34th General Support Group
(Aircraft Maintenance and Supply) - Vung Tau – see
article
Meritorious Unit Commendations—1 Nov
66–31 Oct 67; 1 Nov 67–31 Oct 68; 1 Nov 68–31 Jan 70; 1 Feb 70–31 Jul 71; 1 Aug
71–15 Sep 72
http://academic.uofs.edu/faculty/gramborw/atav/usarv.htm
Every Army Aviation company in Vietnam had its own dedicated maintenance crew that performed
major periodic maintenance and fairly extensive damage repairs for the over
4000 aircraft (fixed and rotary wing) in service. However often the damage was
more extensive than could be performed in the field, an in addition a central
management source was needed for repair parts. The 34th Group was
initially formed in November 1965 then activated in January 1966 as the central
group responsible for providing command and control of units performing the
aircraft and avionics maintenance and supply functions in Vietnam. The group, a major subordinate to USARV consisted of
4 Transportation Battalions at its peak: The 14th, 58th,
520th and 765th. Thru
these battalions and a floating maintenance facility, it provided back-up
direct support to divisional units in-country, including the 101st Airborne, Americal, 4th Infantry, 25th Infantry, and the 1st Cavalry
(Airmobile) as well as the 1st Aviation Brigade and other allied forces.
There were four Avel
(Aviation Electronics Support Company) Companies in Vietnam. They were Avel Far North, Avel North, Avel Central and Avel South.
Their mission was to provide avionics general support for all of the Army
helicopter units in Vietnam. All of the Avel
units came under the command of the 34th General Support Group, USARV. http://www.avelvietnam.com/index.html
(AVEL Vietnam Site)
Avel Far North was
activated on 20
February 1968 and deactivated in December 1969 when
it was redesignated the 263rd Light Equipment
Maintenance Company. The 263rd LEM was
officially deactivated on 1 April 1972.
Avel North was
activated on 1
January 1966 and deactivated on 1 December 1969
when it was redesignated the 614th Light Equipment
Maintenance Company. The 614th LEM was officially
deactivated on 15
January 1972.
Avel South
was activated on 1 January 1966 and decativated on 1 December 1969 when it was redesignated the 317th Light Equipment Maintenance Company.
The 317th LEM was officially deactivated on 1 April 1972.
Avel Central
was activated on 1 January 1966.
As the war wound down and our forces began
standing down, the 34th Group was transferred to the control of 1st Aviation Brigade in November 1971 where it
continued in operation well into 1972.
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