The 222d Combat Aviation Battalion - Skymasters - Vung Tau, Plantation - III Corps – See 1968 Article, See 1970 Article

Battalion Headquarters & Headquarters Co. – Bear Cat Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

• 315^th Aviation Support Detachment

In early 1966, the battalion was activated in Vietnam as a fixed wing battalion with Mohawks, birddogs, then transitioned to become an all helicopter unit. They supported the 1st Infantry Division and 5th Special Forces also Thai's with several assault helicopter companies operating in III Corps and a skycrane (see below) company operating throughout II, III and IV Corps.

1966 Lineup:	1968 Lineup:	1970 Lineup:	Joining later
54^th Aviation Co. (UAC)	54^th Aviation Co. (UAC)	117^th Assault Helicopter Co.	59^th Command Aircraft Co. ’72-‘73
57^th Aviation Co.	147^th Assault Support Helicopter Co.	195^th Assault Helicopter Co.	B/229^th Assault Helicopter Company
73^rd Aviation Co. (SAC)	73^rd Aviation Co. (SAC)	240^th Assault Helicopter Co.
61^st Aviation Co.	272^nd Assault Support Helicopter Co.
134^th Aviation Co.	273^rd Heavy Helicopter Co.	273^rd Heavy Helicopter Co.

273rd HHC from Hawk Magazine, March 1970

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

59th Command Aviation Company - Red Cloud

Formed Sep 1972 and served until Mar 1973.

117th Assault Helicopter Company Warlords, Annie Fannies – Plantation – See article

http://www.117thahc.org http://members.tripod.com/plaroue/Warlords.html

Presidential Unit Citation—10–13 Jun 65

Valorous Unit Awards—18 Sep–28 Oct 65; 1 Jan–24 Mar 66; 1–20 Jun 66

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

Formed from the 8th Transportation Company which arrived in Vietnam November 1961 (as a helicopter company) the 117th AHC served from September 1963 thru March 1972 when they left Vietnam. They started out in Dong Ba Thin, and then transferred to Bien Hoa in 1968 where they remained until 1972. It was one of the few units who flew night missions with infrared capabilities for missions and night rescues.

195th Assault Helicopter Company - Skychiefs, Ghostriders, Thunderchickens – Plantation – See article

http://www.theghostriders.com/isapi.dll?c=home&htx=domainlogin

• 93^rd Medical Detachment

Presidential Unit Citation—10–13 Jun 65 Valorous Unit Award—19 Mar 67

The 195th was in Vietnam from October 1967 to 1970. The 195th's primary mission was to support the special operations of MACVSOG CCS (Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group, Command and Control South) whose missions were over the border operations into the Parrot's Beak and Fish Hook areas of Cambodia. It was the only helicopter company operating in Vietnam with camouflage helicopters.

222nd Pathfinder Detachment – See 1968 Article, See 1971 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.

240th Assault Helicopter Company - Greyhounds, Mad Dogs - Bearcat, then to Long Binh

Valorous Unit Award—18 Oct 68 Meritorious Unit Commendation—25 May–31 Dec 67

http://www.240thahcfl.www1.50megs.com/index.html http://hometown.aol.com/maddogs240/

• 772^nd Medical Detachment Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

The 240th arrived in Vietnam in May of 1967 and set up at Bearcat about 20 miles northeast of Saigon.  In 1969, they transferred to Bien Hoa, then to Long Binh as they transferred from the 214th battalion to the 222nd Battalion. The company worked with the Thais, US 9th Infantry and 5th Special Forces.

273rd Heavy Helicopter Company - Super Hooks - Long Binh -, See June 1968 article, See Sep 1968 article, See 1969 article, See 1970 article http://www.ch54skycrane.com/478th%20page.htm

Valorous Unit Award—1 May–29 Jun 70 Meritorious Unit Commendation—17 Dec 67–17 Jun 69

• 652^nd Transportation Detachment Meritorious Unit Commendation—17 Dec 67–17 Jun 69

In Vietnam from December 1967 to February 1972, flew Chinooks and Sky cranes, the largest choppers in Vietnam.  These were used to recover downed aircraft and move large equipment and artillery.

B/229^th Assault Helicopter Company – with us Apr 1971 into 1972

Presidential Unit Citation—5 Apr–7 Jul 72

Patch is from VHPA Museum

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. Company B/229 went to our 222^nd Bn 12^th Group. 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. You can find them on the appropriate battalion pages of this site.

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