Air Assets

You and others in SOG were supported, when you staged out of FOB 2, by the 119th (Crocodiles) and 170th (Buccaneers) Assault Helicopter Company gun ships. We were out of Pleiku and flew to Kontum, then to Dak To to support the operations out of that location. I used to be the gun platoon leader of the 119th.

Kevin O'Sullivan (Croc 6)

Interesting for an 8mm home movies camera..Larry. Click--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRmTPJ1EQhw&feature=related

Good morning Wayne Boles. I would like to thank you for the men of Recon Company CCN, as well as CCN itself. I will thank you through Robert Noe's site this 15 April 2009.

Many of the men of CCN / CCS / CCC have died of advanced age of late, including Bill Queen. We are getting old, and that is life as it goes. If it had not been for you fine men, whom I surely cannot recall all the names of; our CCN Recon Missions would not have been successful at all. Your wonderful teams of pilots and crew transported the lads to the area for recon/ combat; then you came after us / the teams - when all hell broke loose. Just remember, Wayne, you, and your fellow pilots, door-gunners, and all associated with you; were the very reason the CCN / CCS / CCC men of SOG Operations, were able to have any life at all, after the War of Vietnam, because you rescued these men, on call, with many of your own men and birds being KIA in the effort. All of us thank you Wayne Boles; even though many Recon Company, and members of The Hatchet Forces, etc. of SOG Operations of the Vietnam era are gone now; because of your team efforts.

"WE THANK YOUR - Sir!!!"

I take this opportunity to speak for all - Please pass this information to your unit buddies still alive.

Sincerely, Billy Waugh FOB-1 / Khe Sanh Launch Site 1966-1968

SGM of SOG CCN / CCS Recon Company 1970 - 1971

USAF 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS) - Out of DaNang with a forward element called Covey Alpha at Pleiku

USAF 21st TASS Mike FAC flying out of Ban Me Thout

The USAF units that supported SOG Operations out of NKP were:

23d TASS - Nail FACs, Cessna O2's, and OV-10 Broncos FAC out of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand

56th Special Operations Wing.

1st Special Operations Sqdn - A-1 Skyraiders. Main A-1 Skyraider Association

20 & 21st Special Operations Sqdn - H3 & HH53 helos. Jim Henthorn's Vietnam Vet Page

20th SOS news article

Robert,

The section on the 20th Special Ops Sqdn, USAF, says that they, the Green Hornets, flew the Bell Huey UH-1F. That is incorrect. The 1F is a rare version that was single engined and probably never saw military service.

The 20th SOS flew UH-1Ns that had twin Bell engines (Twin Huey). I remember these very well.

I was the Logistics Officer with First Flight. Our C-123Ks flew up north to drop runners and other stuff. The 20th went in later to pick the runners back up.

Thanks,

Sam Hamilton

Stillwater, Okla

1st Flt Jun 71 to May 72

Photo of a 20th SOS Crew, that flew me into Duc Co, 7 Dec 68: Rone Guvy(Gery?) Pilot; Dave Miller, Co Pilot; Robert Becka, gunner; Patrick J Dolan, gunner; and yours truly, SFC Bob Willman, CCS, 2d Company Hatchet Force.

22nd Special Operations Sqdn - A-1 Skyraiders

602nd Special Operations Sqdn - A-1 Skyraiders

195th Assault Helicopter Company

The 195th supported MACV-SOG CCS out of Quan Loi. Their full time mission was supporting CCS Recon Teams.

I flew in the 195th AHC, 12-68 - 11-69 during the entire period we supported the SOG - CCS mission w/1 lift Plt & our gun Plt. The 195th was unique in that we were dedicated to the SOG mission, & all other Av assists were rotated in & out of mission & not permanent. For all of that period to the best of my memory, we were part of the 222nd Av Bn at Bear Cat. Our sister CO located at Plantation AAF (Long Bien) was the 117th AHC they were also part of the 222nd and I think prior to out unit arriving in VN did some B-52 or B56 support. I did not know of the 240th also a member of the 222nd & at Bear Cat doing SOG support, but must have at some point. In the 68-69 time frame we were in another Bn & then xfered to the 222nd. Larry Little. Sky Chief 26. SOA # 1610

note: see 240th AHC BELOW

20th Special Operations Squadron

The 20th Special Operation Squadron (SOS), United States Air Force (the only USAF combat unit flying Hueys in Southeast Asia) based at Cam Ranh Bay, supported CCS at Ban Me Thuot, flying F-Model Hueys and referred to as the "Green Hornets." The nickname was derived from the only marking on the aircraft, a green hornet stenciled on the tail. Crews rotated every ten days to the SOG CCS base, where the crews became personal friends of the men they had to insert and extract. The Green Hornet's pilot took the SOG teams to heart, if a pilot put a team in, it was "his team" and if "he put them in, he'd take them out!" With this attitude, many CCS teams owed their all to the pilots and crew of the 20th SOS.

24OTH AHC

I flew as a member of the 240th AHC. I was crew chief of 66-16704 a Charlie Model Huey Gun Ship 1967-1968. Larry Little, Sky Chief 26 SOA # 1610 wrote on your page "SOG Aviation Support" that He was unaware of the 240th AHC flying in support of MACVSOG units.

Assets of the 240th AHC were assigned 4 guns and 8 slicks in Oct 67 to sometime in1970. Exact end of mission date unknown.

I would like it to be known by all that read "SOG Aviation Support" that the 240th AHC MadDogs "Guns" and Grayhounds "slicks" did indeed support B-56, Loc Ninh, III Corps Tactical Zone RVN. In fact on May 2nd at 13:30 hrs. Sgt. Roy Benavidez boarded a Grayhound slick armed only with a Bowie knife flying 15 mile inside Cambodia where the ordeal of extracting the 12 man SF team consisting of 3 SF Troopers and 9 Yards, surrounded by an NVA Battalion began. Sgt. Benavidez MOH citation can and should be required reading in the US Army and in every Elementary and High School in the U.S. Reading the citation will give the readers the caliber of the man and soldier Roy Benavidez. When He attended the 240th reunion He stated and I quote "The men of the 240th AHC told me they never leave a man behind, and they didn't." The members of the Benavidez mission were invited guests to several ceremonies including West Point to attend the ceremonies that honored Roy and the members of the 240th AHC when his life size Bust was unveiled. I should mention the Roy is the only enlisted man so honored at West Point. Sadly SGT Roy Benavidez passed away on 28 November 1998 He was 63 years old, this humble man from humble beginnings will always be remembered, Loved and joined at the Heart and Hip with those who were on that mission to rescue the men of Special Forces on that fateful day in May 1968 along with every other crewman who flew SOG missions with B-56 and other SOF missions RVN.

I would ask you to also remember those men of the 240th AHC that gave their lives that day the WIA's and other crew members of the 240th AHC who were there.

Killed in Action on that mission were these Brave men: WO Larry McKibben, SP4 Michael Craig, SP4 Nelson Fournier.

WIA's, CWO Bill Armstrong, SP5 Gary Land, SP5 Robert Wessel,

Pilots and Crew members of Slicks and Guns, CWO Roger Wagge, CWO Gerry Ewing, CWO Bill Darling, CWO Louis Wilson, CWO Will Curry, CWO Jim Fessell, WO William Furnan, CWO Tom Smith, SP5 Paul LaChance, SP4 Pete Gailis, SP5 Ray Tagliaferri, SP4 Danny Clark. You may also read about "the mission" and Sgt. Benavidez time spent with the 240th, @ 240th AHC "LZ of the 240 AHC." There are 3 240th websites that can be accessed to read about the company and it's history in Vietnam. I would add that the 240th AHC also distinguished itself working with Navy Seals out of the DongTam area and Nha Be, the Mobile Riverine Force, 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta at places like Tan An, Tan Tru, Rach Kein and especially in the Rung Sat Special zone, there is a testimonial written By Lt. Bill Cowen "Plastic Handle 6" on the one of the 240th AHC web sights discribing the performance of the 240th AHC and U.S. Marines in the Rung Sat Special Zone.

Thank you so very much. It should also be noted the SGT. Benavidez was the last soldier awarded the MOH for action during the Vietnam War.

SSG Charles "Frank" Bay US Army 1964 to 1971 Vietnam 1965-1966 Phouc Vinh, 1967-1968 Bear Cat/Long Thanh RVN.

I was not on the Benavidz Mission as I was Medevac'd Jan 1968. My very good friend "Frenchy" MadDog Paul LaChance could also give additional info should you need more. Thanks again. Feel free to contact me if you wish further contact or other information at [email protected] or [email protected]. Again thank you so much! Speaking for the 240th AHC may seem arrogant but I will say this. Army Aviation's motto is, "Above the Best" and on many days the 240th AHC as well as many other Aviation assets in country did indeed do everyday, flying above the best ARMY this Nation has ever put on the field of Battle.

SOG Aviation Support

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