UNIT OPERATIONS
The normal area of operations for the 361st ranged from Ban
Me Thout to the south of Pleiku and to Ben Het in the North. The primary mission of
providing support to the FOB II Special Forces in Kontum normally meant that the majority
of missions were flown to the north of Pleiku. The primary staging areas for FOB opeations
were Dak To and Ben Het. Seach and rescue missions were also flown in the Dak Pek region
to the north of Ben Het.
FOB operations consisted of providing coverage for the insertion and extraction of Special Forces teams into Laos and Cambodia. Two fire teams were assigned to FOB on a permanent basis while additional fire teams supported assigned missions throughout the II Corp area, provided additional FOB support, or were place on standby at Camp Holloway. A book by John L Plaster, SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam provides an excellent reference on FOB operations and personnel.
A normal day's operations for the Pink Panthers consisted of two light fire teams (4 AH-1G Cobra gunships) assigned to the FOB mission while two others were placed on standby at Camp Holloway. The assignment of two fire teams started in May 1969 when it was decided that the UH-1C Huey gunships of the 57th Aviation Company were too slow and expended too quickly under the dangerous conditions of the FOB missions. Normal FOB operations consisted of four AH-1G Cobra Gunships, four UH-1H Huey helicopters "slicks" from the 57th Aviation Company and four Vietnamese Air Force "Kingbee" CH-34 troop carrying helicopters. These aviation resources were controlled by an Air Force OH-1 "Covey" aircraft which coordinated air and ground action. Additionally, backup support was available from Air Force A1-E "Spads" and F-4C "Phantoms" when required to provide heavy tactical air power.
The two fire teams of the 361st were divided into primary and secondary fire teams. The primary fire teams mission was to escort the UH-1H and CH-34 helicopters into the landing zones and provide aerial fire support to beleaguered FOB exploitation forces. The secondary fire team provided backup and coverage for the primary fire team and took its place once its two aircraft had expended.
