195th AHC Sky Chiefs, Ghost Riders, Thunder Chickens

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).

Allen Fredric Andvik