Air Support/Defense

A.                 Air Support.  During the month of January, air support requirements consisted mainly of helicopter resupply.  Approximately 5 percent of all helicopter requests were not filled.  Aircraft availability was greatly improved over last month due primarily to the advent of good weather and a period of general operational inactivity in and about the Chu Lai Enclave.  All requests for emergency evacuation were fulfilled.

Air Support Requests.

1.      Helicopter

a.         Resupply

            (1)       Mission requests         47

            (2)       Mission completed      45

b.         Evacuation

            (1)       Mission requests          4

            (2)       Missions completed     4

c.         Tactical (recon)

            (1)       Mission requests         2

            (2)       Mission completed      2

2.      Fixed Wing Transport.

None

3.      Air Strikes.

(1)       Mission requests     1

(2)               Mission completed 1

B.                 Air Defense.  Air defense measures employed by the Battalion are passive.  No organic weapons are available for active defense.

C.                This Battalion has experienced an appreciable increase over last month in cooperation from the various agencies supplying air support.  The static condition of this Battalion has relegated it to a low priority on air requests, however the response to request for supporting air for small unit actions within the TAOR has been encouraging.