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Welcome To The Fox's Den
Home of the 199th RAC

Photo courtesy Ray Jennings

Dedicated to the men who flew and supported the 199th Recon Airplane Company in the Delta region of Vietnam.

A brief history of the 199th RAC

The 199th started out as the 199th Airplane Company (Lt),with lineage going to the 199th Truck Company in the Philippine Islands in WWII.Initially the company's call sign was "Mad Dog" however before the unit deployed over seas another unit was operating in RVN with that call sign. It's new name comming from the Revolutionary War hero, Francis Marion, The "Swamp Fox" . Check in the beginning (an email message to me from the first commanding officer then Maj.Charles Hutchins).. In June of 1967 the 199th made the move from where it formed up, Fort Hood, TX, to Vinh Long, RVN. Some of it's members traveled to RVN via ship with the unit's airplanes, while the others flew over. This earily history comes from Ray Jennings
In 1968 the company's designation changed to 199th Aviation Co.(AVN CO) then later in '68 it became the 199th Recon Airplane Co.(RAC).

Print coutesy Ray Jennings

In October 1970, the unit was deactivated, with some of the O-1's being sent to Vung Tau for cleaning. Then some planes were shipped back to the U.S. and some planes and personel were transferred to other units.. This information comes from Terry Mathews (who was a Spec 5 with the 199th at this time) and from Steve Hale (who was a spec 4 with the 199th then transferred to the 221st RAC)
As more infromation becomes available to us, this brief history of the 199th will become more detailed.

Photo links to the Forward Air Fields.
(Not yet completed)