Text Box:  The 210th Combat Aviation Battalion - Capital - Long Thanh - III and IV Corps - see article

 

http://www.cowboysranch.com/210thCAB.html

 

Outstanding Army Aviation Unit of the Year – 1974

 

Formed initially at Tan Son Nhut airbase, Saigon, as Aviation Battalion Fixed Wing (Provisional) February 1966; it was redesignated Capital Aviation Battalion (Provisional) July 1966.  In March 1967 it became the 210th Battalion. The 210th was made up mostly of airplanes used for reconnaissance and surveillance throughout III and IV Corps.  It supported the 25th Infantry and ARVN 5th and 18th Divisions. The 210th was in Vietnam from 1967 to 1971, and then later went to the Panama Canal Zone from 1973 to 1987.

 

 

                      73rd Hanger from 73rd SAC web site

Text Box:

1968 Lineup:

1970 Lineup:

120th Assault Helicopter Co.

54th Utility Airplane Co.

125th Air Traffic Control Co.

73rd Surveillance Airplane Co.

165th Signal Co.

74th Recon Airplane Co.

USARV Flight Detachment

184th Recon Airplane Co.

 

25th Command Aviation Co.

 

Below is a little about each company with the battalion in 1969 or later. Other companies will be found in the battalion they were a part of in 1969 – see 1st Brigade Org Charts

 

 

 

 

Headquarters & Headquarters Co. – Long Thanh

 

  • 85th Med Detachment – Vung Tau -  Meritorious Unit Commendations—Oct 64 Dec 65; 1 Jan–31 Dec 67; 1 Aug 71–30 Apr 72
  • 316th Aviation Support Det. – Long Binh
  • 197th Med. Detachment – Long Thanh
  • USARV Flight Detachment (with brigade June 1966 to 1968) – Saigon (Tan Son Nhut AFB)

 

Text Box:  25th Command Aviation Company - Red Carpet - Plantation (near Bien Hoa)

Patch is from VHPA Museum site 

 

http://www.cowboysranch.com/cac.html

 

Begun as the USARV Flight Detachment in June 1966 and assigned to the 1st Aviation Brigade in October 1967 as the 25th CAC, the 25th flew for all the General Officers in III Field Force Headquarters. In Vietnam until 1971, they flew from Tan Son Nhut in Saigon and then from 1968 Top Pad at Plantation in Bien Hoa.

 

 

 

 

Text Box:

54th Utility Airplane Company - Big Daddy - Vung Tau - See Article

 

   Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

 

Patch property of Bernie McElwee

 

Beginning in September 1965, they flew unarmed, unescorted OV-1 Otter airplanes capable of landing on runways as short as 1000 feet.  Originally assigned to the 14th Bn, they later transferred to the 10th Bn. This company transported people and supplies throughout III and IV corps, and also delivered psyop's leaflets.  It was also used as a transport service for USARV command staff.

 

 

Text Box:

73rd Surveillance Airplane Company - Uptight - Vung Tau then Long Thanh in 1970 – See article

this image courtesy of OV-1.com Copyright (c) 1997-2003 OV-1.com

http://www.ov-1.com/

 

 

Arrived in Vietnam in June 1963 and remained there until 1972.  Transferred to the 210th Bn in February 1966 when the battalion was formed. The 73rd flew Mohawk airplanes in support of MACV and the ARVN units in III and IV Corps (the lower half of the country). The Mohawk's primary role was to detect and monitor the movement of insurgent forces and material into South Vietnam, and to perform aerial surveillance and target acquisition within the country itself.

 

 

Text Box:

74th Reconnaissance Airplane Company - Aloft - Saigon, Phu Loi - See Article

 

http://www.aloft74th.org/pages/1/index.htm

 

    Presidential Unit Citation—10–13 Jun 65

   Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

 

Formed in country December 1964, departed March 1972.  The 74th was warded the Presidential Unit Citation. Pilots flew O-1 Bird Dog airplanes doing aerial observation for ARVN, the U.S. 9th and 25th Infantry Divisions and 199th Infantry brigade, artillery units and others in the field. At times, the 74th supported nearly every combat unit in III corps including Thai, Australian units as well as the Navy Riverines, 1st Infantry and 1st Air Cavalry. 

 

 

Text Box:

184th Reconnaissance Airplane Company - Non-Stop - Quan Loi - IV Corps – See 1967 Article, See 1968 Article

http://www.oldwarrior.com/

 

  Meritorious Unit Commendation—1 Jan–31 Dec 67

 

Initially assigned to the 145th Bn in August 1966, it transferred to the 11th Bn in March 1967, then later to the 210th. The company flew O-1 Bird Dog airplanes in support of 2nd Field Forces, 1st Infantry, 5th Special Forces and the 25th ARVN Division in IV Corps.          

 

 

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