... OUR TRUSTY STEEDS ...

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UH-1 Iroquois - "Huey"

The aviation unit had five UH-1’s assigned to it, all configured as Command & Control helicopters. These were used by the Brigade Commander as well as the three Battalion Commanders belonging to the 1st Brigade of the 1st Cav. To make up the five, there was also one spare machine.

As the 1st Cav arrived in Vietnam in late 1965, and the UH-1H was delivered to the Army in the later part of 1967, the first UH-1’s were UH-1D’s. The first UH-1H was delivered in late October, 1967, and the next four arrived in early November. This model remained in service with the Circus until January and February of 1971 when parts of the 1st Cav began leaving Vietnam.

Huey maintenance - Bong Song LZ English, 1967 - by F. Vanatta

Though some Hueys sported markings on them from time to time, they were particular to that one helicopter. There was no separate marking to denote their belonging to the Flying Circus until some time in 1970 when the Brigade Commander’s aircraft began sporting the Brigade crest on the cockpit doors.

C&C with crest (patch in door from 50 cal. round that went through Bill Hogan's leg and exited there) Brigade CO’s ship, 1970 - by J. Harris

OH-13S Sioux

When the first elements of the 1st Cav arrived in Vietnam they had with them 122 OH-13’s, and this is the type first used by the aviation unit in the scouting role. Eight of these Korean War veteran helicopters made up the scout section of what was to become the Flying Circus.

The only other helicopter used for scouting missions at that time was the OH-23, but the 1st Brigade never used this type.

The OH-13’s had distinctive white markings on them to help them stand out from above. These were applied to the tops of the stabilizers and along the top of the fuel tanks. The only other normal marking was the addition of the French Tricolour on the fin ahead of the tail rotor from late 1967 in conjunction with introduction of the name "Lafayette Escadrille" for the scout section. When the name died out about a year later, this marking began to disappear as well.

Records show that the last OH-13 left the unit in late 1968 after the type had accumulated just over three years of distinctive service.

OH-13 near Quang Tri, 1968 by F. Vanatta

OH-6A Cayuse

In January, 1968, Frank Vanatta was sent to An Khe to attend the OH-6 transition school set up there by the Hughes Aircraft Company. Frank became the Flying Circus’ first pilot to be checked out in the Cayuse, delivering the unit’s first example in early February, 1968.

Only two OH-6’s were delivered in the early days, and these were eventually damaged in combat. The unit was without the type again for almost four months from the end of February.

Bob Potvin went for his checkout in the type in May, and also received his checkout as the unit’s first Instructor Pilot on the type. Bob brought an OH-6 back with him at the completion of his training, and the unit began to receive more of the type over the proceeding weeks.

The distinctive white markings applied to the upper surfaces of the OH-13’s were carried over to the OH-6. There were two stripes on the upper surface of the angled stabilizer and a single stripe almost half the length of the top of the tail boom running aft from the "dog house". The French Tricolour, as used on the OH-13, was painted just below the mast on the side of the "dog house", and suffered the same fate as those on the Souix. There were some cases of individual markings on some machines, but there is no history of any other type of unit marking.

OH-6 at Quang Tri, 1968 by B. Potvin

Though the Bell OH-58A Kiowa was first delivered to the U.S. Army in May, 1968, the 1st Brigade did not receive any of them during its time in Vietnam.

Just about every pilot who had the opportunity to fly the OH-6 would agree that it was the best helicopter suited to the scout role. Its maneuverability, its small size, and its ability to absorb punishment were extremely hard to beat. Besides, it was fun to fly!

compiled by Frank Vanatta