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Call Of The Wild

AIRMOBILITY IN VIETNAM
1961 -- 1971

By LTG John J. Tolson, Department of the Army , Washington DC, 1989.

This study was dedicated to the memory of LTC Bob L. Gregory, LTC Herlihy T. Long, LTC Howard P. Petty, and LTC Robert L. Runkle. Airmobile Battalion Commanders who were killed in action during Vietnam.

The book is base on official records, with additional material from published & unpublished secondary works, from debriefing reports, interviews and personal experience of the author.

The author was involved in the air mobility concept as early as 1939. He participated in the 1st tactical air movement operation in World War II. He became an aviator in 1957 and later served as Director of the Army Aviation School. From 1967 - 1968, he serves as the 1st CAV Div (Airmobile) CDR, in Vietnam.

The author thesis was to trace the evolution of airmobility in the US Army.
My thesis is the helicopters effect on military history.

Vietnam was the first combat test for Airmobility and Air Assault operations. I will only describe some of the operations in which the helicopter brought its unique capabilities to military operations.

The Airmobility concept was not a product of Vietnam. It certainly had its roots in both the Airborne techniques of WW II and the early doctrine of organic aviation for ground forces for that era. The most important milestone during this period was to develop the 1st utility helicopter.

Early in 1961 General Maxwell D. Taylor, military advisor to president Kennedy, recommended the establishment of Army Aviation, Communications Unit, Navy, and Air Force Units in Vietnam. As result, the 1st CH-21 (Shawnee) transport helicopter arrived in Saigon, on 11 Dec 1961. Its mission was to transport Republic of Vietnam Army. It was the 1st major symbol of the United States combat power in Vietnam, and the beginning of a new era, the Airmobility. Twelve days later, these helicopters airlifted 1,000 Vietnamese...