138th Aviation Company Memorial Inc.

08/22/2026

If you were ever curious if the RU-21 Guardrail system was developed by the Army Security Agency, as opposed to say, Department of the Army, or INSCOM, here’s pretty convincing proof given the not so subtle Eagles claw.

Now if you were told that the original Guardrail patch was inspired by Army and Civilian maintenance and technical folks spending evenings at an English Pub inside a Holiday Inn in Wichita, KS across the street from the Beechcraft factory where aircraft were being modified for the Guardrail program, you’d be right about that too!

08/05/2026

A Gift 60 Years Delayed

When a service member finishes a combat tour, the unit often marks the moment with a small token of appreciation—a quiet acknowledgment of the months spent together and the work done. For Major Walter Duke, that token was meant to be an engraved beer stein.

Between 1965 and 1966, Major Duke spent a year in Vietnam flying Airborne Radio Direction Finding missions as pilot of a Beechcraft RU-8D Seminole. The missions were demanding and exacting. At the end of his tour, his fellow airmen planned to present him with the stein, however, fate intervened. Major Duke managed to catch an earlier flight home on a “Freedom Bird,” departing a few days ahead of schedule. He missed the ceremony. The stein remained behind.

Six decades passed. Major Duke, now 95, lived quietly, the unfinished ritual of that long-ago farewell largely forgotten.

Then Ryan Tindall walked into his local Goodwill store. Among the usual assortment of secondhand goods, he found the engraved stein. Curious, he began searching online. A few careful inquiries later, he discovered that Major Duke was still alive—and lived only thirty minutes away.

Not long after, Tindall placed the stein in the veteran’s hands.

What had been left unfinished in Vietnam was finally completed, not in a unit formation under tropical skies, but in an ordinary American living room more than half a century later!

Update

The story got picked up by a local
Paper!

https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/local/lost-military-keepsake-finds-its-way-back-to-owner-60-years-later/article_b629c651-c82e-576b-827f-9ad6ee03d222.html

07/15/2026

As part of the many changes happening to Army Aviation ISR, the 116th MI BDE is making the move to Fort Hood, TX from Ft Gordon GA, coming full circle in a way, since Texas was the first home to the remnants of the ARDF assets that flew in Vietnam which reconstituted as the 156th ASA Avn Co, (Laffing Eagle, Left Jab, Left Foot) and the brand new at the time 1st ASA Avn Co (Cefirm Leader) at Ft Bliss, TX

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/07/14/army-to-move-aerial-intelligence-brigade-to-texas-for-hades-program/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_at

07/11/2026

Very cool to see that we continue to inspire!

07/07/2026

On the heels of our most recent post regarding the end of the RC-12 Guardrail and RC-7 ARL aircraft out of Korea, comes the final book of the Special Electronic Mission aircraft (SEMA) trilogy, “Sentinels of the Sky” by Dr. Tom Hauser, in which he looks back at the most recent and final years of US Army ISR platforms and the units that deployed them, and what the future holds for Army SEMA systems.

Stay tuned for the release date and how to get your copy!

07/05/2026

In the category of “You hate to see that Vol. II”, Here are some shots of the end both Guardrail RC-12s and Aerial Reconnaissance Low RC-7Bs of the 3rd MI BN (AE) in Korea.

The 3rd MI BN (AE) is the direct descendant of the 146th Aviation Company (Radio Research) and will continue its mission with new systems like the HADES ISR platform using the Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft.

07/04/2026

07/01/2026

You hate to see that….
A former U-8D (possible ex- RU-8D?) and a 1965 Ford Mustang getting destroyed as part of the forgettable movie “Dead Aim” (also known as Mace) a 1987 action-thriller film starring Ed Marinaro as a tough Atlanta detective investigating the drug-related deaths of four st*****rs, which leads him into a conspiracy involving drug dealers, the FBI, and the KGB. Directed by William VanDerKloot, the movie features a supporting cast that includes Isaac Hayes, Corbin Bernsen, and William Sanderson. The plot follows Marinaro's character, "Mace," as he partners with a by-the-book detective (Darrell Larson) to uncover a serial killer linked to a Bulgarian diplomat.

I think a lot of us want the U-8D and the Mustang back let alone the price of admission!

06/28/2026

For those who missed the opportunity to purchase a commemorative brick during the fundraising phase to save our RU-21A, you can now do so through the Valiant Air Command, the outstanding caretaker of our bird!

Honor someone who served while supporting the museum, it’s a win-win!

🛍️ The Valiant Air Command Online Store is Reopening! ✈️

We're excited to announce that the Valiant Air Command, Inc. Online Store is back online!

As we transition our PX Store from our previous system to our new inventory management system, Commemorative Bricks will be the first items available for purchase online. This allows us to continue offering a meaningful way to support the museum while we complete the migration of our full merchandise inventory.

🧱 Leave Your Legacy

A commemorative brick is a wonderful way to honor a loved one, recognize military service, celebrate a special occasion, or leave your name as a permanent part of Valiant Air Command history.

🇺🇸 Special Independence Day Offer – Saturday, July 4!

To celebrate Independence Day, we're offering $20 OFF every commemorative brick purchased on July 4th.

🛒 Visit our online store:
https://shop.valiantaircommand.com

What's Next?

To bring our full PX merchandise catalog online, we'll need to conduct a complete inventory count as part of the transition to our new system. We'll announce the inventory day soon and let everyone know how you can help if volunteers are needed.

Thank you for your patience during this transition and for supporting Valiant Air Command, Inc. Every purchase helps preserve aviation history for future generations.

04/23/2026

Do you enjoy aviation themed podcasts? We’ll listen no further than the EAA - The Spirit of Aviation Green Dot podcast.

A recent podcast of theirs featured an interview with retired CW5 Richard Hanusa, a young man who volunteered during the Vietnam War to become a helicopter pilot flying the Hughes OH-6A Cayuse or “The Loach” on his first tour, and on his second tour (brace yourselves) flying the JU-21A Left Jab ARDF system aircraft with the 138th Aviation Company (Radio Research)

An amazing listen well worth your time if you want to learn more about Army Aviation and Military Intelligence History.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eaas-the-green-dot-an-aviation-podcast/id1213042361?i=1000761871611

Photos of Dick Hanusa in Vietnam as shared on the EAA website.

https://inspire.eaa.org/2025/04/25/vietnam-helicopter-pilot-to-present-at-museum-speaker-series/