1st Aviation Detachment Guns-A-Go-Go

[Siamundo]

I thought I might share this patch from the 1st Aviation Detachment (Provisional), nicknamed Guns A Go Go. A short history of the unit is that in 1966, during Vietnam, four US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters were modified with additional armament turning them into large armed gunships with increased firepower. Initially the four ACH-47's were assigned to the 53rd Aviation Detachment during a 6 month testing period and following the test period the 53rd became the 1st Aviation Detachment, Provisional. The four gunships were named: "Cost of Living", "Birth Control", "Stump Jumper" and "Easy Money". Standard operating tactic was for two of the gunships to always operate together in pairs. Trouble for the 4 ship detachment began soon after when "Stump Jumper" was destroyed in a ground collision at Vung Tau in late 1966. The following year in 1967 during a gun run, "Cost of Living" experienced an equipment failure resulting in a 20mm cannon to fire into her own rotors causing the aircraft to crash killing all on board. In February 1968 "Birth Control" was forced to land after sustaining heavy enemy fire near Hue. The crew was rescued by her sister ship " Easy Money", but before the downed ship could be recovered it was destroyed by enemy mortars. In March 1968 with only one of the four original ACH-47's still operational, the decision was made to 'retire' "Easy Money" at Vung Tau airfield and use her as a maintenance trainer during the remainder of the war. With all available Chinooks being used in Vietnam it was decided there were no additional units available to undergo the gunship conversion. She was eventually transported back to the US around 1972 and has been restored and is currently on display at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL.

[Siamundo]

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