62nd Corps Aviation Company History
By Rollie Hubbard and Harry Trumbull
The 62nd Corps Aviation Company had a twofold mission, to provide all transportation assets for the XXIV Corps and act as command and control for units on the ground. It transported the Corps commander and staff, transported VIPs, made supply runs, evacuated causalities (both American and South Vietnamese military personnel when requested), and rescued downed air crews. The unit also flew missions that were considered black operations. The unit’s transportation of numerous VIPs, congressmen, senators, high ranking officers, and Ambassador Bunker. The 62nd CAC had OH-58s, OH-6s, UH-1s, CH-47Cs and U-21 aircraft assigned to fulfill the corps aviation company mission.
The 62nd Aviation Company was constituted April 3rd 1962 in the Regular Army and was activated May 1st 1962 at Fort Benning GA. The company was inactivated February 11th 1963. The unit was reactivated August 6th 1964 at Ft. Benning, GA. to serve in Vietnam only to be again inactivated on December 14 1964 in the Republic of Vietnam. In March 1969 the 62nd was reactivated and posted to Phu Bia, South Vietnam to replace the Corps Aviation Company (Provisional). It was assigned to the 212th Aviation Battalion of the 1st Aviation Brigade which was headquartered at Marble Mountain, Da Nang.
The Royal Coachman moved to Marble Mountain Army Airfield, DaNang on March 8th 1970. This move was coincident with the move of XXIV Corps Headquarters from Phu Bia to Camp Horn in DaNang East. The unit was installed in the 212th Aviation Battalion area along with the 282nd Assault Helicopter Company and 245th Surveillance Airplane Company. In June 1970 the 245th SAC discontinued operations, and the Royal Coachman took over their company area.
With the downturn of United States operations in Vietnam, the 62nd Corps Aviation Company relocated from Marble Mountain Airfield to DaNang Main Airfield August 16th 1972. As not only the last aviation company, but the last company sized combat unit to operate in I Corps, the 62nd was involved in the final withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Vietnam. The Royal Coachmen continued their myriad of single ship missions in general support of the last remaining American Advisors. In March 1973, as the colors of the 62 Aviation Company departed the Republic of Vietnam for Germany, all members of the Royal Coachman can take pride in the many accomplishments of their unit. Since it’s activation in March 1969, the company earned a reputation as one of the safest, most competent and most professional aviation units in the history of Army Aviation.
After redeployment from Vietnam, the 62nd Aviation Company “Royal Coachman” was activated in West Germany in September 1973 as part of the 11th Aviation Battalion (Combat) to support V Corps. Initially the 62nd was stationed at Fliegerhorst Kaserne near Hanau, with detachments throughout northern West Germany, including Babenhausen and Giessen Army Airfields.
Often the arrival of detachments of the Royal Coachman meant the reactivation of airfields and the reintroduction of aviation access to the supported elements. In the late 70s, the 62nd and Battalion HQ relocated to Maurice Rose Army Airfield (MRAAF) outside of Bonames, a northern suburb of Frankfurt/Main. At it’s peak in the 1980s, the 62nd consisted of 21 UH-1H and 20 OH-58 helicopters and two fixed wing (C-12 and U-21).
Overtime, the Royal Coachmen adopted the call sign of “BOSS”. This call sign signified the importance of the 62nd Aviation Company mission – “TO FLY THE BOSS”. The unit also earned a reputation as one of USAREURs safest, most competent and professional aviation companies, Truly “Masters of the Trade”.
As a troop lift capable unit the 62nd provided dedicated air transport to the Corps and its direct support units and trained for combat missions consistent with the unit’s history. The units helicopter mission support varied widely to include day and night VIP transport, paradrops, rappelling, stabo operations, air assault and nuclear surety security. The two fixed wing aircraft provided broader area transport. In October 1987, the 62nd’s platoons were redesignated as individual line companies.
For the newly activated 5 – 158th Aviation Battalion, the 62nd Command Flight Platoon (UH-1) became A Company 5 – 158th (VIP) and B Company 5 – 158th (Lift). The 62nd Observation Platoon (OH-58) became C Company 5 – 158th (VIP) and D Company 5 – 158th (Target and Acquisition). The 62nd Maintenance Platoon became E Company 5 – 158th Aviation. Final closure of Maurice Rose Army Airfield came on August 18, 1992 when the 5 – 158th Aviation Battalion, formerly the 62nd Aviation Company, relocated to Giebelstadt Army Airfield in West Germany.
