Welcome to the 221st Aviation Company "Shotguns".
This page is dedicated to the men who served in the 221st from its activation on
23 March 1965 to its deactivation 10 October 1971. The unit flew the L-19 or O-1
Bird Dog.
I apologize for any errors or omissions as the records keeping for this period of
time were incomplete in many instances. Many hours of research have gone into this
project. The information is public knowledge, so feel free to share it, however
I ask you respect my effort. Full credit is given to the authors of all documents
and pictures.
Please join and support the International Bird Dog Association (IBDA).
The membership is only $30 annually.
They preserve and perpetuate the Bird Dog. This is the airplane that we all know and love.
Click here to go to the IBDA website.
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Countdown to 2013 Reunion in Houston
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Birddog Memorial
Plans for the Birddog Combat Unit memorial are well underway. The format for the memorial
itself is in the final stages of design, the vendor has been designated and the site selection
has been completed. The command at Fort Rucker has approved the project and it appears that we
are ready to go. For those Shotguns not in the loop so far, Norm MacPhee of the 220th Catkillers(
66-67) is spearheading the effort to erect a fitting monument in the memorial park at Fort Rucker.
The memorial will have 12 sides representing the 11 Birddog Combat Units that served in Vietnam and
one side for a brief history of the Birddog.
Representatives for each unit have been working on the project under the leadership
of Norm MacPhee. The 221st RAC representative is our own Hank Collins. It is time now for the project
to be funded. The memorial will cost a little over $36,000. We are asking the members of the 221st RAC
to contribute to this great effort and cause so that the memory and heritage of this great aircraft and
the men who flew and maintained it in combat will be forever remembered and represented at our true home
Fort Rucker. You can participate by clicking on the link below to open the form that will permit you to
make your contribution to this effort. The form contains the details on how to contribute, where to send
your donation and a short video on the site selection and site location at Fort Rucker. The Shotguns goal
for the Memorial is to have 100% participation in giving. It's not important if the amount is $50.00 or
$500.00, giving what each is able to give to this worthy cause is what will put this project over the goal.
And that will say a lot about us.
Click here to open the donation form
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READ OUR SHOTGUN SHORT STORIES
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General Robert Scales Speech on Viet Nam Veterans
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Shotgun Blasts
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"SPONSORS"
Thank you for the donations.
The raffle at the reunion raised some needed resources for the web site.
Your contributions will be will be put to good use
and provide improvements to the site.
If you wish to make a contribution,
my address is on the "Contact" page.
Monte
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