Patch is Robert Montgomery’s from VHPA Museum

269th Combat Aviation Battalion - Cu Chi - III Corps - See Article

Battalion Headquarters & Headquarters Co. – Cu Chi Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

Link to 269^th Chain of Command Chart for 1967-1968

http://www.blackwidows.net/269th_black_barons.php

http://groups.msn.com/HHC269thCombatAviationBattalion

The battalion was made up of helicopter companies.  The 269th arrived in Vietnam in January 1967 and departed in April 1971. They were the primary support battalion for the 25th Infantry Division in the western part of III Corps, but also provided support to the 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions plus the 199th LIB and the 5th Special Forces. It participated in most campaigns in III Corps including Junction City II, the Monsoon Campaigns, Manhattan, Atlanta, Saratoga, Yellowstone, and TET '68. Today the Black Barons are at Ft. Bragg as HHC of the 18th Aviation Brigade. The book "Heaven's Luck" by Harold Hester is about the 269th Bn.

1968 Lineup:	1969 Lineup:
21^st Recon Airplane Co.
116^th Assault Helicopter Co.	116^th Assault Helicopter Co.
187^th Assault Helicopter Co.	187^th Assault Helicopter Co.
188^th Assault Helicopter Co.
242^nd Assault Support Helicopter Co.	242^nd Assault Support Helicopter Co.

Below is a little about each company with the battalion at its peak 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 on brigade home page.

116th Assault Helicopter Co. by David Wood, Hawk Magazine

116th Assault Helicopter Company - Hornets, Stingers, Wasps - Phu Loi, Cu

Chi / Chu Lai - See article

www.116ahc.org

Presidential Unit Citation for actions 24 April 1969

Four Valorous Unit Citations for: 19 July 1966, 22-23 October 1966, 4-20 November 1966, 1 January - 31 December 1967

Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

· 431^st Med Detachment Valorous Unit Award—4–20 Nov 66 Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

The Hornets joined the 11th Combat Aviation Battalion at Phu Loi in November 1965. The 116th first combat missions were flown in December 1965 near Phouc Vinh in support of the 1st Infantry Division. In November of 1966 the Hornets moved to Cu Chi, the base camp for the 25th Infantry Division. The Hornets were transferred to the 269th Combat Aviation Battalion in March of 1967.  In July of 1970 the Hornets moved to Chu Lai and were placed under control of the "Americal" Division. In March of 1971 the Hornets went to Quang Tri to participate in Operation Lam Son 719, the incursion into Laos. The Hornets were moved from Chu Lai in October of 1971 to Marble Mountain at Da Nang. In December 1971 the Hornets stood down. The book "Xin Loi, Vietnam" by Al Sever is about the 116th.

187th Assault Helicopter Company - Crusaders, Ratpack - Tay Ninh - see article

• 541^st Med Detachment

http://www.187thahc.net/

Presidential Unit Citation 24–26 Apr 69 Valorous Unit Award 13 Jun–23 Sep 68

Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

The company is featured in the book "Absolution", written by Charles J. Bolye; and the book "Trial by Fire"; by a 187th pilot.  The 187th arrived in Vietnam March 1967, left in March 1972. It flew support for the 25th Infantry Division. Tay Ninh was only 8 miles from the Cambodian border where the enemy had sanctuary.  Because of this Tay Ninh was known as "Rocket City East".

188th Assault Helicopter Company (With us 67-68) - Black Widows, Spiders - Dau Tieng, LZ Sally, Phu Bai – To Pics and Article from Dick Detra, 188th, To more patches from Dick Detra

http://www.blackwidows.net/

Meritorious Unit Commendation 1 Jan–31 Dec 67

On May 2,1967 the Black Widows and Spiders began their tour with the 269^th Battalion, 12^th Group at Camp Rainier, Dau Tieng in the Michelin Rubber Plantation. Then in March 1968 they moved north to LZ Sally and were assigned on March 17^th to our 308^th Battalion, 16^th Group in support of the 2^nd Brigade, 101^st Airborne. . In July 1968 the 308^th and its units were deactivated. The 308^th became the 159^th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion and took over all CH-47 helicopter support of the 101^st Airborne Division. On July 20 the 188^th AHC became C Company of the 101st Combat Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne and remained in I Corps; at LZ Sally and Phu Bai for the rest of their tour which ended in Feb 1972. 

242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company - Muleskinners - Cu Chi – see article written in 2005 by Roger Montgomery of the 242nd, See article from Hawk Magazine

The "Muleskinners" of the 242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company formed up at Ft. Benning, GA in October 1966. The Muleskinners flew the CH-47A transport helicopter. After extensive training under Major Paul L. Stansel, Commander, and Bobby J. Morris as First Sergeant, the unit deployed to Vietnam in August 1967. The 242nd supported the 25th Infantry Division and the III Corps Tactical Zone, especially in such areas as the "Iron Triangle", "Ho Bo Woods", "Nui Ba Den", "French Fort", "Mushroom", "Parrot"s Beak" and others. The Muleskinners performed with resolute valor and intrepidity until October 1971. There is a website for the 242nd at www.angelfire.com/mo/242sdASHC/index.html A second link is here http://www.homeofheroes.com/myhero/The_Muleskinners.html

269^th Pathfinder Detachment - The Cavaliers, - See 1968 article, See 1970 article - a thirteen-man pathfinder detachment provided navigational assistance and terminal guidance to all of the battalion's aviation elements, during daylight and nighttime missions. The pathfinders were utilized in the control of infantry units in the PZ and LZ.

Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

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