114th Aviation Company

• Formation and Role: The 114th Aviation Company, also known as the “Knights of the Air,” was activated in 1963 and served as an Assault Helicopter Company during the Vietnam War. • Call Signs: The unit was famously known by the call signs “Knights” for its slicks (UH-1 Hueys) and “Cobras” for its gunships. • Base of Operations: The 114th was based primarily at Vinh Long Army Airfield in the Mekong Delta, a critical location for helicopter support in southern Vietnam. • First in the Delta: The 114th Aviation Company was one of the first helicopter units to be assigned to the Mekong Delta, a region notorious for its challenging terrain and intense guerrilla warfare. • Distinguished Service: The 114th participated in numerous major operations, including search and destroy missions, troop insertions and extractions, medevac missions, and resupply operations. • High Decorations: Members of the 114th earned multiple awards, including Distinguished Flying Crosses, Silver Stars, and numerous Air Medals for their valor and skill under fire. • Innovative Tactics: The unit was known for developing and perfecting air mobility tactics, especially in the use of “slicks” and gunships for coordinated assaults and rapid response. • Facing the Tet Offensive: During the 1968 Tet Offensive, the 114th played a crucial role in supporting ground units and evacuating casualties under heavy enemy fire. • Unit Legacy: The 114th Aviation Company’s alumni maintain an active association and website, preserving stories, photographs, and the memory of those who served. • Nickname and Motto: The unit’s nickname, “Knights of the Air,” reflects its reputation for courage and chivalry, and it adopted the motto “Second to None.”