Hooker Historyy
Most of us still alive only know the 92nd, callsign “Hookers” as a helicopter outfit, but our origins are rooted in the red soil of Fort Benning, Georgia, and (gasp) fixed-wing aircraft. Our history as the 92nd begins as a fixed-wing company, the 187th Avn Co, which was activated at Ft Benning, GA on August 6, 1964. This company was later redesignated the 92ndAvn Co (AM-FW). This fixed-wing company left Ft. Benning in Oct 1964 bound for Viet Nam, and began operations in late 1964 flying the famous CV-2 Caribou.V
In 1965 the 92nd was selected as a test unit for the newer CV-7 Buffalo and operated this type until the unit assets were turned over to the USAF (459th TCS) and was deactivated on 1 January 1967.
MISSION: Protect the Republic, Fly to Fight, Fight to Fly
Once again, this unit was reactivated as the 238th Avn Co (AML) at Ft. Carson, CO on 8 February 1967, under the 5th US Army. Again, it was re-designated the 92nd Avn Co (AML) and was assigned UH-1H helicopters in two lift platoons (Broncos) and UH-1C aircraft in a single gun platoon (Derbys). The 92nd Co departed Ft Carson on 2 Nov 1967 and arrived at Cam Rahn Bay on Thanksgiving Day (23 Nov) 1967. The 92nd was again re-designated the 92nd Assault Helicopter Company and was assigned to the 10thCAB, 17th CAG, 1stAviation Brigade and worked out of Dong Ba Thin, call sign Stallions (lift) and Sidekicks (guns) from 12 Dec 1967 until it was deactivated on January 1, 1971, after numerous campaigns and awards, including the Meritorious Unit Commendation and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
Under General Orders Number 157, dated 31 March 1971, Headquarters Sixth US Army, the 617th Aviation Company was inactivated, effective date 1 April 1971. On 1 April 1971, the 92nd Avn Co (ASH) was consolidated in the US Army Reserve and activated at Sand Point Naval Air Station, Seattle, and took over the assets of the 617th Avn Co at Sand Point Naval Air Station, organized under the 124th ARCOM at Ft. Lawton, WA. On that same date by General Order 139, HQ Sixth US Army, the 92nd Aviation Company became a “Chinook” outfit. The 92nd continued to operate a single OH-23C (floats), and later, 4 - OH-23 Ds, as well as 5 OH-13s. The first CH-47A, tail number 118, arrived at Sand Point on 2 December 1972, flown by Captain Errol Van Eaton. By April of 1973, a second CH-47 had arrived. At this time the unit had 20 Officers, 26 Warrant Officers, 124 Enlisted for a total troop strength of 170. We had 2 CH-47As, 4 UH-1D Hueys, and 1 OH-23C. 21 pilots were CH-47 qualified with 32 Aviators on Flight Status. 21 Aviators were attached for flight training. There were 16 Crewmembers and 6 Non-crewmembers in the unit. By the end of 1973, the Hook-ers had a total of 27 A Model Chinooks assigned to them.
The Hookers flew the CH-47A Chinook from December 1972 until 1986 while flying out of Paine Field. Additional CH-47s were picked up by 92nd aircrews from Harrisburg Pennsylvania over the course of several years. In 1986 the 92nd began receiving CH-47B helicopters from the 214th Avn Co., an active duty Chinook outfit stationed at Fort Lewis. At the same time, Boeing Helicopters began accepting A Model airframes for conversion to the D Model at their Philadelphia plant. This began a long series of ferry flights across the US turning in our A model Chinooks and later picking up new remanufactured D models.
Two civilian maintenance mechanics, Pete and Elmer took care of the Hiller.
It was not uncommon to find the helicopter gone, parked in someone's back yard, even as far away as Sunnyside in Eastern Washington. It was a flying club.
Sand Point Naval Support Activity
617th Avn Co OH-23C is readied for flight at Hangar 27, April 1970. The unit had a single aircraft, 8 pilots and around 240 enlisted, most there to avoid being drafted. "Old Charlie" as the Hiller was called, also had floats, usually installed during warmer weather.
After the 617th became the 92nd Avn Company the plan was for the unit to become an OV-1D Mohawk unit. Sand Point Naval Support Activity had not yet succumbed to political pressure from the wealthy residents on the hill behind Sand Point and the runways had not yet been torn up. Senator Magnuson pushed through transferring the Air Station to the city of Seattle. Without a runway, that ended all hope of the 92nd getting Mohawks. By the summer of 1973 we were forced to move the unit to Paine Field, 30 miles north of Seattle. On our final flights out of Sand Point, we announced our departure and displeasure to the residents on the hill by flying down the ridgeline on a quiet Sunday morning at 80 knots and 500 feet. This airspeed produces the maximum blade pop noise in the Huey.