US Army 281st Aviation Company ‘Intruders’ Unit Patch

Description

**US Army 281st Aviation Company Intruders Patch**

The Intruders flew where nobody else would go—into hot LZs supporting Green Berets on some of the most classified missions of the Vietnam War. If you know what MACV-SOG and Project Delta mean, you know the 281st.

Activated on 7 October 1965 at Fort Benning, Georgia, the 281st Assault Helicopter Company became the U.S. Army’s first organized Special Operations helicopter unit. Based at Nha Trang, Vietnam, the Intruders flew UH-1 Hueys under operational control of the 5th Special Forces Group, supporting MACV-SOG, Project Delta, Omega, Sigma, and the MACV Recondo School. In five years of combat, the 281st lost 52 aviators killed—65% more than the average assault helicopter company—and participated in twelve Vietnam campaigns.

• **Type:** Embroidered patch with iconic Intruders insignia
• **Backing:** Hook & loop (Velcro) for uniform and display use
• **Durability:** Dense stitching preserving Vietnam-era unit heritage
• **Detail:** Full-color reproduction of the original 281st AHC crest
• **Application:** Shadow boxes, Vietnam displays, flight jackets, memorial collections

**Perfect For:** 281st AHC veterans and families, Special Forces aviation enthusiasts, Vietnam War historians, Huey helicopter collectors, and anyone honoring the first SOF helicopter unit in Army history.

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