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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