Rattler/Firebird Home Page

Welcome to the snakepit! This is the home page of the Rattlers and Firebirds of Company A/501st Aviation Battalion, 71st Assault Helicopter Company, 151st Transportation Detachment, and the 94th Signal Detachment. We served in Vietnam from 1964 until 1971, moving from our original base at Bien Hoa to Chu Lai in 1967.

Firebirds attacking

Firebirds attacking

Rattler & Firebird Names

The radio call signs “Rattler” and “Firebird” were used by our aircraft during our service in Vietnam. “Rattler” was used by our UH-1D & H helicopters that carried troops, supplies, ammunition, performed command and control, combat assault, medical evacuation and insertion/extraction missions, as well as many others. The call sign “Firebird” was used by our UH-1B, C & M gunships, some of the most feared gunships in all of Vietnam. You can find more about the call signs and where they came from on our history page.

The Association

The Rattler/Firebird Association has no political agenda. We simply provide a means to stay in touch with those who share our experiences. If you served with us, or with anyone else during the Vietnam conflict and nobody has told you this already, we'd like take this opportunity to say, “Welcome Home!”

What's New?

Here are the most recent changes to our site:

Added Mercchandise
Added a number of polo shirts to the Merchandise Page.
Added Mercchandise
Added Christmas Ornaments to the Merchandise Page.
Added Video
Added a video gallery to the 2010 Nashville Reunion Section. Thanks to Mike Chauncey for the DVD.
Added Pictures
Added a new page to the photo gallery for photos of 64-13560 (one of our former aircraft) in its current configuration with a tribute to the Rattlers and Firebirds.
Added Pictures
Added a new page to the photo gallery for Jerry Walker's pictures from 1968-69.
Added Photo Gallery
Added a Photo Gallery to the 2010 Reunion Section
Added Pictures
Added a new page to the photo gallery for Jerry Ericsson's pictures from 1968-69.