COACHMEN, ALLEY CATS, BLACK CATS, BLACK ACES,. CAT KILLERS, NIGHTHAWKS.. and REDEYE. These aren't the names of football teams, nor are they the names of tough motor- cycle gangs. They're the names of the units of the 212th Combat Sup port Aviation Battalion. En masse known to the combat units of I Corps as "The Wings of Freedom." The 212th Combat Support Aviation Battalion is unique in the sense that it is the only battalion directly under the Ist Aviation Brigade. Units in the 212th are under operational control of III MAF with suballocation to 24th Corps, I Corps (ARVN), Americal Division, 2d ARVN Division and the 101st Airborne Division. "This Battalion is very diversified in its mission. It has numerous types of operational helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft." These are the words of LTC Bernard W. Bruns, former commanding officer of the 212th Combat Support Aviation Battalion. The 212th CSAB located at the Marble Mountain complex near Da Nang is the I Corps aviation center. At the Marble Mountain installation is Headquarters Company which provides support for the entire battalion. Also at Marble Mountain is the 282d Assault Helicopter Company, the "Black Cats." Major Val Panzitta, commander of the 282d AHC, is the only aviator in the unit on his second tour in Vietnam. The rest of the company's pilots are first tour men. The fact that they are first tour men has no real significance, however the fact that they are all new aviators just out of flight school does. Even with 59 aviators on their initial aviation tour the 282d has one of the finest assault records in Vietnam. Major Panzitta believes that the unit owes it's great record to his maintenance crews. In the last 4 months they have been 90% operational. The average for an assault company is around 75%. The "Black Cats" have some orothers known, as the "Alley Cats" who are capable of bearing a little more claw and fang. "Alley Cats," gunship platoon of the 282d, known for their cunning and ferocity, are well respected by the NVA and VC in the I Corps area. They are on 15-minute standby 24 hours a day. In flying ground support missions the miniguns and 2.75mm rockets of the "Alley Cats" can be on their target within 20 minutes of a request from one of the field commanders. The "Black Cats" and "Alley Cats" of the 282d AHC are respected for their fast service and deadly fire power. They are also known for fine civil action programs. Operation Silver Lining is their project to support the Sacred Heart Orphanage just 4 miles south of Da Nang. They have written to groups in the states and asked them to donate clothing, soap, cooking utensils, plates, silverware, and used toys. "The response has been tremendous," says Major Panzitta. "Some of the people back home have even been sending checks to be given to the orphanage." "Redeye," not the kind you drink, but the type that sees in total darkness is the name of the 245th Surveillance Airplane Company. The 245th SAC, located at the Marble Mountain air facility, is commanded by Major Gordon K. Lee Jr. The Mohawk aircraft of the 245th SAC flew 950 hours in the month of December. The eyes of the Americal Division, and the 2d ARVN Division in I Corps are the "Black Aces" of the 21st Reconnaissance Airplane Company. The Bird dogs of the 21st RAC as well as the rest of the 212th CSAB are feared by most of the experienced enemy troops in I Corps. "They have nearly gotten to the point that they don't like to fire on the virtually defenseless 0-1 aircraft due to the destruction that the Bird Dog can call in on him," says Captain James Wyner, a Bird Dog pilot in the 21st. Just a few minutes by air from Marble Mountain is the Phu Bai airstrip. Located at the Phu Bai base is the Corps Aviation Company (Provisional) providing lift capabilities for all of 24th Corps. The "Coachmen" as they are known in I Corps, fly 1,000 hours per month or better. Also located at Phu Bai is the 131st Surveillance Airplane Company. The "Nighthawks" who have a MACV-J2 mission are commanded by Major Gary Alton. "Cat Killers, Guardians of the DMZ, Eyes of I Corps," these are the names of the 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company. Being the only Bird Dog unit in I Corps from June 1965 until January 1968 tends to give a unit such as the 220th many nicknames. "The most rewarding command I've ever had," states Major James M. Wisby, commanding officer of the 220th. The 220th serves almost every type of unit in I Corps. Third Marine Division, 101st Airborne Division, Ist ARVN Division, 108th Artillery Group, Ist Brigade, 5th Mechanized Division, and the Naval Task Force off the coast of Vietnam all utilize 220th spitters. When fire direction missions were needed north of the DMZ, the 220th was there first with 0-1 aircraft. They served as eyes for the guns in the south. flying over 850 missions per month the "Cat Killers" locate the enemy and call in the firepower to complete the job. Waging war is not the only mission of the 220th. Their civil action programs are on their way to being some of the most successful in the I Corps area. Thanksgiving day, 1968, 50 children from one of their orphanages in Hue had a complete Thangsgiving dinner with the men of the 220th. The men of the 220th RAC lend support in the way of food, clothing and other gifts to 3 orphanages in the provincial capitol of Hue. The unit is well rewarded for their kindness by the smiles of the young children of the orphanages, and the sisters who operate the homes for the homeless children of war. On January 1, 1969 LTC Bruns turned the command of the 212th CSAB over to LTC Jack L. Mullen, formerly with the 17th Combat Aviation Group. LTC Bruns envies LTC Mullen. "He is taking over the finest command I've ever had the pleasure of serving."