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US ARMY
VIETNAM HELICOPTER COMPANIES
( Source from the book
"Vietnam - The Helicopter War" by Philip D. Chinney
Copyright 1991)
Helicopter Organization in Vietnam
There were four basic categories of the Army aviation units in
Vietnam. The first was the Airmobile Division and only two such units operated
in Vietnam; the 1st Cavalry Division which brought four heicopter battalions
with it from the United States and the 101st Airborne Division, the later
converting to Airmobile status whilst already in Vietnam in 1968. The second
category was the regular infantry division's organic aviation unit, which
comprised one aviation battalion of two companies and one Air Cavarly troop. One
such example is the 25th Infantry Division's organic 25th Aviation Battalion,
which arrived in Vietnam in 1966. The unit comprised 'A' and 'B' Company and 'D'
Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry. Infantry Divisions which brought their own
aviation battalions with them, included the 1st, 4th, 9th, 23rd (Americal),
25th, and the 101st.
The third category was the non-divisional aviation companies. As more
aviation companies were sent to Vietnam, aviation battalions were organized to
exercise control over them. The battalions in turn came under the control of
aviation groups. The number of aviation companies attached to a battalion would
vary, as would the number of battalions under the control of a group. In March
1966 the 1st Aviation Brigade was formed to exercise central control of these
non-divisional units and to ensure more effective use of resources, organization
and experience.
The fourth and final category covered the various smaller flights and
detachments, which served USMACV, USARV, the Signal, Engineer, Artillery,
Transport and other general support commands. Generally, smaller than an
aviation company and often consisting of only one or two Hueys, these units
operated a variety of aircraft, and eventually came under the control of the 1st
Aviation Brigade. It would be appropriate to mention that the Army also operated
fixed-wing companies and detachments in Vietnam, such as Surveillance, Utility
and Reconnaissance Airplane Companies.
The 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th, 160th, 164th and the 165th Aviation Groups served
with the 1st Aviation Brigade at one time or another. Aviation Battalions subordinate
to the Groups included the 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 52nd, 58th, 145th,
210th, 212th, 214th, 223rd, 258th, 269th, 307th, 308th, BUFFALO (Provisional) ,
CAPITAL (Provisional), DELTA (Provisional), and PHANTOM (Provisional).
AIR CAVALRY UNITS IN VIETNAM
D Troop (Air), 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry
D Troop (Air), 2nd Squadron,1st Cavalry
D Troop (Air), 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry
D Troop (Air), 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry
F Troop (Air), 4th Cavalry
D Troop (Air), 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry
F Troop (Air), 8th Cavalry
F Troop (Air), 9th Cavalry, also known as H Troop (Air) , 16th Cavalry
D Troop (Air), 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry
H Troop (Air) , 10th Cavalry
Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry regiment
C Troop (Air), 16th Cavalry
D Troop (Air), 17th Cavalry
H Troop (Air), 17th Cavalry
* Note: The 9th Air Cavalry Brigade (Provisional) was formed in December 1970 by
the first Cavalry Division (Airmobile) to perform reconnaissance over a large
part of the Cambodian border area. It comprised the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry
(Reinforced) and the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, working with the Rangers of H
Company, 75th Infantry and the combat tracker dogs of the 62nd Infantry
Platoon.
1st Aviation Brigade 
3rd AHC
Chickenman
17th AHC Kingsmen,
Lancers
18th CAC Green Delta
25th CAC Red Carpet
48th AHC Blue Stars,
Jokers
57th AHC Gladiators,
Cougars
59th CAC Red Cloud
60th AHC Ghost
Riders
61st AHC Lucky
Stars, Star Blazers
62nd AML Outlaws, Maverick
62nd CAC Royal
Coachmen
68th AML Top
Tigers, Raiders
68th AHC Top
Tigers, Mustangs
71st AHC
Rattlers, Firebirds
92nd AHC
Stallions, Side Kicks
114th AHC Red
Knight, White Knight, Cobras
116th AHC Hornets,
Yellow Jackets, Wasps, Stingers
117th AHC Warlords,
Annie Fannies, Pink Panthers, Sidewinders
118th AHC
Thunderbirds, Choppers, Bandits
119th AHC
Alligators, Crocodiles
120th AHC Deans,
Razorbacks
121st AHC Soc Trang
Tigers, Vikings
128th AHC Tomahawks,
Gunslingers, Witchdoctor (Maintenance Ship)
129th AHC Bulldogs,
Cobras
132nd ASH Hercules
134th ASH
Demons, Devils
135th AHC Taipans,
Emus
147th ASH Hill
Climbers
155th AHC
Stage Coach, Falcons
161st AHC
Pelicans, Scorpions
162nd AHC Vultures,
Copperheads
170th
AHC
Bikinis, Buccaneers
173rd AHC
Robin Hoods, Crossbows
175th
AHC
Outlaws, Mavericks
176th
AHC
Minute Men, Muskets
178th
ASH
Boxcars
179th
ASH
Shrimpboats
180th
ASH
Big Windy
187th
AHC
Crusaders, Rat Pack
188th
AHC
Black Widows, Spider
189th AHC
Ghostriders, Avengers
190th
AHC
Spartans, Gladiators
191st
AHC
Boomerangs, Bounty Hunters
192nd AHC Pole
Cats, Tiger Sharks
195th
AHC Sky
Chiefs, Ghost Riders, Thunder Chickens
196th
ASH
Flipper
197th
AHC
Gangbusters, Playboys
200th
ASH
Pachyderms
201st CAC
Red Barons
203rd
ASH
Wildcats
205th
ASH
Geronimos
213th
ASH
Black Cats
235th AWC
Delta Devils
238th AWC
Gunrunners
240th
AHC
Greyhounds, Mad Dogs
242nd
ASH
Muleskinners
243rd
ASH
Freight Train
271st
ASH
Inn Keeper
272nd
ASH ?
273rd HH
Superhook
281st
AHC
Intruder, Ratpack, Bandits, Wolfpack
282nd
AHC
Black Cats, Alley Cats
334th AWC
Sabers, Playboys, Raiders, Dragons
335th
AHC
Cowboys, Falcons
336th
AHC
Warriors, Thunderbirds
355th HH
Workhorse
361st AWC
Pink Panthers
362nd
ASH
Fly United
478th HH
Hurricane
NOTE:
AHC - Assault Helicopter Company
AML - Air Mobile Light
ASH - Assault Support Helicopter
AWC - Aerial Weapons Company
CAC - Corp Aviation Company
HH - Heavy Helicopter
Each Huey company usually comprised two platoons of transport "Slicks"
and one of "Gunships".
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