E Battery, 82nd Artillery was an aviation-only unit assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) Division Artillery (DIVARTY). E/82 began arriving in An Khe, Vietnam in August 1965 . The unit's mission was to provide aerial reconnaissance, tracking of artillery fire and command liaison, with auxiliary functions of aerial surveillance, resupply of artillery elements, personnel and medical airlift. By 30 September 1965, "Echo" Battery pilots had logged 359 hours in 382 missions utilizing primarily OH-13 observation helicopters. At that time their asset inventory included four UH-1B helicopters. On December 1965, the use of fixed wing aircraft in Operation "Clean House", led the battery to request permanent assignment of airplanes to the unit.