Maintenance crews working on Iroquois helicopters at the135th Assault Helicopter Company (135th ...

Maintenance crews working on Iroquois helicopters at the135th Assault Helicopter Company (135th AHC), United States Army, maintenance lines and canvas hangars. The maintenance company regularly work by torch light at night and in the rain to change engine fuel control units, patch innumerable bullet holes, and change engines and rotor blades so that the required 15 helicopters can be flown every day. The 135th AHC are resourced to fly 1500 hours per month but regularly fly well over 3600 hours and even as many as 4100 hours. Resourcefulness in maintenance is a necessity as it is difficult for stores to keep up with the demand. RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV) is serving with the 135th AHC. Due to its integrated nature, the unit is designated an ‘experimental military unit', with the nickname EMU. Based originally at Vung Tau Air Base, the company moved to Fire Support Base Black Horse near Xuan Loc in December 1967. In November 1968 the unit was moved to Bearcat Base, north east of Saigon. Throughout their service in Vietnam members of RANHFV provided tactical airlift and gunship support for Australian and allied ground forces.