Bullseye881 Posted June 25, 2016 Share #1 Posted June 25, 2016 I recently picked up a group of items from Ltc. George Shirilla, who was a Cobra pilot with the C Battery ("Griffins") of 4/77th 101st Airborne from 1970-1971. Ltc. Shirilla conducted a four part interview with the Veterans History Project (http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.19883/ ) & also supplied them with some photos of his time in Vietnam. Apparently, in addition to supplying aerial support to the 101st, his group also did support missions for CCN, including missions into Laos supporting MACV-SOG teams. Here is something else I found online regarding the "Griffins" work with MACV-SOG: "Volume IV, Appendix SOG, MACV Studies and Observation Group, Behind Enemy Lines, by Harve Saal, pp. 33/34" "The unit which provided the primary Helicopter gun support for SOG was C Battery, 4/77th ARA, 101st Abn Div. This battery had ultra-sleek AH-1G ("Cobra") gunships which were called the "Griffins." The unit maintained at least five snakes (Cobras) which were commto the SOG mission from spring 1969 until December 1971. On several occasions, the sister elements of C Battery sent Cobra gunships to support SOG's operation:A Battery, 4/77th ARA, 101st Abn Div ("Dragons")B Battery, 4/77th ARD, 101st Abn Div ("Toros")Because of the "Griffins" system of unit rotation, (volunteering) pilots flew SOG missions every thrid day, or so. The SOG missions were very secret and at least 25% of each pilot's flight record was 'whited-out.' All helicopter aircrews volunteered for MACV-SOG flight duty and no "Griffin" pilots were lost." I am thinking that most of these patches where removed from Ltc. Shirilla's party suit, as they match up with the ones he is wearing in one of the photos online & they still have red material on the back of them. In addition, the plaque is hanging on the wall in a photo of his hooch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin D. Posted June 25, 2016 Share #2 Posted June 25, 2016 This is a great grouping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted June 25, 2016 Share #3 Posted June 25, 2016 Awesome grouping. Sweet looking patches & plaque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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