Call of the Wild

AIRMOBILITY IN VIETNAM

1961 -- 1971

By LTG John J. Tolson, Department of the Army , Washington DC, 1989.

This study was dedicated to the memory of LTC Bob L. Gregory, LTC Herlihy T. Long, LTC Howard P. Petty, and LTC Robert L. Runkle. Airmobile Battalion Commanders who were killed in action during Vietnam.

The book is base on official records, with additional material from published & unpublished secondary works, from debriefing reports, interviews and personal experience of the author.

The author was involved in the air mobility concept as early as 1939. He participated in the 1st tactical air movement operation in World War II. He became an aviator in 1957 and later served as Director of the Army Aviation School. From 1967 - 1968, he serves as the 1st CAV Div (Airmobile) CDR, in Vietnam.

The author thesis was to trace the evolution of airmobility in the US Army.

My thesis is the helicopters effect on military history.

Vietnam was the first combat test for Airmobility and Air Assault operations. I will only describe some of the operations in which the helicopter brought its unique capabilities to military operations.

The Airmobility concept was not a product of Vietnam. It certainly had its roots in both the Airborne techniques of WW II and the early doctrine of organic aviation for ground forces for that era. The most important milestone during this period was to develop the 1st utility helicopter.

Early in 1961 General Maxwell D. Taylor, military advisor to president Kennedy, recommended the establishment of Army Aviation, Communications Unit, Navy, and Air Force Units in Vietnam. As result, the 1st CH-21 (Shawnee) transport helicopter arrived in Saigon, on 11 Dec 1961. Its mission was to transport Republic of Vietnam Army. It was the 1st major symbol of the United States combat power in Vietnam, and the beginning of a new era, the Airmobility. Twelve days later, these helicopters airlifted 1,000 Vietnamese paratroopers, 10 miles west of Saigon. They capture among other things, an important underground radio transmitter.

On January 1962, the 1st UH-1A’s (Hueys) helicopters arrive in Vietnam as part of the 57th medical detachment, to help evacuate wounded soldiers from the battle field.

The 1st utility transport helicopter armed with 30 caliber machine guns and 2,75 rocket launchers arrived by mid 1962. Their mission was to provide protective fire for the CH-21. By mid 1963 the UH-1A was up grated to UH-1B with four M60 machine guns and eight 2.75 inch rockets.

Between 1963 and 1965 the 1st Air Assault Division was put to test at Fort Benning, Georgia. The test division was named the 11th Air Assault Division. The overall strength was 3,023 soldiers and 154 aircraft. Of the 154 aircraft, 125 were helicopters such as the UH-1A/b Huye and the CH-47A Chinook. After a few years of test and evaluation, it was recommended that the 11th Air Assault Division or a similar Division in strength be included in the Army’s force structure.

On July 1965 the 11th Air Assault Division (test) was officially activated as the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Their Table of allowance included 15,787, 434 aircraft, and 1,600 vehicles. On August 1965 the Division was deployed to Vietnam in four military sea transporters. By 3 October 1965, the 1st CAV helicopters have flown 1,494 sorties in Vietnam.

Some of the helicopters in the 1st CAV included:

The OH-13S Light helicopter was used for pilot training, reconnaissance, and medical evaluation.

The CH-47A Medium transport helicopter, proved essential in