The Bell UH-1B Iroquois, better known as the "Huey", first
flew in 1956 as Bell's first production turbine-powered
helicopter. Early in the Vietnam conflict, the Navy sought
helicopter gunship support for its riverine operations.
Though Army UH-1B's flew from ships in the Mekong River Delta,
limitations in Army doctrine forced the Navy to consider its
own gunship program. In the summer of 1966, four detachments
from squadron HC-1 were formed as the Navy's first dedicated
attack helicopter force, the "Seawolves".
From the success of integrating the Seawolves with the smaller
craft of the "Brown Water Navy", emerged a new squadron,
Helicopter Attack (Light) Three, in 1967. HAL-3 would see
intensive action over the next five years, especially in 1968
during the Tet Offensive. When they disestablished in March
1972, HAL-3 pilots and aircrew had amassed more than 17,000
combat decorations, making it one of the most decorated units
in naval aviation.
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