119th Assault Helicopter Company

Famous United States Army UH-1 "Huey" combat helicopter unit that operated throughout the Central Highlands of Vietnam during the war there from 1962 to 1970. Originally designated the 81st Transportation Company and equipped with twin-rotor CH-21 "Flying Banana" piston-engined helicopters, the company was reorganized in 1963 as the 119th Assault Helicopter Company and re-equipped with turbine-powered single-rotor UH-1 Hueys. Also known as the 119th Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter), the company's area of operations included the entire Central Highlands of Vietnam, plus large portions of Laos and Cambodia.

Eventually assigned to the 52d Combat Aviation Battalion, 17th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade at Camp Holloway in Pleiku, the company was also based at An Khe for a short time late in the war. Equipped with 16 to 20 lightly-armed "Slick" troopships that used the radio callsign "Alligator" or "Gator," and approximately 8 Huey Gunships known as "Crocodiles" or "Crocs", the company at one time also used the callsign "Black Dragon." Total company strength of approximately 225 included 50 to 60 pilots and an equal number of crewmembers, plus field maintenance and other critical support personnel.

During over eight years in Vietnam, the company provided helicopter support for the US Army 4th Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 173d Airborne Brigade, US Marine Corps, US Army Special Forces, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and also flew many classified missions for MACV-SOG.

Over 60 members of the 119th Assault Helicopter Company were killed in action, with many more wounded.