unit history information
for A/1 AVN
USS IWO JIMA
52 CAB

For date 650501


A/1 AVN was a US Army unit
USS IWO JIMA was a US Navy unit
52 CAB was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Darlac Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Ban Me Thuot
Description: The A Company, 1st Aviation Battalion unit history states at 0620H the first aircraft launched from the USS IWO JIMA from about 25 miles at sea. It was piloted by 1LT Edward T. Pledger and WO William Crothers. Thereafter helicopters were launched periodically until approximately 1100H when the last launched. Upon arriving at Vung Tau, Company A moved en masse, less crewchiefs, to Ban Me Thuot via C-123 aircraft, closing at approximately 1545H. The unit was met there by LTC Delbert Townsend, CO of the 52d Aviation Battalion and the unit's advanced party which had been in country about 10 days. Rations, tents, and other minimum essentials were on hand at Ban Me Thuot to sustain the unit for the first several days. There were, however, no medical supplied and no supply of potable water. The unit history lists five officers and one NCO as the advanced party but only two were from Company A.
Comments: LTC Townsend, Delbert; 52d CAB CO; ; MAJ DeLoach, William W.; A/1 AVN CO; ; 1LT Pledger, Edward T.; A/1 AVN pilot; ; WO1 Crothers, William; A/1 AVN pilot; ; CPT Boswell, Leonard L.; A/1 Advanced party; ; 1LT Gaving, William J. Jr.; Advanced party; ; 1LT Geurin, John A.; 119 AVN CO Advanced party; ; 1LT Hinds, Paul B.; 117 AVN CO Advanced party; ; 1LT Wilkie, Jimmy; 119 AVN CO Advanced party; ; SFC Stanton, John E.; A/1 Advanced party; ;

The source for this information was STAGECOACH, History of the 155th AML by CPT John A. Geurin


Additional information is available on CD-ROM.

Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org


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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023