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Forward Command Post was established near the airfield and the 1st Brigade's forward support element was air lifted in. The forward support element and an Air Force tactical air control party worked together in a joint operation continuing daily resupply by heavy drop. This reduced the demand on the division's aviation assets to complete unit distribution within the valley. However, a large amount of the resupply for the 3d Brigade elements continued to be lifted from Camp Evans by organic aircraft. At 1400 on 26 April a C-130 received enemy antiaircraft fire after breaking out of the overcast too far to the south of the drop zone at landing zone STALLION. Attempting to crash land at the landing zone and losing altitude rapidly, the C-130 came under more small arms fire as it tried to turn and crashed and burned at the landing zone.
This tragic crash points out how dedicated our Air Force pilots were during this operation. They were faced with the same miserable weather I have described earlier but, unlike the helicopter, they could not pick holes in the clouds for their descent. They were vectored to the A Shau Valley by the intersection of two radio stations on the east coast. From there, they began an instrument approach into the valley using their own on-board radar to avoid the mountains. No matter how reliable the gauges, it takes a lot of guts to poke your airplane nose into clouds that are full of solid rock! Breaking out under a low ceiling, they made their parachute drop and climbed out.
In addition to the superb support of the Hercules pilots, I must mention the 109th Quartermaster Company (Air Drop) at Cam Ranh Bay which rigged 2,212 tons of all classes of supplies for air drop into the A Shau Valley. They and the crews of the C-130's did a tremendous job under extreme pressure.
On the morning of 29 April, elements of the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry secured a landing zone in the vicinity of Ta Bat airfield and the 3d Army of the Republic of Vietnam Regiment began its insertion into the valley with the airlift of its 1st Battalion landing at 0830. The 3d Army of the Republic Vietnam Regiment under the command of Colonel Hoa assumed the security mission for landing zone LUCY. By 1 May the 3d Army of the Republic of Vietnam Regiment had closed on landing zone LUCY and initiated attacks southeast along the Rao Lao River. At 1130 on that date, they discovered a large supply cache of ammunition, vehicle spare parts, and communications equipment. They continued their attack toward the old Special Forces camp at the south end of the valley.