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Attack Helicopter - US ARMY - The Underdogs
120th Assault Helicopter Company - Vietnam War.
The Underdogs are Here - Snoopy Patch - Have No Fear
SNOOPY - 3rd Flight Platoon - Helicopter
Measures - 3.8 x 2.8 inches (9.5 x 7 cms)
One of earliest Units in Vietnam arriving in June 1963 primarily to service the CIA and US Special Forces Operatives in the Saigon area - Based at Long Binh (North of Saigon) - At one time (in 1968) the largest Helicopter Company in Vietnam. They were to remain in Vietnam until October of 1972.
120th CAC - Combat Aviation Company - Assault Helicopter
The 120th Assault Helicopter Company (120th AHC), nicknamed “The Underdogs”, was a U.S. Army aviation unit that played a critical support role during the Vietnam War.
Activated in 1963, the 120th AHC was based primarily at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, just outside Saigon, and later operated out of Long Binh. The unit was part of the larger 145th Combat Aviation Battalion under the 12th Aviation Group.
The 120th was equipped with UH-1 Hueys, both in slick (troop transport) and gunship configurations, and was responsible for a wide range of missions including airmobile troop insertions and extractions, resupply, medevac, command-and-control flights, and close air support.
Their nickname, “The Underdogs,” symbolised their resilience and determination to succeed despite often being outnumbered, under fire, or flying into dangerous landing zones with little room for error.
The company also operated a gunship platoon known as the “Deans,” which provided aerial fire support to protect the slicks during combat assaults. The pilots and crew members of the 120th faced constant danger from small arms fire, anti-aircraft weapons, and treacherous terrain, particularly during hot landing zone insertions in contested areas.
The 120th AHC was heavily involved in operations across III and IV Corps Tactical Zones, supporting ARVN and U.S. forces during major campaigns such as Operation Cedar Falls, Junction City, Tet Offensive (1968), and numerous daily engagements throughout the Mekong Delta and surrounding regions.
Their contributions were vital in moving troops rapidly into the field, reinforcing embattled units, and evacuating the wounded under fire.
The unit earned multiple citations and commendations for valor and performance, including the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and was known for its tight-knit crews and aggressive flying style. Casualties were significant over the years of combat, and their service is commemorated by veterans who served in one of the most dangerous roles in the war, helicopter combat aviation.
By the early 1970s, as U.S. forces began drawing down, the 120th continued to fly missions in support of ARVN forces during the Vietnamization phase of the war, before eventually being stood down and deactivated.
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be fun. Stay safe, Patrick
