18th Corps Aviation Company - "Green Delta"

��HISTORY of the 18th CORPS AVIATION COMPANY � The unit was provisionally activated on the 1st of June 1971 as Delta Regional Assistance Corps Aviation Company, provisional ' DRAC - CAC'� The provisional status was removed on 15th of August 1971, and the unit was redesignated as the 18th Avn Company (Corps) On March 2nd 1972, the unit was releived from the� control of the 13th CAB, and assigned to the 164th CAG, as a seperate unit. The 18th CAC (Corps Aviation Company) was the largest Aviation company in Vietnam, as well as the US Army. At its height, it consisted of over 50 aircraft, plus 500 officers and enlisted men. A part of the unit, was specifically assigned to carry Vietnamese generals and their staffs. In addition, operations were undertaken for aircraft recovery, reconnaissance and surveillance missions. The main aircraft used by the company were: UH-1B - D, AH-1G,�OH-6A and CH47 - A, B, & C's.
2 unidentified pilots, pose by their Aircraft, Can-Tho 1973. Of interest, is the late pattern survival vest, worn by the pilot on the left. The pilot on the right, wears both the the standard company patch, and the triangular pattern worn by members of the VIP flight section. Also of note, is the landing pad 'rockery' which appears to consist of mess-hall ration cans! Image courtesy of John Jones	Can-Tho Late 1972, 4 members of the VIP flight platoon pose by their Aircraft. The nose plate marking numerals, which could be presumed, as per standard procedure, to be the last 3 digits of the aircrafts Army serial numbers, are in fact quite unique. Lester�E. Scales a member of the Recovery flight section explains: One of the missions of the 'Green Delta's' was support of local senior military�(both US and VN) andpolitical leaders, (province or sector chiefs) in the 4 political sectors of the Delta ( IV Corps ) area. These missions were�logged in operations by a 70#. The numbers used to mark the aircraft were taken from designations use by the Boeing Commerical transport aircraft of the time.� 707, 727, 737, 747. � This particualr aircraft was used to support the IV Corps commander. (at that time General Tarpley)Usually the same aircraft would be used, although if unavailable, you just switched the Avionics plate over, and off you flew. Image courtesy of Jim Lorenzo	Recovery Section patch Image courtesy of John Jones
Standard Company patch Image courtesy of John Jones	Chief engineer and door gunner Jim Lorenzo, named his ship after his wife ' Elizabeth Anne' �Jim's pilot and friend, was ANTHONY-DAL-POZZO Jr. Sadly 'Chip' was the first pilot to die by the �enemys hand, barely 2 hours after the 1973 Ceasefire came into effect. �Jim Rotated home shortly after and flew with the body escort to Santa Barbara CA. Image courtesy of John Jones	Beercan" Company insignia Image courtesy of John Jones
Can Tho Chapel, memorial service sheet, for Anthony Dal Pozzo Jr., His name on the Wall in Washington D.C. Image courtesy of John Jones		Msg Gerlad Stephenson (Ret) Flew with the 'Bartenders' Kiowa (OH58A) VIP unit as part of the 18th CAC out of Can-Tho Jan 1971 - October 71. If any former unit members who flew with Gerald wish to talk with�him, he would be delighted�to hear from them. You can use the Contact Us feature on the main page to do so. Image courtesy of Gerald Stephenson
Proud of his heritage, Crew Chief Jim Lorenzo, went for a personalized legend� on his orange/red painted SPH4 helmet. Left side noted the '2nd Flt Plt' with� 'gunship crew chief' on the right Image courtesy of Jim Lorenzo� via John Jones	Can-Tho Late 1972. Jim Lorenzo wears his local purchase softball cap�� (as modeled in Cambodia!)�. � Black cloth with Gold/yellow features�'Gunsmith' --- SP4 Rank Insignia ----- ��18th CAC.��Note also, the large company pocket patch, on late pattern nomex top. Image courtesy of Jim Lorenzo� via John Jones	Late 1972.....and Jim Lorenzo stands atop a shot down MIG, in CAMBODIA!� Image courtesy of Jim Lorenzo� via John Jones
CH47 Door gunner, died of wounds shortly after being shot down.� Image courtesy of Scroggins via John Jones�	1971 18th CAC "Yearbook" Image courtesy of Shawn Robinson in Memory of his father John A. Robinson	Spec. 4 John A. Robinson. My dad was a door gunner. He served in Vietnam from 7/71 to 4/72 . He passed away in 1976. I was hoping I could meet somebody who knew him. Courtesy Shawn A. Robinson. gemini@neo.rr.com Image courtesy of Shawn Robinson in Memory of his father John A. Robinson
18th C.A.C. Patch Image courtesy of Bill Pecknold

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