History
of the 244th Aviation Company
(Aerial Surveillance)
307 Combat Aviation (Phantom) Battalion
1st Aviation Brigade
(Originally
published in the Mohawk Association's Mohawker Newsletter No 23)
15 September 1966 - 31 March
1968, Prepared By: Captain Martin L. Ehrlich, Unit Historical
Officer,
Approved By: James A Bond, MAJ, INF, Commanding, Can Tho Army
Airfield, Republic of Viet Nam, APO 96215.
Transcribed and added commentary Bruce D Gaylord, Observer 244th
from 12/66 to 2/69
Dedication
This history is dedicated to those brave and gallant men of the 244th Aviation Company (AS) who have given their lives in the war in Viet Nam. (ditto, 25 years later plus those whose lives have been altered forever {bg}).
Chapter I - Heraldry
The unit crest of the 244th Aviation Company (Aerial Surveillance) consists of a large hawk in a dive, superimposed over an equilateral triangle which symbolizes the Mekong Delta, the tactical area of responsibility of the unit. The triangle is divided into three sections, the upper and lower being white in color, and the center green. These unit combat identification colors are the same as those displayed on the unit's aircraft and were assigned to the unit by the 307th Combat Aviation (Phantom) Battalion.
The hawk is symbolic of both the unit's aircraft - the OV-1 Mohawk - and its mission - the search for the enemy. The hawk finds its enemies by means of its keen eyesight; the Mohawk uses the eyesight of its aerial observers as well as its infra-red, aerial radar, and photographic sensors.
The unit numerical designation is centered in the upper portion of the triangle and the company call sign, "Delta Hawks" is centered in capital letters above the base of the triangle.
(The unit patch, was the winning entry of a contest held within the company not long after we (the EM's) moved from our tent city into the two story billets. This design was created by SP4 Janck Long from Texas. Jack was given a savings bond for his winning entry. The graphics were well done but the Vietnamese had a little problem with executing the design onto the cloth patch. The hawk's feet tended to look webbed and the beak looked more like a bill. Thus, the term Delta Ducks came on the scene and was still in use when I left country in February, 1969. It must be said, however, the unit was not referred to as the Ducks in front of senior officers.
No mention was made of the history of the two previous patches, the first, like all Hawk units was a circular patch depicting our friendly native American, carrying his camera and peering about with one hand shading his eyes. The second patch was also circular, having a narrow red border, white field, the unit number along the upper border and the term "AVN CO (AS)" also red in color along the basal border. Centered was a character of the aircraft with an upright red feather projecting out of the blue sash behind the cockpit and peering eyes posted on the lens of binoculars projecting out of the windshield. I do not remember who the artist was on this one but it was in service during the time that Major Keating was in command {bg}).
Chapter II - Unit Background
The 244th Aviation Company (Aerial Surveillance) was officially activated on 15 September, 1966 at Fort Lewis Washington by authority of Headquarters, Fort Lewis General Order Number 193, Dated 9 September, 1966. The unit was created under authority of Department of the Army, Message 778834, dated 14 August, 1966.
On the same day, the 244th Aviation Company (AS) was activated, the 537th Signal Detachment, and the 502nd Transportation Detachment were attached to the unit by Headquarters Fort Lewis General Order number 149 dated 14 September, 1966. The first commanding officer of the company was Major Richard P. Keating, and his executive officer was John S. Jacob. Both men were to stay in the company for more than one year. Major Jacob eventually became operations officer until he departed in December, 1967, and Major (later Lt Col) Keating left in January, 1968 immediately after the Viet Cong commenced their TET offensive.
The original TOE of the unit, TOE 1-128T, called for 15 officers, 21 warrant officers, and 237 enlisted men, a total of 273 personnel. The 244th was placed under the command of the Aviation Battalion (Provisional), at Fort Lewis and remained under its command until it departed CONUS on 7 July, 1967. (We wore the Sixth Army Patch until departure {bg}).
The men of the unit were billeted in new barracks on Fort Lewis' Main Post and operations were conducted from Grey Army Airfield. The unit had B and C model OV-1 Mohawks, but no A models. (I remember early on, there was an A model attached but the right side controls were removed and the bird was converted {bg}). Steadily, the unit began to grow and take shape - man power and equipment. During February 1967, the unit began Basic Unit training and the classroom in hanger 306 was filled every day. On 11 February, the company's Imagery Interpretation Officers reported in and every section was now up to strength in officers. The company went to the firing ranges and qualified on the M- 16 rifle -events would dictate their being fired again - only in defense on 31 January 1968. (There was some weapon qualifications at Fort Lewis, the M-60 and that damn fixed sight 38 revolver. I don't remember any M-16 or M-79 qualifications, especially with the surveillance platoon. As it turned out, only about half of the enlisted personnel had any familiarity with the M- 16 and after the first sapper attack on Can Tho Airfield, half of the company was thrown into Hueys slicks, taken out to a rice paddy and allowed to fire the M-16 for the first time {bg}). On 7 April, the unit had its first CMMI and passed. Later that month, the company packed up its equipment and set up operations in the field for 4 days, returning to garrison on 4 May. The unit proved that it was capable of functioning under simulated combat conditions and this exercise served as a prelude to the upcoming ATT. From 9-15 May, the 244th again set up shop in the field, this time the "field" was one 200 feet away from the hanger at Grey AAF. Tents were again pitched and everyone got ready for the all important ATT which started at 2400 hours on 16 May, 1967. A team from Fort Holabird, Maryland came and acted as umpires and graded the company. During the 4 day long exercise, approximately 15 sorties were flown every 24 hours. Many techniques and procedures were developed at this time which would later be expanded upon and improved in Vietnam. The results of the ATT were announced: 86% and a job well done - now the long hard job of packing and moving out would begin. All equipment on the TOE was inventoried and laid out, and after being inspected by a team from Fort Lewis, the monumental job of packing began. Major Jefferson T. Boulware and Captain Jeffrey T. Phillips supervised this task and it is to their credit that more than 90 vehicles and over 100 conex containers arrived in Vietnam safely. (rumor has it, that it was during this period, that non-documented materials were either liberated as war souvenirs {extra flight helmets and such} or slipped into Vietnam {bg}).
After packing was completed leaves were granted to the men and everyone headed for their respective homes, knowing that when they returned to Fort Lewis, they would begin the long trip to the Republic of Vietnam.
The journey to Vietnam began on the morning of Thursday, 6 July, 1967, when the company departed Fort Lewis and flew to San Diego where they boarded the USNS John Pope, (we were bused in the Army's version of the Iron Maiden to the Nearby Air Force Base, loaded on a comfortable and spacious C-141, tourist class of course {bg}). At 1930 hours on 7 July, 1967, the Pope pulled out of its berth and began the long journey across the Pacific, carrying the 244th to combat. Twenty-three days later, on 29 July - a Saturday - the company debarked at Vung Tau, South Vietnam, and then flew south to Can Tho. Two stops had been made during the journey, one at Okinawa where a short shore liberty was granted to everyone and one at Da Nang, Vietnam, where the Pope departed some 1800 Marines. (I wish that the enlisted men had been allowed to stay on deck during our departure from the U.S., to many of us, the view of gliding away from our shores would have been a continuation of our individual family histories, a passage made by our fathers twenty years before. Except for the first night out, we had a gentle crossing and there were times when the Pacific and the South China Sea was as smooth as a mirror. There were several who will remember the journey as just a lower level in Dante's vision. Much enjoyment was had by some, to the chagrin of the chronically sea sick. Those lower life forms bought sardines from the ship's store and ate them in the presence of our fellow suffering mankind. It was amazing, how the cry, "clear the way" got obeyed. It was also an interesting personal phenomena about doing anything into the wind, or for that mater, being down wind of any such happening. It is interesting to note, that no mention was made about the standing order for the 200 plus Army EM's to stay away from the 1800 Marine EM's, thus we weren't eaten alive by the overzealous jarheads. Of course, I doubt if anyone will forget the Marine, returning to the ship from our brief shore leave in Okinawa, stark naked, combat boots over his shoulder and a smile on his face. Nor do I doubt, if we'll forget those who climbed aboard ship, went up on deck, jumped overboard, swam back to the dock and climbed back on board again. I hope that those young men, with daring do, made it home again. Our landing in Vung Tau was just that, we were loaded on landing craft, we "hit" the beach and there to greet us was a little Vietnamese boy, gesturing with a finger other that his index, that he was number "1". Like everything else in a new land, it must have been a cultural thing or we would have thought it meant something else. The trip across was a time of boredom and reflection, punctuated with meals that were indescribable and a certain amount of inedibleness thrown in. I believe we had the only crossing that was not followed by sharks to devour the waste thrown overboard. The nighttime trip along the coast from Da Nang to Vung Tau was very sobering to the EM's. The tracer streaks crossing the night sky and punctuated by the flares, rockets, artillery explosions, and our first observance of "Spookie's" capabilities brought our fate into question. We may have displayed much blow and bluff on the outside but we all sobered to our next duty station. The flight from Vung Tau to Can Tho was unique, the C-130's didn't have enough seats, so those that didn't have the comfortable, first class, canvas seats were allowed the privilege of setting in the middle of the deck with the duffel bags {bg}).
The 244th was stationed at Can Tho Army Airfield. Initially, the EM were housed in tents across the road from the airfield tower (and adjacent to the flight line the C-130's & Air America's {bg}). The officers were also billeted in tents built on a mud flat, appropriately called Mohawk Flats. August, 1967 was spent building, planning, coordinating and perspiring. The Delta was hot and the mud was everywhere. The company operations complex was situated between the two hangars on the airfield. Slowly, improvements were made until all platoons were operating from WABTOC type structures. (Its funny, I seem to remember that the officers were billeted in Quonset huts on real bunks with Air Force mattresses. RHIP, you know but I must be confused {bg}).
On 15 September, the unit was declared fully operational and on the same day, the 244th began flying missions under the operational control of G2 Air, IV Corps. Administrative control over the unit was exercised by the 13th Combat Aviation (Delta) Battalion from the time it arrived in country until 25 August, 1967 when the newly formed Phantom Combat Battalion assumed command. On 18 September, the unit was visited by IV Corps Commanding General, Major General Manh and three ARVN division commanders in the corps. Later that month, the first of two personnel infusion programs took place with the 225th Aviation Company. (The enlisted men were aware of the approaching of this program and it scared the hell out of them to be sent out of our nice secure Delta to places farther north and slightly more hostile. We were offered the opportunity to extend our tours, therefore, not be on the list of eligible deportees, several of us extended our tour to stay in "the only home we knew". It was sad, to see the departure of several of our friends but because we had all been stationed together at Fort Lewis, the arrivals from the 225th and later the 245th were old friends coming home {bg}). The second, with the 245th Aviation Company, took place in January, 1968.
A change of commanders was made on 30 September, 1967 when Lt Col John G. Duke relinquished command to Major Richard P. Keeting. Major Keating, who was the 244th's first CO, had been succeeded by Major Jack D. Bowman on 24 September 1967. Maj Bowman then turned over command of the unit to Lt Col (then Maj) Duke on 11 November, 1967. Near tragedy struck the unit on 1 October, 1967 when Captain John P. Ratliff and his observer, PFC Albert Banks had to eject from their aircraft about 3 miles south of Can Tho. They were both rescued and neither of the two was injured. (This mission was a night flight and according to Banks, the pilot became disorientated in the heavy weather, eventually lost it and both ejected. Captain Ratliff was picked up not very long after ejecting. Al Banks was not picked up until the next day. He had wandered around and found his way to a small ARVN outpost. It was from there that the proper authorities were notified and Al was picked up. The surveillance platoon members stayed close to the radio all night. He was one scared individual, out there at night, and he suffered with recurring back pains from that ejection for the rest of his tour. When our wreck and recovery crew, led by Captain Spisak, went to the crash site, it was found that the aircraft had been in a spin and the tail section had been twisted significantly out of line, charges were set in the aircraft and the wreck was further destroyed {bg}).
By late October, the company was in full swing, conducting photo, IR and SLAR missions seven days a week, around the clock. (No mention is made of the first night time photo run down the middle of the runway, nor the rumors of injuries occurring at the NCO club as all of the non-244ers were scared substanceless when the light and sound show occurred. Of course, once it was made known which unit was responsible, one did not wear their unit patch openly outside of the compound for several days {bg}). The light burned all day and night in Operations tent and on the flight line as the now familiar "Delta Hawks" were sent to and return from their missions. Ever since the unit became operational, the use of the Ground Data Terminals were seen as a very important means of mission accomplishment. The 244th utilized the Ground Data Terminals with more success that any other Mohawk aviation company in RVN. (no mention is made abut the electrical hard wiring of the down links into the power grid, a slight error was made and the ground was not a ground but a hot, being that these units were tucked up next to the large metal hangar, the surveillance platoon managed to create the worlds largest capacitor under Frank Falter's direction, a shocking though non-fatal creation. Because of the flatness of the terrain, the ground stations were able to use good line of sight communication and data transfer {bg}).
On 8 November, the company suffered its first losses when Major Lawrence C. Suttlehan and his observer, PFC Vaughn Hines, died in the crash of their aircraft, off the coast of the Camau peninsula. (Jahor Suttlehan was making a low roll over a Naval vessel, when he augured in. The Major had a friend on board the vessel and he was just saying hello. Through Vaughn came over with the company, this was his first flight in country. Not much of either was found to send home to the families. Caughn had acquired a black & white hound-like bitch, which he had neutered and then named Sherry. After the crash, the dog was adopted by the company, some how received the name Beula, and was well fed by all of us. She held the honorary rank of Sgt and an MOS of K-9. She had the run of the camp but always came back to the hooch what Vaughn had occupied and was home to the surveillance platoon. The Major was the surveillance platoon leader and was well respected and liked. His and Vaughtn's was the first of several Missing Man formation fly-bys, that took place in the company {bg}).
Christmas and New Years were marked by a flurry of activity in the company as the "Delta Hawks" put forth a maximum effort to detect VC infiltration during the two holiday truce periods. Christmas Day was celebrated by a huge festive meal prepared by the 244th's mess personnel, supervised by SSGT Bobby Haywood. But when the meal was over, the men went back to work as the company tripled its surveillance effort in an attempt, which later proved successful, to detect the VC moving supplies during the truce periods.
On 30 December, Chief of Staff of the Army, General Harold K. Johnson, had visited the unit and received a briefing on the results obtained during the Christmas truce surveillance effort. The general had planned to stay for approximately 10 minutes; he stayed for over 40 and was visibly impressed by the evidence of VC infiltration activity in violation of the truce. It was obvious that the VC had taken advantage of the truce period to re-supply their units by land, and by sea. This activity was recorded on imagery and reported to higher headquarters by the 244th.
After the New Year's truce, which ended 2 January, the company began to ready itself for another maximum surveillance effort during the forthcoming TET truce period. The TET truce never had a chance to get underway before the VC struck. General Westmoreland had personally alerted the IV Corps TOC for an impending VC offensive throughout the country to begin on 31 January, 1968. Nothing happened until about 0230 hours on the 31st. Then approximately 150-200 VC from the Tay Do and 303rd VC Battalions attacked the airfield. The 244th was manning a portion of the perimeter on the south side of the runway and bore the bulk of much of the night's fighting. The VC attacked savagely, using B-40 rockets, AK-47s and M-79 grenade launchers. The enemy got close to the 244th's positions but were repulsed - several dead VC were found only feet from the bunkers. The company duty officer, Captain Jack Spisak, directed the Cobra helicopters to the enemy and helped adjust their fire. The fighting lasted throughout the morning and finally at about 0500, the remainder of the enemy withdrew, being pursued by the Cobras. The 244th perimeter was not manned by trained infantrymen - they were mechanics, clerks, imagery interpreters, cooks, radio repairmen and other non-combat soldiers on the line that night, but they held it despite the intensive efforts of the VC to overrun their positions. Men who had fired their weapons only in basic training quickly became experts. The untrained men on the line held their positions and repulsed a well trained and determined enemy. The VC had suffered 67 killed and 32 of the attackers were taken prisoner. For the brave actions and determined defense against the enemy, every man on the 244th line was nominated for award of the bronze star. (The VC were quite astute in their plan of attack, they approached the perimeter fence, upright, laughing and joking, they entered through a gate. For that short period of time, it was thought that is was just the ARVNs coming back into the line. It was after that, all hell broke loose. Not to diminish the efforts put forth that night, but it was a case where those defending had no where else to pull back to without exposing themselves to the attackers. They had to stay put and fight because there was too great a distance of open terrain between each position. Bunkers did not exist, all we had were berms of that fine gray clay pushed up by dozers, and you kind of hunkered down behind the dirt. In retrospect of that evening, at mid-night, the sky lit up all round the city with tracers, we guessed that they were just ARVNs celebrating TETs arrival. Little did we think that it was our friends in black pajamas, checking their weapons for later use that night. I was one of the "lucky" people, that evening, I was down over the Umen Forest when the radio informed us that Can Tho and all of the other air fields were under attack. The pilot made comment that this was a rather interesting predicament. However, for some reason, the VC did not launch the offensive on Bien Thuy Air Force Base, so after some sweated bullets and lightened sphincters, my pilot decided to chance a landing there, which we did with no opposition. Because of the precariousness of the situation during TET, the Hawks bugged out to Vung Tau {bg}).
Following the TET offensive, the 244th Aviation Company increased efforts to support the ARVN 21st Division and the 2nd Brigade of the US Ninth Division in their efforts to rid Can Tho and the surrounding area of the elusive Viet Cong. Visual missions flown over Phong Dinh sector resulted in destruction or damaging of over 150 enemy sampans from February to March, 1968. (No mention is made of our "inability" to navigate, winding up in Cambodia at night and Phnom Penh ablaze in lights on the horizon and a few being chased out by Migs {bg}).
There were many changes in the unit after TET. Specifically, everyone realized that the was had come to Can Tho. Once considered safe and secure, both the city and airfield were now subjected to mortar and recoilless rifle attacks. The first casualties suffered by the 244th were sustained in a daylight mortar attack on 6 February, 1968. Major Russell F. Pool, Captain Jack Spisak, Captain William A. Allen, MSG Ira H. Potter, and SP4 Philip Seward were wounded. Maj. Pool, Capt Spisak, and MSG Potter required evacuation. One of the attacks took the lives of two men of the company. SP4 William T. Pittman and SP4 John R. Stevenson. (The word that came back to the unit was that Maj. Pool suffered severe wounds to the shoulder and was given a medical discharge, Capt Spisak wrote the unit and informed us that he had died on the operating table, been resuscitated, and was recovering {bg}).
Everyone suddenly became interested in bunker construction, and almost overnight, bunkers of every shape and size began to spring up throughout the company and operations area. Sandbags became a way of life; filling them by day and sleeping under their protection at night. (The company personnel scoured the Delta for any available 55 gallon drums, hauled them and filled them in record time. Sometimes, using POW labor to help from the POW camp next door {bg}). Despite the frequent mortar and recoilless rifle attacks, the 244th continued on with its missions, working even harder than before the TET attacks. For 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Delta Hawk aircraft were flying over the skies of the Mekong Delta. (When we arrived in country, all of our weapons were locked up in a supply conex, after the first ground attack, we were given our rifles, to be locked up over our bunks but no ammo, that was stored in the supply conex. After TETs visitation on us, we had weapons, we had ammo and we had a little nastier region to be working in and flying over {bg}).
When the VC began their offensive, the airfield commander at Vinh Long had been killed and Major Keating was asked to take command of that installation. Major James M. Bond then assumed command of the 244th. His executive officer was Major Nod McMillon, who had been the Service Platoon Leader.
Wednesday, 28 February, brought personal tragedy again to the company. Captain Steven Popkin, the unit's colorful mess officer, and his observer, Captain Joseph Dyle, IV Corp G2 Air, had crashed while on a visual reconnaissance mission in Kien Phong sector (Speculation within the company was that Captain Popkin experienced mechanical problems, had an inexperienced observer and rode the aircraft down trying to get the observer out. This explanation helped us justify his loss {bg}). Less than a month later, on the morning of 23 March, Major Masaki Hattori and his observer SP4 Ian Franks, crashed into the Bassac River immediately after take-off. (A flight of Hueys crossed the end of the runway, Major Hattori was not notified, saw the aircraft too late, did a hard stick & rudder too close to the ground and augured into the river at night, nothing was ever found of these two men to send home {bg}). The company took these losses hard, these were good men and they are greatly missed by everyone. (even after over a quarter of a century, their loss still is felt. There was something special about the 244th that because of the closeness of the personnel, a respect developed of, for and between the EM's and the officers of the unit {bg}).
Late February and March brought a new word to the lips of the men in the unit - Snakehunt. Snakehunt was devised to curtail VC infiltration by use of aircraft hunter-killer teams; the teaming together of the Mohawk to find the enemy and the Huey Cobra to destroy him. Within a short time, the Snakehunt had caused a definite setback in the VC infiltration effort.
Chapter III - Operations
Beginning at the time the unit became operational, the 244th Aviation Company flew infra-red, photo, and aerial radar (SLAR) missions in general and direct support of ground operations conducted by three ARVN divisions in IV Corps. Of the many operations the Delta Hawks supported, perhaps the most significant one in those early days was Dan Chi 315C which was conducted in Chuong Thien sector from 8-10 December, 1967. The 244th was requested to fly IR missions over the battlefield which was the O Mon Canal in the NE portion of the sector. The missions, flown at night of 9 December, had to be aborted due to heavy artillery fire over the operational area, however not before several targets were detected and inflighted to the troops on the ground. Dan Chi 315C resulted in 465 VC killed and the Delta Hawks played a part in the success of this operation.
Early September saw the company flying night photo missions with photo flash cartridges. Later in February 1968 on LS-59 Strobe light was obtained and utilized on these missions. Night photography enabled the unit to detect VC sampan activity and weapon positions at the time of day when the VC do the majority of their moving. Numerous missions were flown, especially along Highway #4 in Dinh Toung sector. These missions along the vital road aided the 7th ARVN Division in keeping the road closed to VC interdiction.
The 244th Aviation Company became directly involved in "Operation Nighthawk" which utilized a Mohawk and Bird Dog team to detect and identify VC activity at night. This operation was conducted for approximately 2 months starting in October of 1967. It was directed by the Phantom Battalion and was the first instance of the 244th working directly with other aircraft within the battalion.
Immediately after becoming operational, the 244th was asked to support the U.S. Navy's "Operation Market Time" and "Operation Game Warden". The former was designed to stop VC seaborne infiltration from the South China Sea into the Delta. The latter employed fast and powerfully armed PBR craft to track down and destroy VC sampans moving on the major inland waterways of the Delta. Nightly SLAR aircraft went up and flew missions in support of these operations.
October 1967 was a busy month for not only did it see the start of the unit's involvement with "Nighthawk" but also with the "Firefly" operation. This operation, used the SLAR aircraft and helicopter gunships working as a team but many miles apart. The Mohawk would seek out and find the target, the gunship would move in, illuminate it, identify it, and if necessary, destroy it.
At the request of the Commanding Officer of the 13th Aviation Battalion, the unit's imagery interpretation section became involved in mid-November in "Operation Swamp Stomp". The purpose of this operation was to give the interpreter a close-up look at what he had detected, or failed to detect, on photography flown over an area which was to be a site of an ARVN ground operation. Several interpreters were taken over the operational areas and given a close look at what was found on the ground. This served to enable the interpreters to more realistically interpret photography taken in RVN. On 2 November 1967, the 244th began to fly visual-photo missions using Naval Intelligence Liaison officers as observers. These flights enabled the NILO's to get an accurate picture of VC activity along the coasts of the Delta and inland in those sectors bordering the South China Sea and the Gulf of Siam. The familiar "VP" missions became a standard practice, however the areas covered were greatly expanded. Also in November, the company became the focal point for a study conducted by the Army Concept Team in Vietnam, (ACTIV). This study attempted to determine the advantages of employing the Ground Data Terminals in RVN. Major Gordon Wagner was the 244th project officer for this study. The 244th was using the Ground Data Terminals for most of the IR and SLAR missions and the results obtained were highly favorable. These items of equipment remained an important asset to the unit's mission accomplishments. (The data link stations were the added degree of assurance that the mission's information gathered would not be lost due to equipment malfunction or improperly purged SLAR rollers, they salvaged more than one flight's imagery. We spent many hours in those boxes, while at Ft. Lewis, working on making data link a viable option plus listening to the local TV stations there {bg}).
During the Christmas truce period, the unit flew missions in support of "Operation Peacebird I". Constant surveillance was needed to see if the VC would violate the terms of the truce and attempt to infiltrate supplies into the Delta. A 24 hour schedule of Mohawk flights monitored the VC movements during the truce period.
1968 Brought with it "Operation Peacebird II" - an attempt once again to monitor the VC activities - only this time the New Year truce period. Once again, the "Delta Hawks" took to the skies and flew 99 sorties in an 84 hour period. Whenever the VC moved, chances were that his movement was being recorded on film, or photographs. In early January, the company was asked to test a new observation device - gyrostabilized binoculars. The tests, supervised by Captain Martin L. Ehrlich, were conducted in helicopters and Bird Dogs, as well as Mohawks and proved to be successful.
In February, the unit acquired an LS-59 Strobe Light for night photography and began running a series of tests with this piece of equipment. Captain Merle Freitag supervised these tests and when the LS-59 became fully operational, it served to greatly increase the unit's night photo capability. February also saw the beginning of visual-photo missions flown in Phong Dinh sector. Major James M. Boone flew many of these missions and detected numerous VC sampans and directed air and artillery fire on them. In mid-February, the visual photo missions in Phong Dinh sector were flown in support of the 2nd Brigade, 9th US Infantry Division's "Operation Coronado XI". The unit flew two such missions each day and these resulted in much sampan traffic being observed.
March saw increased visual photo missions being flown by the unit. The push was to counter and destroy the heavy VC infiltration into the Delta and the 244th would play a vital role in this effort. Operation Delta Falcon utilized the Mohawks as the key means of target location and identification, and through the efforts of the Delta Hawks, numerous VC sampans were destroyed. By the end of March, 1968, the 244th Aviation Company (AS) had made its mark on the Delta and its presence was felt. Everyday, seven days a week, Mohawks took to the air in the never ending search for the Enemy. The mission of finding the enemy never ceased.
Chapter IV - Command
Commanding Officers of the 244th Aviation Company (Aerial Surveillance)
Major Richard P. Keating, AT; 15 Sept. 66 - 23 Sept. 66
Major Jack D. Bowman, SC; 24 Sept. 66 - 10 Nov. 66
Lt Col John G. Duke, CE; 11 Nov. 66 - 30 Sept. 67
Major Richard P. Keating, AT; 10 Oct. 67 - 31 Jan. 68
Major James A. Bond, IN; 1 Feb 68 - 31 Mar. 68
Chapter V - Honor Roll
Since its inception, the 244th Aviation Company had numerous awards bestowed upon its members. Because of the time lag from the date a person is recommended for an award, until he actually receives it, the following list included those recommended for awards as well as those who already received them, inclusive to 31 March 1968.
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
Major John H. Shimerda
Major Jefferson T. Boulware (2 awards)
Major James M. Boone
Captain Steven J. Popkin (posthumous award)
BRONZE STAR W/V DEVICE
Major Don McMillon
Captain John J. Spisak
SSF Calvin R. Coffey
SP6 Warren W. Bonner
SP6 Richard A. Parker
SP5 James G. Davis
SP5 Alfred L. Ferrell
SP5 James A. Foss
SP5 Michael M. Garvin
SP5 Richard L. Winey
SP4 Albert D. Aliron
SP4 Frank P. Balog
SP4 Donald E. Goodwin
SP4 William J. Gordon Jr.
SP4 David A. Johnson
SP4 Hiliard D. Miller
SP4 Larry S. Rath
PFC Jimmy D. Brown
PFC Gregory P. Czajkowski
PFC Richard W. Herrman
BRONZE STAR
Major James M. Boone
Major Masaki Hattori (posthumous award)
Major Russell F. Pool
Major Lawrence C. Suttlehan (posthumous award)
Captain Douglas L. Baker
Captain Jeffery T. Philips
Captain Steven J. Popkin (posthumous award)
Captain John J. Spisak
Captain Ronald L. Vaughn
Captain Richard S. Walden
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL W/V DEVICE
SP5 Dennis D. Baker
SP4 Kenicho Kobayashi
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
Major Malcom G. McDonald
Captain David B. Campbell
Captain Michael N. Matzko
1LT Jack O. Bell
1LT John A. Bennett
1LT Robert G. Betz
MSG Ira H. Potter
SP6 Samuel A. Sifford
SP5 Joe L. Dwyer
SP5 Richard B. Forsythe
SP5 Robert E. Mills
SP5 John L. Stutt
SP4 James A. Bauer
SP4 Ian J. Franks (posthumous award)
SP4 Ronald R. McConnehey
SP4 William T. Pittman (posthumous award)
SP4 John R. Stevenson (posthumous award)
PFC Vaughn M. Hines (posthumous award)
AIR MEDAL
49 awards of the Basic Air Medal
72 awards of the Oak Leaf Clusters
PURPLE HEART
Major Lawrence C. Suttlehan (posthumous award)
Major Russell F. Pool
Major Masaki Hattori (posthumous award)
Captain Steven J. Popkin (posthumous award)
Captain John J. Spisak
MSG Ira H. Potter
SSG Edward Rajkowski
SP5 Richard B. Forsythe
SP4 David L. Borring
SP4 Harvey L. Davis
SP4 Ian J. Franks (posthumous award)
SP4 Bernard McCormick
SP4 Robert A Milligan
SP4 William T. Pittman (posthumous award)
SP4 John R. Stevenson (posthumous award)
SP4 Philip S. Seward
SP4 Raymond J. Strand
SP4 Natividad J. Zavala
SP4 James T. Bauer III
PFC Vaughn M. Hines (posthumous award)
PFC David A. Johnson
PFC Jose M. Marquez
PFC Jose S. San Nicolas
PVT Warren D. Webber
FOREIGN AWARDS - VIETNAMESE CROSS OF
GALLANTRY
Major James M. Bond (Corps level award)
Major James M. Boone (Division level award)
Captain Gerald Lord (Regimental level award)
SP5 Dennis D. Baker (Brigade level award)
PS: [Sep. 6, 1997] Additional information was received from Ernest (Sal) Salazar, Jr. #008......
Sal is employed by uncle sam as a civilian air force employee at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Az......
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