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[Janu]ary 1966. This approval authorized a strength of 145 personnel for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company which, at that time, actually had a strength of only two officers and five enlisted men. This formal approval was the culmination of many earlier decisions on the best alternative solution to the growing aviation maintenance problem in Vietnam.
In July 1965 Army aircraft maintenance in Vietnam was provided by three direct support companies and one general support company. Aviation supply was managed by a special Aviation Supply Point in Saigon. All of these units were part of the 12th Aviation Group (Provisional) which in turn reported to the U.S. Army Support Command. At this time in 1965, about 660 Army aircraft were in Vietnam; but, plans were already firm to expand this aircraft population to over 2,000 by early 1966. General Norton, then Commanding General of U.S. Army Support Command, formed an ad hoc committee to study possible alternatives for dealing with this growing maintenance requirement. General Norton's objectives were to provide one-stop maintenance and supply support to Army aircraft (including airframe, engine, avionics and armament); and, to provide an organization that had the ability to grow with the requirement.
At that time, three organizational alternatives were possible. First, the aircraft maintenance and supply units could be integrated into the 1st Aviation Brigade structure. Second, these units could be integrated into the 1st Logistical Command structure. Third, a special separate command organization could be formed to control all non-divisional aircraft maintenance and supply units. This group could be assigned to either the 1st Aviation Brigade, the 1st Logistical Command, or directly under U.S. Army Vietnam Headquarters as a separate major command.
Major Rudolph D. Descoteau and Major Charles L. Smith, as members of the ad hoc committee, developed matrices which considered all alternatives including span of control, flexibility, and responsiveness. This committee also solicited opinion of their potential customers to include the 1st Cavalry Division. On 27 August 1965 the ad hoc committee submitted their new plan of the organization of aircraft maintenance and supply. This plan marked the conception of the 34th General Support Group though it was yet unnamed. A separate command organization to provide the aircraft maintenance and supply support seemed to offer the best solution. With this organizational structure the requirements to provide one-stop maintenance and supply support could be more easily satisfied. It was realized that certain duplication in their