplane Co.	131^st Surveillance Airplane Co.
245^th Surveillance Airplane Co.	220^th Recon Airplane Co.
282^nd Assault Helicopter Co.	245^th Surveillance Airplane Co.
Corps Aviation Company	282^nd 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 1^st Brigade Org

Charts

131st SAC Mohawk

HHC – Headquarters & Headquarters Company -

Road Runners – Da Nang (Marble Mountain)

• 59^th Security Detachment

21st Recon Airplane Company

- Black Aces – DaNang, Tay Ninh, Chu Lai

http://www.geocities.com/davidwchandler/

Link to Pictures from Howard Greeve

Meritorious Unit Commendations—1 Jan–30 Nov 67;

1 Dec 67–31 May 68

The 21st arrived at Tay Ninh in June 1967 then moved to I Corps in January 1968.  The first platoon was deployed to Da Nang to work with the 1st Marine Division and the I Corps ARVN Forces, as well as the ROK Marines in that area. The third platoon was based in Quang Ngai City, about twenty-five miles southwest of Chu Lai. The remainder of the company's assets located at Chu Lai.  Units supported included G-2 Air, I Corps Headquarters, the Americal Division, and the 2nd ARVN Division. Missions included artillery adjustment, forward air control, radio relay, convoy cover, naval gunfire, target analysis and combat observation. The company was still in Vietnam in late 1970.

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

See article

http://www.62ndcacrc.com

In Vietnam since December 1964, moved to Marble Mountain (Da Nang) in December 1970 and departed Vietnam

in 1972. Equipped with Huey and Kiowa helicopters and U21 planes, they provided VIP treatment for all in I Corps.

Valorous Unit Award—1 Jun 66–31 Dec 68

131st Surveillance Airplane Company - Night Hawks (Spuds) - Phu Bai

1971 131^st Yearbook , 1972 131^st Yearbook (Courtesy of Stan Bloom)

http://www.ov-1.com/

This image courtesy of OV-1.com Copyright (c) 1997-2003 OV-1.com

The 131st Aviation Company (Aerial Surveillance) arrived in Vietnam, in June 1966. The mission of the 131st Aviation Company was to provide reconnaissance support. The company was equipped with the Army OV-1 Mohawk. Equipped with SLAR (Side Looking Airborne Radar) the 131st Aviation Company received its mission assignments from the 7th Air Force. In addition to working for the 7th Air Force, the company flew missions for XXIV Corps Headquarters and was teamed with the 18th Special Operations Squadron of the 14th Special Operations Wing, in a hunter/killer team mission.  The unit departed Vietnam in 1971.

220th Recon Airplane Company - Cat Killers – Nha Trang, Phu Bai – See article

Meritorious Unit Commendation—Jul 65–Apr 66

134^th Med Detachment Meritorious Unit Commendation—Nov 64–Jun 66

http://members.cox.net/scummings35/

In Vietnam from July 1965, the company was the only Bird Dog recon unit in I Corps until January 1968. The 1st platoon was assigned to support the marines near the DMZ and the Ho Chi Minh trail. The rest of the company provided support for the 101^st Airborne Division, ARVN’s and Navy ships off the coast for fire direction. The company flew reconnaissance missions in northern I Corps near the DMZ and the trail through Laos.  Gary Hook wrote a book about the 220th - "One Day in Vietnam - The True Story of a 220th RAC Pilot".

YO-3A Platoon The 220th RAC in Phu Bai had a small crew flying a still secret unarmed plane capable of cruising

nearly noiselessly at night 800 feet on night recon missions. Initially deployed as part of the U.S. Transportation Corps

and attached to our RAC they flew the QT-2PC. By 1970 they were also deployed in I Corps, flying the YO-3A.

You can read more about the planes and the crews at this website. www.quietaircraft.org

Go to this link for photos from two of our pilots. http://www.1stavnbde.com/tours/Quiet_Planes.htm

245th Surveillance Airplane Company - Redeye's - Da Nang

http://www.ov-1.com/

This image courtesy of OV-1.com Copyright (c) 1997-2003 OV-1.com

The 245th arrived in Vietnam in October 1967 and departed in October 1970. The area of responsibility was the I Corps Tactical Zone. I Corps was that area extending from the Demilitarized Zone to the Northern II Corps border and from the Laotian-Cambodian border to the South China Sea. The unit was under operational control of the Marines, but also flew missions for the Americal Division and 101^st Air Cavalry. Well-known areas in I Corps included Khe Sanh, the Ashau Valley, and Hill 937 ("Hamburger Hill") where over seven hundred enemy soldiers were killed. The city of Hue, located forty-five miles northwest of Da Nang, was the scene of an attempted enemy takeover in 1968.

282nd Assault Helicopter Company - Black Cats, Alley Cats - Marble Mountain Air Field - Da Nang

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~blackcat27/

The 282nd arrived in Vietnam June 1966, equipped with Huey gunships and troop carrying slicks. and departed February 1972.  The marines had no helicopters in country yet, so relied on the 282nd and others from the early 1st Aviation Brigade days for support.  They also participated in many of the major operations in I and II Corps, including the Tet '68 counteroffensive where they flew in support of the re-supply by river of the besieged city of Hue. During Lamson 719 in early 1971 they were part of a 2000 helicopter force supporting the incursion into Laos from Dong Hoa near the border. The basic mission of the unit was the support of Military Region 1 Headquarters Advisory Effort, and the operations of the 1st and 2nd ARVN Divisions.

A/228^th Wildcats (213^th Assault Support Helicopter Co.) – An Khe, Chu Lai, Phu Bai

Presidential Unit Citation—25 Aug 66–4 Apr 67

Valorous Unit Award—1–31 Oct 67

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. A company became part of our 212^th Battalion.

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

Patch is Ron Camp’s

519^th Medical Detachment

The 519th had about 15 people in it.  The unit was part of the 212th Combat Aviation Battalion headquartered at Marble Mountain near

Danang.  The commander was a doctor with the rank of captain.  The unit did flight physicals as well as provided ordinary medical care

to the 212th units.   Unit members occasionally were farmed out to other units within the battalion at other locations such as Chu Lai,

Phu Bai, and Quang Tri.  The unit also provided medical care to villagers near marble mountain as part of a civic action program. 

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