Swamp Fox 199TH RAC 1967-1970

CHRONOLOGY  (a/o 5/09)

 

*CORRECTIONS

1 Feb 1967 Unit activated at Ft. Hoof Tx.

27 Feb 1967 Maj. Charles F. Hutchins becomes first DA appointed Commander of the 199th

Aviation Company .

28 Feb 1967 First O1-g aircraft delivered to the unit. Aircraft SN 51-5099

17 Mar 1967 Formal Activation Ceremony held at grey Army Airfield, Ft. Hood Tx.

    Incidentally, I avoided the temptation to edit the "Chronology"; But, I can't resist pointing out that "grey Army Airfield" and "3" March date are incorrect.  The activation ceremony was held on the North Ramp of Robert Gray Army Airfield on 17 March.  The unit was officially activated 1 February 1967.

Charles Hutchins

Phantom 6

 

18 Mar 1967 First social affair of the unit held at Killeen Base Officers open mess. First Officer

promotion in the unit. 2nd LT. Marvin E. Stutts promoted to 1LT.

30 Mar 1967 Unit adopted by Jaycees of Sweetwater, Tx.

15 Jul 1967 Unit departed CONUS.

17 Jul 1967 Unit arrived Bien Hoa Air force Base, Vietnam.

22 Jul 1967 Unit Closed at Vinh Long Airfield, Vietnam.

26 Jul 1967 First in country party. Promotion party for LTC. Charles F. Hutchins who was

promoted on 25 July 67. Party was held the Mekong Manor officers club, Vinh

Long Airfield. At 03:00 hrs. the company underwent it's first mortar and ground

attack. Capt. Theodore Preble was recommended to receive the first

Distinguished Flying Cross to be awarded to a member of the unit.

5 Aug 1967 First aircraft hit by enemy ground fire. Aircraft was flown by LT Heinz Zoegner

who was recommended for the DFC for his part in the operation.

7 Aug 1967 Unit officially assumed it's combat mission under the 13th Combat Aviation (Delta)

Battalion.  

24 Aug 1967 MAJ. Samuel P. Muse assumed command of the company, replacing LTC

Hutchins who was transferred to the 13th Avn. Bn.

31 Aug 1967 First Distinguished Flying Cross awarded. Recpients were APT. Theodore Preble

and LT Heinz Zoegner.

5 Nov 1967 First aircraft shot down by hostile fire. CPT Elija H. Smith was the pilot.

26 Nov 1967 Two aircraft destroyed during a ground attack on Rach Gia

Airfield.

 

who was transferred to the 307th Aviation (Phantom) Battalion.

20 DEC 1967 OFFICIALLY FORMED

30 Nov 1967 MAJ. John S. Jacob assumed command of the company, replacing MAJ. Muse

25 Dec. One aircraft damaged during a mortar attack on Ben Tre Airfield.

27 Dec 1967 Three aircraft damaged during mortar attack on Vinh Long Airfield.

24 Jan 1968 Morning report reflected relief from administrative control of the 13th Combat

Aviation Battalion to administrative control of the 164th Combat Aviation group.

31 Jan 1968 TET offensive began. Vinh Long came under coordinatedmortar an ground

attack. Casulities 1 KIA 7 WIA.

1 Feb. 1968 SP/5 Sala received Silver Star for his heroic action on the previous night. U-iT

Day. 199th Aviation company was one year old.

29 Feb 1968 TET offensive officially ended.

12 Mar 1968 Lt. Stanley Treanor wounded in the arm and leg. He landed his damaged aircraft

safely at Vinh Long and was evacuated to the States.

30 Mar 1968 WO1 Richard Shoup shot down. Aircraft lost oil pressure and engine stopped.

Aircraft was landed in a rice paddy 2 miles west of Vinh Long Airfield with no

additional damage.

13 Apr 1968 WO Richard Burnes had an aircraft accident while taking off from a road strip.

Aircraft totally destroyed. Pilot and observer sustained minor injuries.

5 may 1968 Mortar attack at 01:40 hrs. caused heavy damage to Lt.Sheaffer's room and

wounded Cpt. Zoegner. No damage to aircraft.

2 Jul 1968 WO Richard Burnes shot down during rocket run on retreating V.C. squad.

Aircraft destroyed. Pilot evacuated to the States. Observer suffered minor

injuries.

10 Jul 1968 Major Robert S. Borer assumed command of the company. He replaced Major

John S. Jacob who rotated back to the CONUS.

22 Jul 1968 Mortar attack at 02:45 hrs. caused heavy damage to rooms of Major Holland and

Captain Morgan. Captain Swearingen and Captain Simon suffered minor

shrapnel wounds.

10 Sep 1968 SFCE7 George f. Ingram replaced 1st SGE8 Howard O. Powers as 1st Sgt. Sgt.

Powers assumed new duties with 164th Aviation Group.

12 Sep 1968 An Air Force C-123 accident at Vinh Long Airfield destroyed one of the unit's O-1

aircraft, a 5 ton shop van, and most of the equipment belonging to the 1st

Platoon. One of the unit's POL tankers was destroyed and two enlisted men were

injured. One additional aircraft was damaged.

Pictures in Gary Simon photo gallery

One prop didn’t reverse (ed)

 

16 Sep 1968 Cpt. Dunston wounded in the leg. He landed his aircraft safely at Vinh Long

Airfield and he was evacuated to Okinawa.

30 Oct 1968 The unit has gone six months without an aircraft accident.

13 Nov 1968 Unit passed the CMMI.

19 Dec 1968 Unit had flown 20,000 accident free hours.

8 Jan 1969 Maj. Gary L. Kline assumed command from Maj. Robert L. Borer.

20 Jan 1969 The 199th Aviation Company was reorganized under new TOE/MTOE 1-257F.

There were no significant changes in equipment or personnel.

7 Feb 1969 New revetments for the aircraft were completed.

11 Feb 1969 While covering an operation in the 44th Special Zone, CPT French took a round

in the engine and made a successful dead stick landing at Cai Cai. The arircraft

received no further damage.

1 Mar 1969 Tra Vinh Airfield, Vinh Long Province was mortared. CPT. Grabham and 1LT

Ellington were wounded and aircraft 395 was slightly damaged.

15 Mar 1969 Swamp Fox emblems were installed on the aircraft.

18 Mar 1969 The 199th Aviation Company received the 1st Aviation Brigade quarterly safety

award for achieving the best safety record of any O-1 company in the republic of

Vietnam.

9 apr 1969 1LT Donald Phillips was requested to cover the 10th Regiment, 7th ARVN Division

during enemy contact. He expended his rockets, killing one enemy and wounding

another. He observed a group of Viet Cong running from the area and dove on

them firing with his M-16. He killed one and wounded another. The remaining

three Viet Cong raised their hands in surrender. 1LT Phillips continued to circle

them until ground troops arrived to take the captives.

page missing

10 Nov 1969 The Unit received the Re-Enlistment award from the 164th Aviation Group.

28 Nov 1969 CPT Donald C. Vaughan, flying in support of Dong Tuong Province, aided a

Regional Forces outpost that was engaged an estimated Viet Cong Battalion.

CPT Vaughan expended his own rockets on the Viet Cong and the directed

gunships against the enemy. CPT Vaughan employed OV-10s on the enemy

location, and after was shot down he successfully directed the medevac of the

crew. Once the enemy clear of the outpost he directed artillery fire onto them,

completing the victory. 55 enemy were killed and 14 AK-47s were captured.

6 Dec 1969 Maj. Jackie D. Catt assumed command from Maj. Robert A. King.

31 dec 1969 The 199th Aviation Company amassed over 11,800 hours and five months

without an accident.

1970

There is no Chronological Listing in the 1970 Unit History. The following is a

description of mission, activities and deactivation.

1. During the last nine months of it's existence, the 199th Aviation Company continued

to train Vietnamese observers. Pilots of the First and Second Platoons carried a

Vietnamese observer on daily missions.

2. With the withdrawal of numerous American units fro the Delta. The Vietnamese

observers became more influential in the air ground team. In contrast tot heir activities in

1969, The Vietnamese were effectively initiating artillery fire missions and reporting a

great deal of intelligence through Vietnamese channels.

3. The Unit continued to fly direct combat support missions for small unit operations.

Because of it's visual reconnaissance and it's wide dispersion throughout the Delta, there

were no occasion when the unit supported one large operation. However on a daily basis,

each platoon flew mission in support of numerous ground operations fot the 7th Arvn

Division, 44 Special Tactical Zone and seven provinces.

4. Elements of all three platoons did fly operations in support of the Cambodian

operations during the months of May and June. Once operations began, the 199th

Aviation Company spear headed the attack with long range visual reconnaissance.

During the Cambodian operations, the 199th Aviation Company played an important role

in supporting successful ground operations. The radio relay, artillery adjustment and

convoy cover missions flown by the Swamp Foxes were invaluable to the ground units in

their new area of responsibility. For the first two weeks of the offensive, the 199th

provided 24 hour direct combat support.

5. In addition to daily operations, the 199th was responsible for the maintenance and

operation of eight stage fields located in Moc Hoa, Binh Duc, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Chau

Duc, Long Xuen, Cao Lanh, and Go Cong. The personnel at these airfield were

responsible for numerous improvements in the area. They built or supervised the

refueling and rearming points, installation of control towers and mprovements the

condition of the runways. Because of these renovations, numerous helicopter and fixed

wing aircraft were able to utilize these airfields.

6. During Cambodian operations, the stage fields at Moc Hoa and Chau Doc were

providing support for more than one thousand aircraft per day. This caused significant

increases in the amount of POL and ammunition required. The stage field personnel

worked untiringly to provide the needed support and were commended for the efficient

and timely manner in which they met each requirement.

Deactivation

15 October 1970

In August 1970, the 199th Aviation Company was alerted that it would begin to

deactivate on 15 September 1970. On that day the company began to stand

down in accordance with the plan formulated by Maj. Ernest L. Martin, the

company commander. By 28 September, all the O-1 aircraft were transferred to

the 221st Reconnaissance Airplane company or turned in. The deactivation

continued to move along smoothly as addition maintenance and vehicular

equipment were turned in thru supply channels. Many of the units personnel

were transferred to the 221st RAC. On October 15th all the company equipment

was either transferred or turned in.

The 199th Aviation Company closed it's history on 15 October when it was

formally deactivated by the Battalion Commander, LTC Thomas J. Shaughnessy.

The Swamp Fox Colors are proudly displayed in the Headquarters, 214th Combat Aviation Battalion.

 

( And we certainly would like to have them back.)

The Swamp Fox History CD is now available to Swamp Fox members. 

In exchange for a suggested donation of ten dollars per disk to the Swamp Fox Fund managed by our treasurer Dan Aldridge - Swamp Fox 56 

The Swamp Fox Fund is used to cover some of the expenses incurred by the your group.

To obtain the History CD send me your request by e-mail (see the feedback page). Include your mailing address. The CD and donation instructions will be sent by U.S. Postal Service.  

The History CD includes a sixteen minute .mpg video presentation called Swamp Fox of the Mekong.

_____________________________________________

Adobe Reader is required. Available as a free download at:

 www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

 

Swamp Fox History CD

Release Notes

 

Alpha 1.0          08/29/04            Copies to key members only for evaluation.

                                                Adobe Reader not included as latest release is available on web. 

                                                Files on Disc:

                                                                        Armament86

                                                                        ArmedBD

                                                                        Flagfishing

                                                                        Overview

                                                                        SFHistory67, 68, 69, 70

                                                                        TreeTrimmer - video

                                                                        SFsongs

 

Beta 1.0           11/30/04            Copies to key members only for evaluation. 

                                                               Files on Disc: 

                                                                             Added    Aircraft (by tail number)

                                                                                           SFM (Swamp Fox of the Mekong) Video

                                                                                           Mission Narratives

                                                                                           Chronology   

                                                                          Modified    SFhistory69 redacted SSNs 

                                                                            Deleted    TreeTrimmer 

   Ver. 1.0         02/01/05                   

 

                                           Reorganized into directory folders to better reflect the subject matter. 

                                           Where possible new software was used to convert documents to pdf  

                                           Added          training film footage (directional control) to the SFM Video.

                                                              Sweetwater, last days in Texas e-mail string to Misc. Folder 

 

NOTE:  

The Unit History files are scans of thirty plus year old mimeograph copies from the National Archives.  

The DVD Version of Swamp Fox of the Mekong is also available upon request for an additional donation.

The DVD version of Swamp Fox of the Mekong may not run on older DVD players which do not recognize read/write DVD format.