Similar to Navy planes during World War II, the helicopters of the 1st Cavalry had a distinctive but intentionally vague series of colors and symbols to discern each unit within the Division.
The colors were used to designate the various battalions (or “regiments” depending on who you talk to). Green was the 227th Aviation Battalion, light blue was the 228th, dark blue was the 229th, and red was the 2/20 Armed Rocket Artillery Battalion. Yellow was the chosen color of the 9th Cavalry Regiment, the reconnaissance arm of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Within the battalion, each sub unit (“troops” or “batteries” or “companies”) was assigned a shape. A triangle meant A, square was B, circle was C, and a diamond was D.
So with all that information you can deduce the unit to which the Flying Heritage Collection’s Huey was assigned: 1st Cavalry Division, 9th Cavalry Regiment, A Troop.
There’s going to be a quiz later.
Extra credit: Which unit always had a yellow lightning bolt along with their distinctive color and shape?
Cory Graff is the military aviation curator at the Flying Heritage Collection.
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