On 6-December-1966, two UH-1Es of re-activated squadron VMO-3 were disassembled, crammed into a C-130 and flown to Cubi Point, Philippine Islands.  Two officers and eleven enlisted packed themselves around rotor hubs, tail booms, fuselage and blades inside the cramped cargo aircraft; the clearance was so tight between the Huey's cabin and the C-130 cabin wall that special ground handling gear had been constructed with only one rubber tire inboard of the skid on each side of the helicopter.  Embarking at El Toro, the first Marines of VMO-3 to depart CONUS over nighted on Hawaii and lunched on Wake Island.  Spending the night on Guam, several VMO Good Samaritans rescued a drunken USAF airman from approaching MPs, deposited him in his barracks and attempted to provoke a fight with the airman's buddies by challenging the legitimacy of anyone who would abandon one of their own to the enemy.   To the annoyance of the 130's Old Corps loadmaster, the salty FNGs thoroughly littered his ship with snack wrappers and Coke cans, husked coconuts and sticky milk as the plane island-hopped across the Pacific.   Reaching Cubi Point, the officers and men immediately began reassembling and flight testing the aircraft.  Two days later, two more Hueys followed and the Special Landing Force also known as VMO-3 Detachment Alpha, sixteen enlisted and four officers, was complete.   The work was grueling in the unfamiliar tropical heat, but tempered by nightly binges in Olongapo where one future crew chief amused his liberty party by stone-soberly biting the head off a cheeping baby chick. Thus was the auspicious arrival of the first Marines of VMO-3, proving the refrain, "we have fought in every clime and place..."

All four aircraft were intended to have been gunships, however only two rocket/gun kits were shipped to Cubi.   The veteran squadron HMM-362, the "Ugly Angels," was already aboard the LPH-2 Iwo Jima; VMO-3 had a lot of proving to do in a very short time.   After practice landings on Mindoro Island in support of Marine Battalion Landing Team  1/9 (and a memorable Christmas liberty in Manila), Det Alpha sailed to the Mekong to provide gunship support and observation for a Special Landing Force air/amphibious operation code named Deckhouse V (6 January 1967  - 15 January 1967).

History by Ron Zaczek

                       The first two Hueys, still in factory paint, to depart CONUS for Southeast Asia.  These aircraft arrived in the first C-130.  The loadmaster, who never demonstrated patience with the detachment, ordered men, seabags, tail-booms, cabins and the trash of three days off his airplane as soon as the detachment landed at Cubi.  Scrounging flatbed trucks and towing gear, the enlisted men arm-wrestled their equipment off the ramp and reassembled everything using field hoists and muscle-power outside of this Navy hanger - no one would have us inside.

VMO-3 begins to take shape under the hands of a baby-faced 19 year-old at Cubi Point.  Future crew chief Cpl. Ron "Zack" Zaczek assembles a tail rotor linkage. 

Each month, the squadron summarized activities in a Command Chronology. The following CC is for May, 1967, and gives a good indication of squadron operations after the new unit had come into its own at Phu Bai, as well as a significant event in VMO-3 history, the arrival of the "2nd Increment."

Most information in Marine Archives is heavily "grunt" oriented. Records are typically keyed to company/battalion/regimental actions during major operations. Records originally written by "the grunts" frequently do not identify the supporting air wing unit delivering suppressive fire or performing a medevac, and at times even confuse slicks with gunships. On the other hand, not all flight crewmembers knew which Operation, let alone the unit, they were supporting on a given sortie. Command Chronologies are primary documents useful in identifying the Operations the squadron supported and can jog memories when researching an action. Marine Archives record the units (again, mostly grunt) that participated in each Operation. Patrol reports and ground unit diaries and chronologies can, in turn, be located in the Archives and, sometimes, provide details on helicopter support for inserts/extracts or medevac missions. In this roundabout way, an air wing researcher can piece together a larger picture of his participation in some unit action that was a part of an overall Operation. Sometimes, a special mission, such as the "Breaker" extraction shown in May's CC, receives a bit more detail than most; this mission was highlighted because a number of pilots and flight crew in VMO-3 and other units were decorated for that action.

The most granular form of mission information available in the Archives is the After Action Report. AAR's were completed by the pilot after each mission, and usually identified mission coordinates, crew, important passengers, dates and activities too detailed for the CC. Most are terse, but some are downright funny – the ones that capture an angry pilot venting at someone or some thing connected with the mission. Marine Archives stores the original paper CCs and AARs in binders by month, which any researcher or interested party can study.

The Marine Oral History section in Washington maintains magnetic-taped interviews recorded in Vietnam, often with the sounds of the flight line or artillery in the background. Marine Historians wandered the country conducting interviews. Some are mundane: logistics, maintenance problems, etc. Others give insight into the performance of special missions; a pilot interview describes "sniffer" operations, for example. Some oral histories are dramatic: crew chief Thomas Lanham and gunner Charles Alexander of Boyd Barclay's aircraft were interviewed only a few days after that mission. Ron Zaczek used Command Chronologies, After Action Reports and the oral history interviews of gunship pilot Rodney Alley, gunner Dutch Holland, crew chief Jackie Acosta and 3rd Recon Bn Radio Operator Steve Lopez to reconstruct the Breaker mission while writing Farewell, Darkness. These interviews were recorded the day of, and the day after Breaker, before the mission had time to fade with memory. It's eerie, so many years after the war, to listen to squadron mates with voices as familiar as if you'd spoken with them yesterday. Oral History tapes are indexed by unit, e.g. you can ask for the list of all tapes by VMO-3 personnel, all tapes by HML-367 personnel, etc.

Lastly, Marine Archives stores the microfilmed records of the war, ranging from squadron diaries to the entire record of III MAF message traffic! The microfilmed diaries provide, among other things, casualty records - typically the name, location of casualty and a description of the wound.

MARINE OBSERVATION SQUADRON 3

Marine Aircraft Group-16

1st Marine Aircraft Wing, FMFPac

FPO San Francisco, 96602

 PERIOD COVERED 1 MAY THROUGH 31 MAY 1967 

PART I      ORGANIZATIONAL DATA

1.            Staff Listing

a.           Commanding Officer                  Major Kyle W. TOWNSEND         1-31May

b.           Executive Officer                      Major James H. COFFIN             1-25May

              Executive Officer                      Major Weldon R. MUNTER          26-31May

c.           Operations Officer                     Major Richard SANCHO              1-25May

              Operations Officer                     Major James H. COFFIN             26-31May

d.           Administration                           2^nd Lt. T. C. MILLER                   1-15May

              Administration                           2^nd Lt. R. Y. MORGAN                 16-25May

              Administration                           Capt. Peter M. HEIMAN              26-31May

e.           Administration Officer                2^nd Lt. T. C. MILLER                   1-15May

              Administration Officer                2^nd Lt. R. Y. MORGAN                 16-25May

              Administration Officer                Capt. Peter M. HEIMAN              26-31May      

f.            Intelligence Officer                    Capt. Michael J. GILMORE         1-31May

g.           Aviation Safety Officer                Major John L. PIPA                   1-25May

              Aviation Safety Officer                Major Richard SANCHO              26-31May         

h.           Materiel Officer                          Capt. James R. O’BRYAN            1-26May

              Materiel Officer                          WO Forrest D. OWEN                 27-31May

i.           Aircraft Maintenance Officer         Major Charles A. REYNOLDS        1-31May

j.           Flight Surgeon                             Lt. Arthur L. LOCHRIDGE            1-31May

2.         MARINE OBSERVATION SQUADRON THREE

  Marine Aircraft Group 16

  1^st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MAF

  Hue/Phu Bai Airport, Republic of Vietnam

  1-31May

3.          Average Monthly strength:  33 Officers and 194 Enlisted

4.           Important visitors:  None

  PART II                 NARRATIVE SUMMARY

1.        The weather during the month of May was very conducive to flight operations.  Clear skies with occasional afternoon and evening thundershowers were the weather picture during this period of time.  Operations in the Phu Bai, Prairie IV, Beacon Star, Shawnee, Crockett, Hickory and Choctaw TAOR’s were supported with 12 gunships and six slicks.

1 MAY 1967:  Two armed escort missions were flown as medevac chase at Phu Bai and six missions as medevac chase in the Operation ‘SHAWNEE” area.  Four armed escort missions were flown in support of a recon team insert, during which one of the gunships took heavy automatic weapons fire and was forced to land because of an engine failure.  Six armed escort missions were flown providing cover and suppressive fire and controlling fixed with strike on the enemy positions.  One armed escort mission was flown during a resupply.  Two VIP missions, two Admin/Liaison, and three visual recon missions were also flown in the ‘SHAWNEE” area.  One VIP mission was flown carrying the CG, 3^RD MARDIV.

2 MAY 1967:  13 armed escort and two TAC (A) missions were flown in support of recon team inserts and extracts, during which suppressive fire was delivered at YD670162, as well as a fixed wing strike controlled on this position.  One VIP mission, one visual recon and one emergency medevac were flown in the Operation “SHAWNEE” area.  One VIP mission was flown carrying the CG, 3^RD MARDIV.

3 MAY 1967:  Five armed escort missions were flown during medevacs in Operation “SHAWNEE” area.  One armed escort and two TAC (a) missions were flown during two landing zone preps and one recon team insert.  Two Admin/Liaison missions, three medevacs, three visual recon, and five VIP missions were also flown.  One VIP mission was flown carrying the CG 3^rd MARDIV.

4 MAY 1967:  Three armed escort missions were flown during medevac's in the Operation ‘SHAWNEE” area.  Five armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  One VIP mission was flown carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV along with two Admin/Liaison missions and one other VIP mission.

5 MAY 1967:  Seven armed escort missions were flown during medevac's in the Operation “SHAWNEE” area.  Eight armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  One armed escort mission was flown during a troop lift.  Four VIP missions were flown carrying the CD, 3^rd MARDIV.

6 MAY 1967:  Four armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevac's.  Five armed escort missions were flown as medevac chase in the Operation “SHAWNEE” area.  Two armed escort missions were flown in support of the emergency extraction of a recon team, during which suppressive fire was delivered at YD537179.  One armed escort mission was flown during a re-supply.  A visual recon mission was also flown, along with five Admin/Liaison missions and four VIP missions.

7 MAY 1967:  Five armed escort missions were flown during medevac's in the Operation “SHAWNEE” area.  13 armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Three armed escort missions were flown during a resupply.  Two TAC (A) missions were flown during landing zone preps.  Four VIP missions were also flown.

8 MAY 1967:  Four armed escort missions were flown during medevacs in the Operation “SHAWNEE” area.  One armed escort mission was flown during a visual recon.  Four armed escort missions were flown during a troop lift.  Two armed escort missions were flown during a recon team extract.  One photo recon mission with an armed escort was flown in the Operation “SHAWNEE” area, along with one visual recon mission.  One visual recon mission with an armed escort was flown in the Phu Bai TAOR.  Three VIP missions were flown carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV.  In the Operation “SHAWNEE” area, one VIP mission, one resupply, three Admin/Liaison, and two medevac missions were flown.

9 MAY 1967:  Two armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Six armed escort missions were flown as medevac chase in the Operation “SHASWNEE” area.  Two armed escort missions were flown during a troop lift.  Eight armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Two medevac missions, five visual recon, two TAC (A), and two VIP missions were flown.  Two VIP missions were flown carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV.

10 MAY 1967:  Eight armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  In the Operation “SHAWNEE” area, three visual recon missions, one Admin/Liaison, and two medevac missions were flown.  Two armed escort missions and one Admin/Liaison mission were flown in the Khe Sanh area.  Eight armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts at Khe Sanh.  During the emergency extract of a team from YD756530, 44 2.75” rockets and 18,000 rounds of 7.62 were delivered to suppress enemy fire.  A slick made three approaches into the zone, receiving intense fire on each approach.  On the third approach, the aircraft landed and three members of the team were taken out, leaving four dead in the zone.

11 MAY 1967:  20 armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.. One VIP mission was flown carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV.  In the Operation “SHAWNEE” area, six armed escort missions were flown during medevacs, along with two medevac missions and one visual recon mission.

12 MAY 1967:  Two armed escort missions were flown at Phu Bai in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  13 armed escort missions were flown in the Operation “SHAWNEE” area during medevacs.  Six armed escort missions were flown during the insert and extract of the Sparrow Hawk.  Four armed escort missions were flown during the emergency extract of a recon team.  Two TAC (A) missions were flown prepping landing zones for troop lift.  A group of VC were caught in the open and fired upon, resulting in two confirmed and six probably KBA.  One VIP mission was flown carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV.  Three other VIP missions were also flown.

13 MAY 1967:  Six armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Eight armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Six armed escort missions were flown during medevacs in the Operation "SHAWNEE" area, along with one photo mission and one armed escort mission for a CH-53A picking up a downed aircraft.  Three VIP missions were also flown.

14 MAY 1967:  12 armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Eight armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  During an extract an H-34 had an engine failure and one armed escort mission was flown providing cover and escorting a CH-53A for pickup of the downed aircraft.  One other armed escort mission was flown during resupply.   Six command and control and one routine medevac mission were flown in the Operation “SHAWNEE” area.  One VIP mission was flown carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV and two VIP missions carrying BGen Ryan.  Six emergency missions were flown taking medical supplies and blood from Phu Bai to Dong Ha.

15 MAY 1967:  Six armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs at Phu Bai and 11 armed escort missions were flown in the Operation “CHINOOK” area as medevac chase.  Eight armed helicopter missions were flown by four gunships during a strike on a village.  48 2.75” rockets and 18,85- rounds of 7.62 were fired, resulting in ten structures destroyed and five left burning.  The Dong Ha detachment flew three VIP missions carrying BGen Ryan, one visual recon mission, and one other VIP mission.  14 armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  In the Operation “SHAWNEE” area, one VIP mission, three visual recon, one medevac and one artillery spotting mission were flown.

16 MAY 1967:  Five armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  22 armed escort missions were flown in support of recon team inserts and extracts, during which 67 2.75” rockets and 17,800 rounds of 7.62 were delivered to suppress enemy fire.  One VIP mission and two Admin/Liaison missions were flown.  14 armed escort missions were flown in the Operation “PRAIRIE IV” area during medevacs and resupply missions.  The Dong Ha detachment flew two visual recon missions.

17 MAY 1967:  Three armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Six armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Six armed escort missions were flown in the Operation “PRAIRIE IV” area during medevacs, resupply missions and recon team inserts and extracts.  Four VIP missions were flown, two visual recon and two Admin/Liaison missions.  The Dong Ha detachment flew 13 VIP missions, two visual recon and one medevac mission.

18 MAY 1967:  Seven armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Two TACA (A) missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  One Admin/Liaison and one VIP mission were also flown.  The Dong Ha detachment flew three VIP missions and two medevac missions.

19 MAY 1967:  Six armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  14 armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Two armed escort missions were flown during visual recons.  One medevac mission was flown with an armed escort.  Five armed escort missions were flown in the Operation “PRAIRIE IV” area during resupply missions and a medevac.  The Dong Ha detachment flew one VIP mission.

20 MAY 1967:  Seven armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Two armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  21 armed escort missions were flown in the Operation “CROCKETT” area, during which 93 2.75” rockets and 22,050 rounds of 7.62 were fired in support of infantry units, a recon team insert and extract, a resupply mission and two visual recon missions.

21 MAY 1967:  Ten armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Six armed escort missions were flown in support of Project Delta.  18 armed escort missions were flown in the Operation “CROCKETT” area, during which 93 2.75” rockets and 20,000 rounds of 7.62 were fired in support of an infantry unit, a troop lift, a recon team insert and extract, and a medevac.

22 MAY 1967:  Seven armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Ten armed escort missions were flown in support of Project Delta.  The Dong Ha detachment flew three VIP missions carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV.

23 MAY 1967:  Four armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Ten armed escort missions were flown during recon team insert and extracts.  Four armed escort missions were flown in support of Project Delta.

24 MAY 1967:  One armed escort mission was flown in support of HMM-163 during a medevac.  Four combat cargo missions were flown in the Phu Bai TAOR.  The Dong Ha detachment flew five visual recon missions.  The Khe Sanh detachment flew eight armed escort missions in support of Operation “CROCKETT” during a recon team extract and a troop lift.

25 MAY 1967:  Six armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Ten armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Two armed escort missions were flown in support of a CH-53A.  The Dong Ha detachment flew two Admin/Liaison missions; eight flew four armed escort missions in support of a ground unit.

26 MAY 1967: Seven armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Eight armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  The Dong Ha detachment flew one visual recon and one Admin/Liaison mission.  The Khe Sanh detachment flew ten armed escort missions during recon team inserts and extracts.

27 MAY 1967: Seven armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  14 armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Three armed escort missions were flown during a resupply.  Seven VIP missions were also flown.  Eight armed escort missions were flown by the Khe Sanh detachment in support of infantry units, during which 24 2.75” rockets and 7,000 rounds of 7.62 were fired on enemy positions.

28 MAY 1967: Five armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs. One photo recon mission with an armed escort was flown.  Two VIP missions were flown carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV.  Three VIP missions were flown carrying BGen Metzger.  The Khe Sanh detachment flew 13 armed escort missions during two recon over flies, recon inserts, a troop lift, and two resupply missions.

29 MAY 1967: Seven armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs. Six armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Two VIP missions were flown carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV and BGen Metzger.  The Khe Sanh detachment flew ten armed escort missions during two resupply missions and recon team inserts and extracts.

30 MAY 1967:  Two armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Four armed escort missions were flown in support of a resupply during which a gunship was shot down.  Four armed escort missions were flown providing cover for the downed aircraft.  60 2.75” rockets and 4,900 rounds of 7.62 were delivered on enemy positions.  Six armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Two VIP missions and three armed escort missions were flown carrying BGen Metzger.  One photo recon, one Admin/Liaison and two armed helicopter missions searching for a possible downed pilot were flown.  One visual recon mission was flown in the Dong Ha area.  The Khe Sanh detachment flew eight armed escort missions in support of recon team inserts and extracts during which 38 2.75” rockets and 17,300 7.62 were delivered to suppress enemy fire.

31 MAY 1967:  Five armed escort missions were flown in support of HMM-163 during medevacs.  Six armed escort missions were flown during recon team inserts and extracts.  Five VIP missions were flown carrying the CG, 3^rd MARDIV and BGen Metzger.  Five visual recon missions were flown in the Dong Ha area.  Two armed helicopter missions were flown to calibrate TPQ bombing.  The Khe Sanh detachment flew 14 armed escort missions during recon team inserts and extracts.

PART III       SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

1.                Personnel

a.                Promotions -         One promoted to Staff Sergeant

                   One promoted to Sergeant

                   Six promoted to Corporal

                  Three promoted to Lance Corporal

  b.             Twenty Officers joined and three Officers transferred.

  2.             Administration

  a.             No change of command within the squadron.

  b.                                 No outstanding administrative problems

  3.             Awards:  1 Certificate of Achievement; ten Purple Hearts

  4.             Casualties.   Four men injured when aircraft shot down while on gun run.  Two men WIA covering for downed aircraft, (pilot and gunner).  One man WIA while pilot of UH1E MED-EVAC Escort.  One man WIA while gunner of UH1E gunship on gun run.  Two men injured, (pilot and crew chief), while on Divisional recon.

8.           Intelligence/Counter-Intelligence

a.    During the month of May, VMO-3 second increment personnel were given an intelligence briefing by the Squadron Intelligence Officer.  This was second increment’s initial in-country briefing.

b.       VMO-3 provided low-altitude photo recon in support of 3^rd Mar Div.

c.        Four situation briefings were given at the Pilots’ APM’s.

d.       During the month of May, the S-2 kept the aircrew briefed on the situation in I-Corps.

9.             Air Operations

a.             Total hours flown:                955.3

b.             Total Gun Hours:                    615.0

c.             Total Slick Hours:                   340.3

d.             Total sorties flown:                2208

e.             Number of medical evac’s:         31

f.              Number of pax carried:             590

(1)           7.62 rounds                           299,150

(2)           2.75 rockets                           1236

11.                 Special Operations

            “Prairie IV,”  “Beacon Star,”  “Shawnee,” “Crockett,” “ Hickory” and “Choctaw.”

15.        Training

a.        General Military Subjects Training.  5 hours of classes were held on 113 newly joined personnel which consisted of an Intelligence brief, General area brief, and Weapons indoctrination brief.

b.       Technical Training.  2,985.7 hours of on the job training were accomplished, and 293.2 hours of formal classes were given.