CPT Robert E. Laya, assumed command of the 145th Aviation Platoon in November, 1964. These are his recollections and photos of the time.
"The article from The Saigon Post, dtd Nov.27, 1964, was part of a RIO release. It gives a little description of the 145th Airlift Platoon's mission before being attached to the 52. As noted, we had 17 UH-1's and 39 officers. We dedicated 7 aircraft to MACV, daily. In January, 1965, we were detached from the 145h Avn Bn and attached to the 52nd Avn Bn at Pleiku. The Orders identify those 20 officers who left Saigon along with the 10 Hueys and enlisted men to Vung Tau. We then supported the Coast from Phan Thiet to Nha Trang. We exchanged two Slicks for two Guns, I believe. Bob Brafford and Jim Pratt formed the first crew, and Joe Thorne and Dan Bishop formed the second. We kept a Gun ship at Nha Trang and a Slick at Phan Thiet. After a couple months in Vung Tau, we moved to Nha Trang. Initially, 6 of us officers lived in a leased house about 100 yards from the beach. About a month later, we moved into the "Villa7' that now housed all or most of our officers. I believe it belonged to a RVN major general."
"The "green jeep" came from Saigon. It was one of the "perks" of command. I took it over from Joe Bell."
"The memorial service was for Thorne and Bishop and crew, who were shot down on an operation with the 5th SF on Easter Sunday, 1965. The US lost 25 that day. Largest number to date."
"The picture with Raymond Burr (Ironsides) was his return visit to RVN in the past year. We flew him when we were in Saigon the past November. He was a real great guy. Wanted no attention. Just wanted to get out into the field and visit with the troops."
"When we moved to Nha Trang,
our mission changed in that we dedicated more to Special Forces. One of
the missions that I wasn't too keen on was taking them up so they could
jump out and continue getting their Jump Pay. Somehow I couldn't see the
value in jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft."
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