QUARTERLY UNIT
HISTORY 1970
(RCS CSHIS-6 (R2))
128TH AVIATION COMPANY (ASSAULT
HELICOPTER)
11TH AVIATION BATTALION (COMBAT)
12TH AVIATION GROUP (COMBAT)
1ST AVIATION BRIGADE
APO San Francisco
96289
1 April 1970 –
30 June 1970
Prepared by
WO1 Arthur S.
Fantroy
WO1 Richard G.
Waggener
Unit Historical
Officers
APPROVED BY:
GLENN A. BROWN MAJ. SC
Commanding
Phu Loi, Republic
of Vietnam
APO SF 96289
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
HERALDRY
COMMAND AND
CONTROL
HISTORICAL SUMMARY SPRING
1970
REFLECTIONS
A. Awards and
Decorations
B.
Glossary
APPENDIX
I
HERALDRY
The 128th
Aviation Company adopted the Tomahawk as its unit insignia and its official call
sign for a variety of reasons. The tomahawk for centuries has been
representative of the first Americans on the North American continent. The 128th
Aviation Company prefers to think of itself as first Americans in the Republic
Of Vietnam. First, not in the sense of having been the first unit deployed to
the Republic Of Vietnam, but rather in the sense that the Tomahawks are first in
spirit, first in accomplishment and first in pride.
However, there is
another part of the Tomahawk insignia that cannot be ignored, the Peace Pipe. We
realize that this land is not peaceful now! However, with the judicious use of
the Tomahawk, we hope to be able to turn to the other side of the insignia and
use the Peace Pipe.
Finally, there is
a Cross of Gallantry on which these symbols are placed. The Cross represents the
Spirit of Knighthood and the loyal, brave soldiers of which this unit is
composed.
COMMAND AND CONTROL 1970
COMMANDING
OFFICER (TOMAHAWK 6) MAJ GLENN A. BROWN
EXECUTIVE
OFFICER (TOMAHAWK 5) CPT RONALD L. COVINGTON
CPT WAYNE
R. GARRABRANT
OPERATIONS OFFICER (TOMAHAWK 3) CPT
HOWARD T. EIDSON
ASST. OPERATIONS OFFICER (TOMAHAWK 34)
CPT BOBBY R. JONES
1LT DARRELL D. DOREMUS
ADMINISTRATION OFFICER (TOMAHAWK 1) CPT JAMES M.
BARGER
1ST PLATOON COMMANDER (TOMAHAWK 16)
CPT TERRENCE M. WINN
CPT ROBERT J. SMITH
2ND PLATOON COMMANDER (TOMAHAWK 26) CPT
BURTON A. GREENE
3RD PLATOON COMMANDER (TOMAHAWK 36)
CPT DENNIS J. JACOBSEN
1LT LLOYD W. BUCHANAN
SERVICE PLATOON COMMANDER (WITCH DOCTOR 8) CPT
ROBERT T. FERRIGAN
FIRST SERGEANT (TOMAHAWK 7) 1SG
CLARENCE J. PETERSON
OPERATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 1970 (1 - 30 April 1970)
The 1st of
April, commonly regarded throughout the world as April Fool's Day, opened the
month of April with the Tomahawks flying for CMD, and despite its superstitions
all missions were routinely accomplished. However on the 2nd, Tomahawk 12
working with Project Delta near Fire Support Base Dan, had an engine failure
over some trees. With exceptional skill, Tomahawk 12 maneuvered his aircraft
into the only available open area, terminating in state-5 autorotation, with
only minor aircraft damage and no injuries. The rest of the Tomahawks flying for
CMD LBSZ, and LLDB from the period of 2 to 10 April, completed their missions
with no further incident. On the night of the 10th, the Nighthawk ship was
scrambled as a result of contact at Lai Khe, but had negative results. This
period was one of a general influx of new pilots for the Tomahawks, replenishing
strength levels, which were becoming dangerously low. The period of 11 to 19
April showed missions accomplished on the same even keel, as the Tomahawks
continued to support the CMD, LBSZ, and LLDB. On the 20th of April, Gunslinger
35 had a low side governor failure in one of the gunships, successfully
diagnosed it, took manual control of the throttle, and successfully brought the
aircraft to a safe landing. On the 21st, all of the personnel and equipment from
Project Delta returned to Phu Loi, and missions were also flown for LLDB. On the
22nd, Tomahawk 6 and 3A returned to Bunard to make their final check of the
area, and the chalks were flying for CMD. On the 23rd we had a maintenance stand
down for half the flight, while the other half flew for the 25th Infantry
Division, with all operations going smoothly. The period of the 24th to the 26th
saw us supporting LBSZ, CMD, and RTAVF. Then on the 27th, half of the ships
stood by on Emergency Reaction Stand-by, while the rest of the flight flew
general support missions. The last three days of the month were spent supporting
the 25th ARVN Division, as the Tomahawks continued to display their usual
professionalism.
OPERATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY
(1 - 30 May, 1970)
The 1st of May began the Cambodian
Offensive, and the Tomahawks were there in support of different units in areas
covering the push into Cambodia. The Tomahawk flight flew for the 25th ARVN
Division and at the end of the day all missions had been completed with no
incidents. The 2nd proved less fortunate, Tomahawk 15, flying in support of the
25th ARVN, received fire while flying a VR over highway 1, east of Svey Reng,
took evasive action, received still more hostile fire, and then successfully
evaded. Upon shutting down at fire support base Hampton, he found that he had
taken a hit in the main rotor blade and traded aircrafts with 3C, to continue
with his mission. Approximately 30 minutes later, conducting a medivac, he
received fire again, this time more severe than before. Successfully evading and
returning to Go Dau Ha to check out the damage, he found that he had received
one hit through the tail rotor drive shaft. Again trading aircrafts, with
Tomahawk 16 this time he continued his mission once more, with no further
incidents. Tomahawk 12 also had received one hit under the AC’s seat while
flying a medivac mission, also over highway 1, and as a result lost his
intercom system. However, the mission was successfully completed
without changing ships. On the 3rd, the Tomahawks flew for the 2/25th Infantry,
with no incidents. The next day, Tomahawk 16 received fire over highway 1 while
flying a medivac mission, and the Crew chief was hit in the wrist. Flying the
ship on to Fire support base Hampton for POL, he landed, and shortly thereafter
the engine failed from a round that had struck it, one of several hits. The Crew
chief was medivaced to Cu Chi, and the rest of the crew returned to Phu Loi, The
period from the 5th to the 12th proved to be somewhat more peaceful for the
Tomahawks, as they flew in support of CMD, 5th ARVN Division, 25th ARVN
Division, and LBSZ. On the l3th, it was Tomahawk 3C’s turn to receive fire,
while flying for the 25th ARVN Division out of Tay Ninh. Receiving numerous
hits, he managed to return the ship to Tay Ninh, and incurred no further damage,
and no injuries. The 14th and 15th proved routine again, as the Tomahawks flew
for the 25th Infantry and 25th ARVN Divisions; however, the next day the
Tomahawks incurred another minor injury, as Tomahawk 11 made an approach to fire
support base Tennessee, and his crew chief was grazed in the arm by an M.16
round, source unidentified. He was medivaced to Cu Chi. From 17 to 2l May, the
Tomahawks flew for the 25th ARVN Division and 5th Special Forces, and the
Tomahawk professionalism continued to prevail. However, the morning of the 21st
was one well remembered by the Tomahawks, as an incoming rocket landed between
the orderly room and the en1isted men’s hooch in the back of the Re-Up Office,
causing moderate damage and injuring two men occupying the hooch. One was
treated at the dispensary and released, and the other was medivaced to the 93rd
Evac. On the 22nd, two ships went down for maintenance
reasons at Tay Ninh East, and were Pipesmoked back. The rest of the day and the
following two were uneventful as we flew for the 25th ARVN and 5th Special
Forces. On the 24th of May, Tomahawk 12, flying for the 25th ARVN, spotted two
VC in the open, opened fire, and succeeded in flushing three more, resulting in
five kills. The next day, Tomahawk 19, on short final to the Watchtower west of
Lai Khe, set off a booby-trapped claymore, about 10 feet underneath him.
Reacting quickly and assessing the situation, 19 gained control of the aircraft,
and successfully returned to Lai Khe, where he found that he had incurred
moderate structural damage and a half severed tail rotor cable The remainder of
the month went by without incident, as the Tomahawks flew for the 5th Special
Forces, 25 ARVN, RTAVF, and LBSZ, with a maintenance stand down on the 29th.
OPERATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE (1 - 30 JUNE, 1770)
The month of June
saw the Tomahawks in continued support of the Cambodian operation in the form of
several single ship missions per day, Other operations included miscellaneous
other single ship sorties and varied missions conducted as flights. The month of
June also saw the end of the Cambodian operations, as the Tomahawks were there
to the last, pu1ling out the last American advisors. There were many memories
some pleasant, some not. But there were no fellow Tomahawks lost, for which we
were most thankful. The first week of June was uneventful as the Tomahawks flew
in support of the 3/9th Infantry Division, 3/25th Infantry and 2/25th
Infantry Division. On the 8th of June, flying for the 3/25th, Tomahawk 12,
flying aircraft 854, experienced low engine oil pressure, and immediately made a
precautionary landing on
Highway 13, north of Phu Cuong. The next day Tomahawk 24, flying aircraft 458,
suddenly discovered a large puddle of transmission oil on the deck. He made an
immediate 180, and then a straight-in to nearby Cu Chi, only to find that it was
merely spillage from the night before. But then, worry counts for something,
doesn’t it 24? On the 10th, flying for 3/9th, Gunslinger 36 and Gunslinger 34
received fire and took hits, with minor damage occurring. The next day, after a
day of flying f or 3/9th, the Tomahawks had just bedded down when their rest was
interrupted by another rocket attack impacting across the runway. No damage was
incurred by the Tomahawks. On the 12th also, we flew for 3/9th, and on the 13th
the 3/25th. The 13th was marked by an in-flight engine oil temperature of 150º
in aircraft 132, flown by Tomahawk 19, who managed to get the ship safely into
Cu Chi, before the engine could fail comp1etely. On the 14th and 15th we flew
for the 3/25th again, and the mission went smoothly without incidents. The next
day we experienced another engine failure, as Tomahawk 29 brought aircraft 743
off of Di An. No further damage was incurred, as 29’s skill brought the ship
safely down, except that a trip flare was ignited upon touchdown, causing a hole
to be burned in one of the skids. On the 17th two more ships had difficulty,
first as the FM mount and antenna came off of aircraft 934 and was hit by the
tail rotor, as Tomahawk 11 sat on the ground at Tay Ninh East. Then later that
day aircraft 429, flown by Tomahawk 16, was down in Cambodia for several hours
due to a dead battery. The period of the 18th to the 23rd was less eventful, as
the Tomahawks flew for the 3/9th and the 3/25th. Then on the 24th of June,
Tomahawk 29 experienced difficulties again, as a hydraulic failure occurred
while picking aircraft 673 up to a hover at Chiphu, Cambodia. Whereupon he
carefully managed to set the aircraft back down again, with no resultant damage.
As the rest of the flight flew at Tan Tru, Tomahawk 13 experienced a chip
detector light and had to make a precautionary, incurring no damage, and finding
the electrical problem. The next day Gunslinger 31, in aircraft 967, flying in
cover of the slicks for the 1/25th, had a low side governor failure at low
altitude, and not having time to diagnose it, successfully autorotated his
gunship to a safe area, with minor damage. The 26th through the 30th finished
out the quarter flying for the 3/9th and 3/25th and it was altogether very
successful, and one to be happily remembered.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 1970
Bronze
Star 30
Air Medal
(Basic) 23
Air Medal (With V
Device) 4
Army Commendation
Medal 52
Soldiers
Medal 4
Purple
Heart 1
Distinguished Flying
Cross 18
GLOSSARY
1. Important Terms and Definitions:
a. Medivac Air evacuation of injured sick, or wounded.
b.
Precautionary Landing - Preventive measure taken when trouble develops within
the helicopter.
c.
Autorotation - Landing without power.
d.
Stage 5 Autorotation Final 100 ft. stage of autorotation.
e.
AC - Aircraft Commander.
2. Spring quarter Statistics:
a.
Total flying hours - 7,096
b.
Total sorties - 16,942
c.
Total pax carried - 32,005
3. Association of Names of Aircraft Commanders with Call Signs:
NAME GRADE TOMAHAWK
GLENN A. BROWN MAJ 6
WAYNE R. GARRABRANT CPT
5
HOWARD T. EIDSON CPT 3
DARRELL D. DOREMUS 1LT 3A
JAMES M. BARGER CPT 1
ARMIT C. TILGNER CW3
3T
JOHN L. HIMES
CW2 3C
ROBERT J. SMITH CPT
16
LUTHER J. SNIPES CW2
17
ARTHUR S. FANTROY WO1
19
KEITH S. TIPT0N WO1 11
DAVID M. BORTSCHELLER WO1
12
LAWRENCE DUROCHER CW2
13
EDGAR A. ISENBERG WO1
14
BURTON A. GREENE CPT 26
MARK E. BENJAMIN CW2 21
VIC H. BRIMMER CW2 22
CARMON F. OWENBY WO1 23
JOHN C. FOWLER WO1 24
MARK K. WARNER WO1 25
WAYNE K. POTTS WO1 27
HOWARD C WHICHARD WO1 28
WILLIAM A, BRINKMAN WO1 29
LLOYD W. BUCHANAN 1LT 36
PHILIP L. GRANDY CW2 31
JOHN J. FOLEY CW2 33
WILLIAM H, VANOVER WO1
34
WILLIAM R. WEHLING CW2 39
APPENDIX I
Personnel
Strength Summary
Authorized 15 April 15
May 15 June
OFF 19
15 16 14
WO 51
45 53 49
EM 218
205 213 196
DEPARTMENT OF THE
ARMY
128TH
AVIATION COMPANY (ASSAULT HELICOPTER)
11TH
AVIATION COMPANY (COMBAT)
APO San Francisco
96289
1 September 1970
SUBJECT: Officer Roster
NAME RANK DOR
DEROS AGE
CLARK, JON
M. MAJ
30 JUN 66 20 AUG 71 34
DADAK, GREGORY
J. CPT 10
JUN 70 3 JUN 71 28
EIDSON, HOWARD
T. CPT 5
FEB 70 30 DEC 70 23
FERRIGAN, ROBERT
T. CPT 8 MAY
70 30 OCT 70 26
GARRABRANT, WAYNE
R. CPT 18 APR
68 16 MAY 71 25
GREENE, BURTON
A. CPT 28 APR
70 1 FEB 71 29
SMITH, ROBERT
J. CPT
14 MAY 70 21 SEP 70 26
WALTERS, ROBERT P.
CPT 22 MAR
67 26 JUL 71 28
BUCHANAN, LLOYD W.
JR. 1LT 3 DEC
69 20 OCT 70 24
COFFMAN, WESLEY
B. 1LT 4 FEB
70 3 JUN 71 25
CORN, HARVEY
JR. 1LT
6 MAY 69 26 JUL 71 22
DOREMUS, DARRELL
D. 1LT 6 SEP
69 15 APR 71 27
HARRISON, KENNETH
L. 1LT 17 SEP
69 18 AUG 71 25
HASTON, JOEL
T.
1LT 6 NOV 69 23 MAR 71 25
DUNN, JOHN
F.
1LT 24 JUN 70 20 AUG 71 27
JARVIS, DALE
D.
1LT 4 MAR 70 4 JUL 71
MORRISON, KENNETH
K. 1LT 23 SEP
69 15 JUL 71 24
PAINI, WILLIAM
J. 1LT
15 FEB 70 14 APR 71 24
QUESENBERRY, JAMES
E. 1LT 23 OCT
68 27 MAR 71 23
WHIPPLE, FRANK
W. 1LT 8
JUN 70 15 AUG 70 25
YOUNGSTEDT, GLENN
G. 1LT 12 MAY
70 27 JUL 71 23
TILGNER, ARMIT
C. CW3 4
AUG 65 18 JUL 70 36
BENJAMIN, MARK
E. CW2 5 MAY
70 9 DEC 70 20
BRIMMER, VIC
h.
CW2 24 FEB 70 24 SEP 70 21
CHERWINK, ROBERT
W. CW2 28 JUL
70 20 AUG 70 21
GLYNN, ALAN
V. CW2
5 MAY 70 3 JUN 70 25
GRANDY, PHILLIP
L. CW2 24
FEB 70 24 SEP 70 23
MILES, RUBEN
L. CW2
18 NOV 68 29 APR 71 26
STEPHENS, DON
R. CW2 10
APR 70 25 OCT 70 30
WEHLING, WILLIAM
R. CW2 2 JUN
70 2 JAN 71 20
ALLEN, ARLEN R.
JR. WO1 9 MAR
70 11 APR 71 21
BECKER, DALE
K. WO1
24 FEB 70 27 MAR 71 21
BORTSCHELLER, DAVID
M. WO1 9 FEB
70 17 MAR 71 21
BRINKMAN, WILLIAM
A. WO1 8 SEP
69 15 OCT 70 20
BROOKS, JACKIE
R. WO1 9
MAR 70 10 APR 70 19
DYER, DAVID
S. WO1
19 MAY 70 19 JUN 71 22
FANTROY, ARTHUR
S. WO1 16 DEC
69 19 JAN 71 20
FOWLER, JOHN C.
JR. WO1 8
SEP 69 15 OCT 70 24
GERACE, JAMES
E. WO1 4
MAY 70 7 JUN 71 23
HADLEY, PETER
E. WO1 13
NOV 69 25 APR 71 25
HALE, WILLIAM
C. WO1 22
SEP 69 9 APR 71 21
HESTAND, JAMES
H. WO1 28 MAY
70 3 JUL 71 21
HODGE, RICHARD
A. WO1 10 MAR
70 14 APR 71 23
HUBBARD, JOHN
C. WO1 6
OCT 69 1 APR 71 19
JOHNSON, NORRIS
L. WO1 27 MAY
70 3 JUL 70 21
KNIESS, ROBERT
W. WO1 9 MAR
70 16 APR 71 20
KOHNER, PETER
J. WO1 6
OCT 69 1 APR 71 21
LEWIS, BRADFORD
W. WO1 5 OCT
69 31 MAR 71 21
LOUDON, JERRELL
A. WO1 10 MAR
70 14 APR 71 23
MARTIN, MICHAEL
J. WO1 28 MAY
70 3 JUL 71 21
MASSENGALE, KENNETH
W. WO1 29 JUN 70
20 AUG 71 23
MIMMS, ROBERT E.
JR. WO1 23 FEB
70 30 MAR 71 22
MICHEHL, THOMAS
C. WO1 3 NOV
69 12 JUL 71 23
MITCHELL, BARRY
C. WO1 23 FEB
70 27 MAR 71 22
MOSSMAN, CRAIG
D. WO1 23 FEB
70 27 MAR 71 22
PAIDA, BOHDAN
WO1 16 FEB 70 24 MAR 71 23
PIATT, ROBERT
R. WO1 18
MAY 70 21 JUN 71 21
POTTS, WAYNE
K. WO1 15
DEC 69 19 JAN 71 20
ROGERS, PHILLIP
M. WO1 11 AUG
70 29 AUG 71 22
RIZK, THOMAS
P. WO1 18
MAY 70 21 JUN 71 23
THOMPSON, TOMMY
L. WO1 9 FEB
70 17 MAR 71 21
TILLOTSON, STEVEN
E. WO1 7 APR
70 6 JUL 70 24
TIPTON, KEITH
S. WO1
16 DEC 69 19 JAN 71 20
VICKERS, JERRY
B. WO1 28
JAN 70 3 MAR 71 27
WAGGENER, RICHARD
G. WO1 28 JAN
70 23 MAR 71 23
WARNER, MARK
K. WO1 17
NOV 69 28 DEC 70 22
WILLING, DALE
G. WO1 27
MAY 70 7 JUL 71 20
WHICHARD, HOWARD
C. WO1 17 NOV
69 28 DEC 70 26
WINN, HARRY
M. WO1
9 MAR 70 15 APR 71 20
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