From VHPA History CD 'The Army Reporter" Nov 1966
11Nov66-Chopper Support Always Available From 52nd Avn
PLEIKU, (4th INF-IO) - The sounds of rain falling on a tin roof, lending
background to music from a phonograph. American soldier-aviators sleeping
uninterrupted . . . free from the sounds of the hot war waged elsewhere in
Vietnam.
These are the conditions under which the men of the 52nd Aviation
Battalion live. Their job: support the troops on the ground through the
use of their helicopters.
Now participating in the Paul Revere operations, they have successfully
completed eleven operations.
As an example of the scope of their operations, the men of the battalion
logged 20,445 miles between May 10 and September 8 of this year. During
this time they have evacuated 375 casualties, transported 6,000 tons of
cargo, carried nearly 100,000 passengers (the equivalent of five full
divisions), destroyed 99 enemy structures and killed 129 of the enemy.
The 52nd's record is impressive. While in Vietnam its men have earned 74
Bronze Stars, 6,542 Air Medals, 86 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 154 Army
Commendation Medals, 11 Soldiers Medals and 71 Air Medals with V for valor.
Camp Holloway has earned a place in history. A monument has been erected
on the base, dedicated by General William Westmoreland in honor of those who
were killed there February 19, 1965 during a mortar attack.
The first United States flag to fly in the II Corps Area flew at
Holloway. It was donated by Senator Edward Kennedy.
Battalion officers and non-commissioned officers have high praise for
their men. Sergeant Major Leo M. Raye, battalion sergeant major said "It's
a good unit, hard working," the best he has seen in his 15 years with Army
aviation.
Captain Richard L. Smith, assistant plans and operations officer, labeled
the men, "the hardest bunch of working aviators around here," "Even brand
new men out of flight school jump right in."
Captain Smith termed the maintenance crew excellent." "The crew chiefs,"
he said, "deserve a pat on the back. They really keep 'em flying."
The atmosphere at Holloway Airfield seems busier than many other
airfields. Vietnamese ground crews, wearing mixed civilian clothing and
fatigues with white safety helmets, go about their work wile a woman hangs
laundry out to dry near the airfield. The normal hustling of ground crews
maintaining the UH-1B "Hueys" continues daily and into the night.
When daylight appears, a combat assault mission for the 52nd is formed.
A ground fog covers the land most mornings and sometimes delays the flights
until the mist lifts about 9:30 a.m.
The crew chiefs and gunners are the first to arrive at the helipad. They
sign out for their headsets, machine guns and ammunition.
Lieutenant Colonel Roy Rice,, battalion commander and pilot, and Major
Miller, co-pilot arrive and begin a preflight inspection of the ship after
its turbine engine comes to life. Concluding that everything is okay they
climb into the cockpit, fasten their seat belts and wait for clearance from
the control tower.
On this particular mission the lead ship is commanded by Maj. William
Edwards, commander of the 119th.
The six gun ships, identified by an orange and blue stripe across their
roofs, are heavily laden with rockets, grenades and machineguns. They are
airborne at 10 a.m., and the other ships proceed on their way to the target,
an area believed inhabited by the Viet Cong.
The crafts fly along at tree-top level as gunners search the ground for
signs of "Charlie."
The lead ship radios to the other choppers: "One minute until LZ." The
ships are coming closer to the landing zone. A yellow smoke bomb is dropped
by the lead ship marking the landing zone.
The lead ship orders, "Commence firing!"
The six ships open up with everything-machine guns, grenades and rockets.
"Cease fire!" the voice from the command ship radios.
Major Miller, with a half smoked cigar clenched between his teeth, radios
the lead ship. "A damn good job under tough conditions," he said as he
complimented the men.
Within 30 seconds it was over. The ships return to their base safely, to
prepare for future missions.