Welcome to the 5th Air Commando Squadron Home Page
This site is dedicated to the aircrew and support personnel who were members of the 5th ACS at Nha Trang, Vietnam. The unit was activated in November of 1965 to conduct Psychological Warfare missions throughout the Republic of Vietnam. The unit operated C-47 and U-10 aircraft to deliver leaflet and loudspeaker messages to enemy ground forces. The messages were designed to encourage these forces to surrender to US or RVN forces. Messages were also delivered to Vietnamese villagers, warning them to avoid certain areas where intensive activity was planned or in progress.
The initial aircrews were trained at Forbes AFB Kansas by Detachment 6 of the 1st Air Commando Wing from August through October of 1965. Aircrew members of the 4th ACS, a sister squadron operating AC-47 gunships, were also in training at Forbes at the same time. At the completion of the training program, combined crews from the 4th and 5th ACS flew the C-47 aircraft to California. Long-range fuel tanks were installed and the aircraft were ferried to Vietnam via Hawaii, Wake Island, Midway, Guam and the Philippines. The U-10 crews were transported to Nha Trang where their aircraft awaited their arrival. The squadron flew its first operational missions in early November 1965.
Over the next year, more than 10,000 combat sorties were flown over the jungles of South East Asia, and several million leaflets were dispensed. Most of the flying was conducted at low level and slow speed, which made us very tempting targets to the enemy on the ground. Although we had several aircraft damaged or destroyed, only one crew member was injured and there were no fatalities during the first year. The follow-on crews were not quite as fortunate. At least five members were killed or missing in action between 1966 and 1969.
Upon completion of our tour of duty in November 1966, we returned to the United States to a variety of new assignments or careers. Replacement crews arrived each year to continue the mission. Because of the increased psychological warfare requirement, in March of 1967 the unit was split to form two squadrons. The 5th ACS was responsible for III and IV Corps and the 9th ACS covered the two northern corps. In May, they began replacing the U-10 with O2B aircraft. The psy war aircraft were deployed to forward detachments and six C-47s were assigned to Nha Trang for flare missions. Combat sorties for 1967 increased to over 20,000. In 1968 the squadron was renamed the 5th Special Operations Squadron and continued leaflet and loudspeaker operations until its inactivation in 1969. The 5th SOS was reactivated in 1995 operating MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft.
After 36 years, several of us regained contact through the miracle of the internet and a lot of hard work. It was decided that a reunion was in order and under the leadership of Herb Plehn, it came together. We met at the Marriot Riverwalk in San Antonio from 09/26 through 09/28 of 2002. Although only 11 members and 7 wives were able to attend, we had a wonderful time. We agreed that we would plan another for 2004 and increase our efforts to locate more of our comrades. Hopefully, some of them will stumble across this page and contact us so that we may add them to our roster and include them in our next reunion.
Way back in November 1965,
A new kind of squadron in Nha Trang did arrive.
We were called Air Commandos and known as the 5th.
Loudspeakers and leaflets were what we fought with.
With little U-10s and the old Gooneybird,
We delivered the VC, the ungarbled word.
We tried to convince them that they could not win.
And the best thing to do was to turn themselves in.
For each one of their guys that gave up the strife,
One more of ours wouldn't lay down his life.
This mission was dangerous as most of them are,
But we all did our part to help win the war.
We completed our tour and went our own way.
But frequently thought of our friends far away.
Some have passed on but others remain
And now is the time to meet once again.
So join your old comrades and be of good cheer
Remember old times and friends who're not here.
Please visit our photo galleries by clicking on the link on the left side of the page. A listing of the members of the 5th ACS and their status can be reviewed by clicking on the Members Status or In Memory Of links below. We would also appreciate any comments in our Guest Book. Thank you for visiting our site.
 5th ACS New Home Page |
| Air Comando Home Page |
| Special Operations Command |
| 5th SOS Home Page |
| Air Commando |
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