AVIAN 34 information
for 58 TC BN
142 TC CO
610 TC CO
263 TC CO
For date 701015
58 TC BN was a US Army unit
142 TC CO was a US Army unit
610 TC CO was a US Army unit
263 TC CO was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Dinh Tuong Province, IV Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Red Beach
Description: The following is the fifth installment (an extract) from AVIAN 34 (a 38 page magazine publication with color photos), October 1970, Vol. II, Number 3. This installment contains information from page 7 which was presented as a section or chapter titled "58th Transportation Battalion 'Vikings.'"
The 58th Transportation Battalion (Aircraft Maintenance and Supply), commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Glenwood N. (Mikey) Parrish, provides direct, back-up direct, and general support to more than 1,100 Army aircraft in Military Region 1. Although the majority of aircraft it supports belong to the Army, the 58th also gives assistance to U.S. Marine, Vietnamese, and Korean aviation units.
The 58th Battalion's headquarters detachment and three companies are all located at Red Beach, Da Nang. Together they possess a network of closely related shops for specialized avionics and aircraft armament repair, in addition to providing command and control for the continually expanding aircraft maintenance and supply requirements in their area.
Commanded by Major Charles Thibodeau, the 142nd Transportation Company (ADS) supports 225 aircraft. Included in this number are 14 different types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The company's allied shops are staffed by sheet-metal repairmen, engine technicians, prop and rotor specialists, hydraulic mechanics, and technicians.
In addition to aircraft maintenance and repair-parts support, a well-equipped armament shop is constantly rewiring, adjusting, and repairing armament systems of the numerous assault helicopters it services. The 142nd also has a CONUS retrograde facility which has evacuated more than 65 aircraft during the first six months of 1970.
"Fast and Sure" is the motto of the 610th Transportation Company (AGS). Commanded by Major John Webster, this unit is responsible for providing general support to more than 1,000 aircraft, as well as reassembling, test flying, and issuing all Army aircraft arriving in Vietnam through DaNang. Most of the aircraft handled by the 610th belong to the Americal and 101st Airborne Divisions.
Although the 610th is classified as a general support unit, it does perform back-up direct support maintenance when necessary and has the capability to perform limited depot-level maintenance (with the exception of main-frame repair). It also provides technical assistance teams to various aviation units in its area for needed on-the-spot assistance.
The 263rd Light Equipment Maintenance Company (GS), commanded by Major Roy Doubrava, is responsible for maintaining the avionics systems of all Army aircraft in Military Region 1. Although the unit averages more than 130 work orders a day, it has never had a customer aircraft lose a day out of action due to an avionics problem. The 263rd lives up to its motto of "Finest Support".
Comments: LTC Parrish, Glenwood N. (Mikey); 58 TC BN CO; ;
MAJ Thibodeau, Charles; 142 TC CO CO; ;
MAJ Webster, John; 610 TC CO CO; ;
MAJ Doubrava, Roy; 263 LEM CO CO; ;
The source for this information was Vol. II, No. 3 dated Oct 1970 copy contributed by Jerry Mellick
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
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Last updated
08/03/2002
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023