History of the 227th Aviation Battalion
(Assault Helicopter) 1966 Continued
LINCOLN - MOSBY I 25 March - 17 April 1966 These two operations were basically reconnaissance-in-force missions near the Cambodian border. The initial assault was made from Camp Radcliff to a landing zone south of Duc Co. The flight covered a distance of one hundred thirty five kilometers and carried the entire assault elements of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry.On 30 March, the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, could not disengage from a numerically superior Viet Cong force. The 227th Aviation Battalion lifted one company from the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, into a landing zone to reinforce the outnumbered troops on the ground. Eighteen UH-1D helicopters were utilized to make the lift and encountered no hostile fire. The plan was to reinenforce elements and effect the extraction of American dead and wounded. Once this was accomplished, all of the ground elements of the American force were to be extracted prior to darkness. The ground commander radioed that he was ready for the extraction at dusk. A CH-47 was scheduled into the landing zone first to extract while the area was relatively secure. On approach to the landing zone, the CH-47 received automatic weapons fire. The CH-47 landed but could not be flown out. This prevented the extraction of the troops until the CH-47 could be repaired or extracted. A decision was then made to secure a position for establishing a fire base to support the stranded troops with artillery. Since it was dark and a visual reconnaissance could not be made, a landing zone eight kilometers west was selected from an aerial photographic map. At 2330 hours, a decision was made to air assault one company of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, into the selected fire base point to secure the area. At 0100 the first of three UH-1D helicopters landed with out the benefit of illumination and discharged a pathfinder team and engineer team. The pathfinder team set up lights and established radio contact for the remaining lift. At 0105 the first platoon of infantry was air lifted into the fire base. By 0230 hours, twenty-four UH-1D loads of troops and two cargo sling loads were on the ground. The volume of hostile fire on helicopters during this operation indicated that the Viet Cong had moved in close to friendly locations. Most of the hostile fire commenced at dusk of after dark, and when the aircraft were on on short final to a landing zone. Most of the aircraft were hit while at an altitude of 200 feet or less, while within three to four hundred meters of a landing zone. The earlier decision to commit helicopters in no less than flights of two was reaffirmed several times during this period of time. On one occasion one aircraft flight of two had to land on the beach south of Qui Nhon due to mechanical difficulties. The aircraft was immediately taken under fire by Viet Cong in a village approximately two hundred meters away. The accompanying aircraft landed and picked up the crew, weapons, and radios of the downed aircraft. Tac Air was called in to neutralize the hostile fire. The aircraft was then repaired and flown out. DAVY CROCKETT 4-16 May 1966 The 227th Aviation Battalion supported the 3rd Brigade on Operation DAVY CROCKET in the Bong Son AO. The 3rd Brigade was supported with twenty-four UH-1D's daily. Eight UH-1D's were lagered at LZ Dog (6 kilometers NNE of Bong Son) each night with the remaining sixteen returning to base camp after the day's operations. This arrangement was not satisfactory. The poor weather conditions seriously hampered the flight of aircraft between Camp Radcliff and the AO each day, and unproductive flight time resulted. On 3 May 1966, 37 sorties of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Calvary, were lifted to Phu Cat. The aircraft and troops were lagered overnight as a ready reaction force in the event the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, moving by convoy at night was attacked en route to LZ Dog. On 4 May the thirty-seven helicopters at Phu Cat and twenty-seven helicopters at Camp Radcliff were scheduled to air-assault elements of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, into pre-selected landing zones in the Bong Son AO at first light. After completion of these assaults, the elements of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, were to be picked up at LZ Dog and air-assaulted into their respective landing zones. Poor weather conditions in the morning of 4 May prevented the departure of the twenty-seven UH-1D's from Camp Radcliff. The thirty-seven UH-1D's took off from Phu Cat as scheduled. After lifting the thirty-seven troop loads of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, into their assigned landing zones, two lifts out of LZ Dog completed the assaults of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, which had arrived at LZ Dog during the night. The thirty-seven aircraft completed the move of one and a half battalion into their assigned positions before the twenty-seven UH-1D's could depart Camp Radcliff. On the night of 11 May, a decision was made to lager forty-eight UH-1D's at a forward landing zone to be prepared for a first-light assault on 12 May. The landing zone was a series of rice paddies surrounded by palm trees. The perimeter was positioned within the palm line. During the night an enemy force attacked the position with small arms and automatic weapons fire. Twelve UH1D's were damaged and one crew member was killed. Enemy sniper fire against helicopters increased as the operation progressed. Most of the hostile fire was experienced approaching and departing friendly positions. Twenty-nine helicopters were hit during the operation. The 227th Aviation Battalion returned to An Khe on 1 May. CRAZY HORSE 16 May-2 June 1966 The 227th Aviation Battalion provided support for this operation on 16 May only. Three companies of assault troops were lifted into the AO. One helicopter was lost on the last lift. Contributing factors were darkness, poor weather conditions, and relatively inexperienced pilots. The 227th Aviation Battalion remained at An Khe supporting the base defense until 2 June 1966. PAUL REVERE I 2-9 June 1966 The 227th Aviation moved Battalion to "Turkey Farm", approximately two kilometers northwest of Pleiku, to support the 2nd Brigade. Company A. 227th Aviation Battalion remained at An Khe in support of the base defense effort. The southwest monsoon season curtailed aviation activity until approximately 0900 each morning. No significant activity occurred during the operation. HOOKER I 10-23 June 1966 On 10 June 1966, the 227th Aviation Battalion moved by wheeled vehicles and organic air from "Turkey Farm" to Kontum. The battalion continued to support the 2nd Brigade although additional commitments were assigned. Daily aviation support was provided to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, in the Dak To area and to the First Field Forces-Vietnam ready reaction force. These added commitments required the use of 100% of the mission ready aircraft each day. No significant activity developed during this operation, and the 227th Aviation Battalion returned to An Khe on 23 June.
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