The 52d Aviation Battalion deployed from Fort Ord, California to Pleiku, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) in February 1963. Its base, Camp Holloway, named in honor of WO1 Charles Holloway, a member of the Battalion who was killed in action 22 December 1962, just two months earlier. Initially, the Battalion provided support to the II Corps Highlands, with emphasis on support of MACV advisors, ARVN and CDIG forges. With the escalation of the Vietnam War in 1965, the 4th Infantry Division and 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, were deployed in the Central Highlands, and since arrival, have received the Majority of the 52d Battalion's aviation assets. The 52d participated in all of the major operations conducted in the II Corps Highlands area, including the battle of Plei Me, DuCo, and the Ira Drang Valley Campaign. The unit was awarded the Valorous Unit Citation for heroic actions in the battle of Plei Me.
During the Fall of 1965, the 52d Battalion set innumerable flying and maintenance records and has performed every conceivable type of aviation mission.
Its mission was to provide support to US Forces, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces and Free World Forces operating in the II Corps area, with priority to the 4th Infantry Division.
In February 1967, the 52d Combat Aviation Battalion was officially designated the "Flying Dragons".
From January to February 1968 the Battalion participated in TET Offensive 1968.
In 1968 the Battalion participated in the operations at Dak To and Ben Het.
In 1969, they provided the major aviation support at Dak To again, Bu Prang, and Ben Het. In 1970, the unit stopped and broke the NVA siege at Dak Seang, then spearheaded the northeastern Cambodian operation.
From 1970 till its return to the United States
on 28 April 1972, the 52d CAB continued to provide aviation assets in support
of the units in Vietnam.
The 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment was inactivated 16 October 1988 in Korea and redesignated as 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, a parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System, with its Headquarters at Camp Coiner and subordinate units at K-16, Camp Page and Camp Humphreys. The 501st conducted many diverse missions, including Special Operations, Air Assault and General Support throughout the theater. In 1991 and 1994, the 1-501st received the theater's AAAA Outstanding Aviation Unit of the Year. On 16 February 1996, as part of the Aviation Restructuring Initiative, the 1-501st was inactivated and the 1-52nd was reactivated at K-16. The 1-52nd consolidated at K-16 in March of 1996. In 1997, the 1-52nd received the theater AAAA Outstanding Aviation Unit of the Year Award.
The history of the 52d CAB will never be forgotten....