Extracted from a briefing
given to the XXIV Corps Commanding General inside the 159th TOC.
Captain Parris is using a 1:50,000 topographical map of the XXIV Corps tactical
area of responsibility (TAOR) to point out locations as he delivered the
briefing. It is important to note that the events described here represent only
the highlights of everyday operations for the battalion. Each company had its
daily assignment of combat support missions -- primarily for the Division
Support Command (DISCOM -- delivering ammunition, POL, mail, water, and
other supplies. We delivered meals, night kits, PSP and sandbags; dropped
flares; transported the dead from the battlefield and dropped chemicals into
the jungle. We moved soldiers administratively and under combat conditions
around the battlefield, to and from R&R, and operated the daily “Bus Run”
from firebases to base camps to airfields. We moved soldiers en masse for
Christmas and Easter services and other special occasions, such as the Bob Hope
show, and transported dignitaries and their entourages around the area of
operations. We carried jeeps, artillery, trucks, Air Force, Navy and Marine aircraft,
and other materiel around the battlefield. We carried our load and everyone
else’s as well. We flew big helicopters and we never said no. The guys on the
ground depended on us and we worked hard to never let them down.
Today is the 3rd
of December, 1970. The place is Hue Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam. I am Captain Richard Parris, [Flight]
Operations Officer of the 159th Aviation Battalion., (Assault
Support Helicopter), of the 101st Airborne Div located in Hue Phu
Bai. I will summarize the activities of the 159th Aviation Battalion
from a historical point of view, for the period 3 January 1970 to 31 July 1970,
[while] operating in Northern I Corps in the Republic of Vietnam.
Prior to getting into
the activities of the 159th, let me summarize, briefly, the
intelligence aspects of our TAOR. The
enemy situation here since 1 January of this year has been estimated upwards of
10 enemy divisions located from an East-West line drawn from DaNang to Laos and
from a North-South line drawn from DaNang to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Specifically concerning aviation, the hazards have been the small-arms fire; 27
to 57 mm anti-aircraft fire and crew-served weapons fire from 51 .cal machine
guns to rocket-propelled grenades (or RPGs). Anti-aircraft fires have a
capability of being radar-directed the farther west toward the A Shau Valley
one travels. Generally, aircraft are flown along roads and rivers being used as
guidelines for safe flight at altitudes of greater than 3,000 feet (weather
permitting), or, weather not permitting, at altitudes of 50 feet or below.
A geographical
description of our area of operations (AO) using Hue Phu Bai as the center: Hue
Phu Bai is located along the coast of the China Sea (the Gulf of Tonkin).
Approximately 45 miles north along the coast from Hue Phu Bai is Quang Tri. 40 miles south of Hue Phu
Bai is DaNang. There is a 15 minute
flying time from Phu Bai to the DMZ, a 10 minute flying time from Hue Phu Bai
to the A Shau Valley, and a 20 minute flying time due west to the Laotian
border.
An outlook of the
battalion: The battalion is composed of three CH-47 companies, with each
company possessing 16 CH-47C Chinook aircraft. The Headquarters Company has
three OH-6 aircraft used for command and control, reconnaissance and observation;
and the battalion has attached to it the 478th Aviation Company
which has 10 CH-54 (Flying Crane) aircraft. The Cranes are presently located in
Red Beach, DaNang.
Beginning the
historical review on 3 January:
3 January is in the
monsoon season of this year. The local weather which had been prevailing from
November of 1969, will continue to
prevail through the month of March and continue into the month of April, is
characterized by low-hanging ceilings, visibility on most days below one mile
and ceilings as low as 200 feet in the morning, climbing to approximately 800
feet in the afternoon. Around the latter part of February and into March begins
the season of ground fog. Coupled with the low visibility and downed ceilings,
the ground fog would begin from daybreak and last until 0800 or 0900 hours.
The AO in I Corps is
composed mainly of fire support bases that are located to the west toward the A Shau Valley and to
the northwest toward the DMZ. The fire support bases are all located on
hilltops ranging from sea-level bases, small hills, e.g. Fire Support Base Jack and
a 3,000 foot pinnacle, such as Fire
Support Base Ripcord, a 5,000 foot pinnacle such as Fire
Support Base Bertchesgaden and a 4,000 foot pinnacle such as Fire Support Base
Eagle’s Nest. Bertchesgaden and
Eagle’s Nest are located on the rim of the A Shau Valley. Fire Support Base Ripcord is located about
35 miles west of Hue. Fire Support Base
Jack is located due southwest of Camp Evans.
On the third of January
the battalion conducted a battery raid into FSB Thor. FSB Thor is located
approx. 15 miles to the south/southwest of Hue Phu Bai.
On the fourth of
January, the battalion resupplied FSB Fuller.
On the fifth of
January, FSB
Rakkasan was socked in – unable to resupply it.
On six January, three
CH-54s [were] working in the AO helping in DISCOM. We resupplied Tomahawk on
that date.
On the tenth of
January, we extracted FSB
Blaze in minimum weather conditions. Pachyderm 532 took two hits with no
casualties. Pachyderm 524 had an engine failure at Camp Evans and the
aircraft was destroyed. The pilot and the aircraft were medevaced to the United
States with back injuries.
On the eleventh of January,
FSB Rifle was resupplied.
On the twelfth of
January, FSB Strike was inserted in a battery raid using eight aircraft. It
took 1˝ hours. The battalion used this mission for a training mission. The
mission could have been conducted in 45 minutes using 4 aircraft.
On the thirteenth of
January, Varsity 547 took 4 rounds south of DaNang, wounded 1 officer, a
non-rated officer. And a CH-53 was extracted from the DaNang harbor by one of
the Hurricane aircraft.
On sixteen January, we
resupplied FSB Strike. The battalion conducted a battery raid to FSB Shepherd
which is located about 3 klicks to the East of Khe Sanh. We used 16 aircraft – no incidents
encountered. On the sixteenth [of January] Shepherd was extracted using 18
aircraft – no incidents were encountered.
On the eighteenth,
Varsity 020 lifted a five ton truck off of personnel after the truck had turned
over on a muddy road between Camp Evans and FSB Jack. I
was flying Varsity 020 when it lifted the cab of a 5 ton so its occupants could
be rescued; however, it was in the city of Hue. See Varsity Stories (Source – Tom Hirschler).
On 1 February, we
utilized three aircraft on a flare-ship mission. The flare-ships were flown VFR
on top. The prevailing weather was 300
and 1.
On 2 February,
flare-ships supported a night combat assault for the 3rd Brigade.
On 3 February, a
flare-ship was launched to ZD177026.
On 4 and 5 February, we
launched 2 and 3 aircraft respectively for flare-ship missions.
On 6 February, a
flare-ship was launched in search of a downed medevac aircraft at ZD9705.
On 7 February, Varsity
507 received numerous hits at BS7278, the Flight Engineer was slightly wounded.
The aircraft went down at LZ English for
repairs.
On 10 February, a
flare-ship was launched to ZD1802 under IFR conditions to support units in
contact. On 10 February Pachyderm 522 received hits at YD6827. Hurricane
aircraft 426 received hits and was down at Tam Ki for repairs. The battalion
attempted to resupply FSB Fuller; however, the LZ was weathered in. Later that
evening a flare-ship was launched to support ground contact at FSB Anzio.
On 15 February, [we
conducted] an artillery move to Los Banos by Varsity
utilizing 7 aircraft.
On 21 February, one
aircraft was on flare-ship launched IFR – prevailing weather 200 and Ľ.
On 24 February,
flare-ship was launched to YD631867 under IFR conditions – prevailing weather
300 and 1.
On 26 February, a
resupply of Fuller was conducted.
On 1 March we
resupplied FSB Barbara and FSB Mooney.
On 10 March an
artillery raid was conducted to FSB Bullet.
On 11 March a battery
move was conducted to FSB O’Reilly. No incidents encountered.
On 12 March Playtex 514
was shot down at ZD1204 by an RPG. The aircraft was on a flame drop. No
injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.
On 13 March FSB Granite
was inserted.
On 14 March Varsity 002
was damaged in a rocket attack at Camp Eagle.
On 18 March the flare
ship was launched to ZC0799.
On 20 March the flare
ship was off for YC8094 to support ground contact units. That evening FSB
Granite came under heavy ground attack. Pachyderm 535 was dispatched to remove
and medevac the WIAs and KIAs [respectively] from the hill. At daybreak all
available aircraft were used to resupply FSB Granite as the weather lifted.
Later on that day, Pachyderm 535 crashed and burned at Camp Evans due to an
over-grossed condition in the aircraft. There were several injuries and one
KIA, an infantryman from the 2/506th. Playtex inserted FSB Normandy
that afternoon using 9 aircraft, carrying 66 sorties.
On 23 March, Varsity
inserted FSB Brick. On 23 March, the ARVNs declared an emergency situation on
FSBs O’Reilly, Fuller and Sarge due to a lack of resupply for two weeks due to
weather.
On 24 March a flare
ship was launched to ZC0899. The battalion conducted a battery move into Brick
using 6 aircraft and a flare ship was launched to YD7302 to search for a downed
AH-1G Cobra and its crew.
On 25 March we got two
loads into Sarge. We had to quit because of the weather. Still no resupply into
Fuller or into O’Reilly.
On 26 March aircraft
hovered up the side of Granite with several loads. Barbara and Fuller were
resupplied by CH-47, Brick and Normandy resupplied by CH-54. On this date the
Super Cs were grounded awaiting an MWO. This has been the first time that
Barbara, Fuller and Granite have been resupplied in two weeks and two days.
On 27 March aircraft
completed missions by hovering up the sides of hills. Minimum weather zero/zero
conditions.
On 28 March Granite was
extracted except for 8 sorties of Class 5 due to weather closing in.
29 March Operation Bell
Point (?) the Easter Services at Eagle Bowl.
Fourteen aircraft carried 2800 passengers to and from the fire bases to
Eagle Bowl for the Easter Service.
On 30 March FSB Rifle
was again inserted.
On 1 April the
Battalion attempted to insert FSB Ripcord. The LZ was hot – one UH-1 was shot
down. Incoming mortar rounds, RPG, and .51 caliber fire prevented the insertion
of the 2/506th. That night
we carried a tactical emergency resupply to O’Reilly and Gladiator, seven
sorties, prevailing weather zero/zero.
On 2 April we carried
Tac E sorties into O’Reilly – twenty sorties of Class 1 and Class 5. We started
at 2300, we finished at 0300. Prevailing weather 200 and 1/8th.
On 4 April the battery
raid into FSB Veghel was conducted. No incidents.
On 5 April we launched
a flare-ship, extracted a UH-1D from a previous CA on 1 April on FSB Ripcord.
On 6 April the
flare-ship was launched to FSB Arsenal which was under enemy ground attack. FSB
Fuller was taking incoming rounds when resupply was attempted.
On 7 April FSB Anzio
came under attack. Flare-ship was launched to that location.
On 8 April flare-ship
was launched over the Khe Sanh plains to support a ranger team in contact.
On 9 April Varsity 142
was shot up on an LZ expansion three kilometers west of Ripcord. One WIA from
the ground unit, and one WIA crewmember from Varsity. Also on the 9th
of April, the battalion conducted a battery raid from FSB Jack to FSB Granite.
We also had two flare-ship missions that evening out of Camp Evans.
On 10 April Mai Loc was
overrun. Flare-ships were up from 0200 to 0540, VFR-on-top. We conducted a 155
move from Arsenal to Anzio, conducted by CH-54 and CH-47. The Super Cs were
still grounded awaiting an MWO. Also on 10 April the 3rd Brigade is
planning a combat assault into Ripcord again. And we moved 150 Special Forces
Troops from DaNang to Mai Loc.
On 11 April we carried
two dozers into Ripcord. Playtex 515 took five rounds on Fuller. The 3rd
Brigade is again attempting to begin the insertion of this FSB.
On 12 April, Playtex
508 took several hits on Fuller, no major damage. FSB Fuller is now becoming a
serious threat. The FSB sits several thousand feet high, overlooking the DMZ
and has full view from several surrounding hills for the enemy to direct their
indirect and direct fire weapons upon the hill when aircraft approach it.
On 13 April, Varsity
101 was destroyed on FB Fuller a direct hit from a 122 mm rocket. There were 5
WIAs and 1 KIA. The KIA was a Varsity door gunner.
On 14 April, Playtex
carried 3 sorties into Ripcord at 2230 hours. FSB Strike was inserted and
Fuller was closed to air traffic due to the intensity of enemy fire.
On 18 April, we moved
the First Brigade from FSB Veghel to FSB Strike and Anzio in 60 sorties. We
inserted 110 sorties from Gladiator, Sharon, and LaVang into Ripcord. The move
was held up for 30 minutes for incoming rounds, but FSB Ripcord was finally
inserted.
On 19 April, the
workload on the DMZ had increased due to the increased number of NVA in the
area. Varsity 012 received three hits to the west of Ripcord and that evening
Ripcord came under heavy contact, two flare ship aircraft were launched to
support the ground action.
On 20 April, CH-54s are
carrying a large part of the DISCOM sorties in our AO.
On 21 April, 7 sorties
were carried into Fuller.
On 23 April, 8 loads
were carried into Ripcord under minimum weather conditions and for the past
seven days the sortie breakdown for this battalion is as follows:
For CH-47s 2467 tons,
7075 passengers, 1768 sorties flying 678 hours.
For CH-54s 934 tons,
carrying 7 passengers for 160 sorties in 116 hours.
On 25 April, Pachyderm
541 received numerous hits vicinity of Ripcord. And the flare ships were used
for a night combat assault into Phong Bien.
On 26 April, the flare
ships were used for ground contact at FSB Veghel.
And on 28 April, an
artillery raid was conducted into FSB Zon carrying 24 sorties.
On 30 April, 215 hours
were flown carrying 310 sorties. FSB Henderson was inserted.
On the 3rd
of May, 14 aircraft were used to move artillery batteries from Tomahawk to
Katherine. We moved 155s from Granite to Rakkasan. We flew 150 hours today. The
enemy activity is increasing.
On the 4th
of May, we inserted FSB Shock with 282 tons being carried. We a moved a 105
battery from Granite to Gladiator in 90 sorties.
On 5 May, Playtex
aircraft received heavy automatic fire from the northern end of the A Shau
Valley while on flare-ship mission. Varsity 435 was destroyed by hostile fire
with 5 KIAs and we completed the extraction of FSB Granite. A total of 279
sorties were carried out in 3 days. We flew 130 hours today, carrying 297
loads.
On 6 May, FSB Henderson
came under attack -- all day. There were 45 friendly KIAs. Playtex used 3 aircraft
for a tactical emergency (Tac-E) resupply.
And on 8 May, 150 hours
were flown. On the same day we combat assaulted passengers from field locations
to areas around FSB Henderson. 2 aircraft were damaged by hostile fire –
Playtex 829 was shot up on Fuller, 1 WIA crewmember. We moved 2 155 batteries from Henderson to Quang Tri and from
Kalu to Sarge. 2 combat essential missions were flown that evening into Camp
Carroll – prevailing weather 200 and ˝.
On 9 May, Playtex 508
was shot down north of the Lazy W, repaired and flown out to be shot down
again. The second time it was shot down, the aircraft was totally destroyed.
There were minimum injuries to the crew.
On 10 May, an ASAP
battery move from FSB Shock to [FSB] Veghel was conducted for the 2nd
Brigade.
On 12 May, flare-ships
were launched to YD2875.
On 13 May, a 155
battery move from Bastogne to Veghel. 1,000 passengers were moved as a part of
this battery move.
On 17 May, Varsity 497
was shot up, inverted, and crashed and burned 5 km. southwest of FSB Nancy.
There were 5 crewmember KIAs. Also on the 17th, a 105 and 155
battery move was conducted from FSB O’Reilly into FSB Ripcord. There were
numerous impacting mortar and RPG rounds on top of Ripcord, but negative
damage, negative injuries.
On the 19th
of May, Pachyderm 526 was shot down on Firebase Fuller. The aircraft commander
autorotated to a 1500 foot pinnacle just to the north of Fuller and safely
landed the aircraft. The aircraft was later extracted.
On 20 May, a combat
essential mission was flown into Arsenal.
On 23 May, the final
plans were made for a Tac-E resupply of Fuller using 10 CH-47 aircraft, A1-Es,
and aerial rocket artillery. The plans now are for 25 May.
On 25 May, the Fuller
resupply went smoothly. Mortars impacted 10 minutes after the aircraft finished
their sorties.
On 26 May, the
flare-ship was launched to YC6595 to support a Ranger team in contact. An
artillery raid from Katherine to Brick was conducted, and an artillery move
from Birmingham to Katherine was performed.
On 29 May, 48 sorties
were carried into Sarge and Holcomb.
And on 31 May we
inserted FSB Tun Tavern.
Getting into the month
of June -- the weather now is predominantly good. There are unlimited ceilings
and unlimited visibility; however, the winds are now beginning to be a problem
in the mountainous areas.
On 2 June, FSB Tun
Tavern came under ground attack. Flare ship aircraft were launched that evening
to support the action. Playtex 515 received 14 hits, and an aircraft on FSB
Fuller suffered minor damage.
On 7 June, the Lycoming
strike now is becoming a problem. 80% of the sorties are now being flown for
the 1st ARVN Division.
10 June, a 155 move
from FSB Rakkasan to FSB Ripcord.
On 15 June, a battery
move from Ripcord to Rakkasan. On a resupply of FSB Fuller, two rockets
impacted half-way through the resupply. No damage. The resupply continued and
was finished with no further enemy activity.
On 16 June, a battery
raid was conducted into FSB Zon carrying 45 sorties. FSB Barnett was inserted.
And on 18 June, a 105
move into Barnett.
On 21 June, a resupply of FSB Fuller with 3 aircraft carrying 18 sorties. No enemy fire.
On 22 June, a battery
raid into FSB Zon again. 12 aircraft were used carrying 45 sorties.
On 23 June, a battery
was moved from Ripcord and Arsenal to Shepard and Sarge to support troops in
contact.
On 24 June, a battery
raid was conducted from Los Banos to Musket.
On 25 June, an
artillery move was conducted from Shepard to Ripcord using 8 aircraft. Half of
FSB Holcomb was extracted carrying 43 loads.
On 26 June, FSB Sarge
was extracted to FSB Arsenal. The last half of Holcomb was pulled out.
On 1 July, Varsity 103
was shot down on Ripcord by enemy ground fire. Pachyderm 495 was shot up at
Ripcord, flown to FSB Jack and repaired. LTC Davis assumed command of the 101st
Aviation Group on this date.
On 2 July, Varsity 868
was shot down on Ripcord trying to recover Varsity 103. 17 loads of
combat-essential sorties were carried into FSB Ripcord. LTC Glover left the 159th
Aviation Battalion on emergency leave on this date.
On 3 July, Varsity 103
was recovered from FSB Ripcord by Playtex 499. This is the first time a Super-C
had been lifted by a Super-C in the history of Army Aviation. 499 crashed
however, on short final to Evans POL from fuel exhaustion. LTC Newton assumed
command of the 159th Aviation Battalion on 3 July.
On 8 July, FSB Ripcord
is hot. It had been closed several times during the day to incoming rounds and
the winds are beginning to present a definite problem to the resupply of these
FSBs.
On 9 July, a 155 move
was conducted from Veghel to Sarge. A 155 move was flown from Mai Loc to
Shepard to support the 2/17th Cav in the Khe Sahn plains. 195 hours
were flown today and the high winds are still a problem.
On 11 July a 155
battery raid was conducted from Sarge to Vandergriff to support the 2/17 Cav.
operating in the Khe Sanh plains in the northern tip of the A Shau Valley.
On 12 July, the winds
at Ripcord are now gusting from 40 to 75 knots.
On 14 July, 2 combat-essential
sorties of Class V are flown from Cheyenne to FSB Ripcord.
On 15 July, FSB Shepard
was extracted to Eagle.
And on 16 July,
Vandergriff was extracted to Veghel.
CH-47 traffic into Ripcord henceforth must have gunship escort.
On 17 July, we moved
the 2/501st from Camp Eagle to FSB Veghel. We carried
combat-essential sorties of Class V into Ripcord, and combat-essential sorties
of POL into Katherine.
On 18 July, Pachyderm
810 was shot down on Ripcord, 1 crewmember KIA. An ASAP
pax move was conducted
from Phu Bai to Gladiator. An ASAP battery move was conducted from Brick to
Gladiator. Gladiator was inserted to support FSB Ripcord. 29 combat-essential
sorties were flown into Gladiator, a night-time resupply. The enemy activity is
increasing its pressure around the Ripcord area.
On 19 July, 2
combat-essential sorties are flown into Ripcord, a night-time, IFR resupply.
Prevailing weather -- 200 and 1/8.
On 22 July, we
resupplied FSB Fuller and plans for the final extraction for FSB Ripcord are taking place for the 23rd.
Also on the 22nd, a UH-1
was shot down on FSB Ripcord, and Ripcord was closed to all air traffic.
Varsity 507 was diverted from other missions to recover the UH-1; then
flew numerous sorties in preparation for the final extraction of Ripcord. (Source – Tom Hirschler, Curtis Downs)
On 23 July, FSB Ripcord
is extracted. Varsity 507 is shot down and destroyed by enemy indirect fire.
During the extraction, 7 aircraft are shot up, 3 battalion crewmembers are
wounded-in-action, and over 100 mortar and rocket rounds impacted on the hill
along with several thousand small-arms and anti-aircraft rounds that were
received during the extraction. The 2/506th battalion commander and
S3 are KIA on FSB Ripcord.
On 31
July, the battalion moved one infantry battalion from Camp Evans to Katherine
and one infantry battalion from Lavang to Barnett; the latter is an ARVN move.