21st Recon Aircraft Company

The 21st Reconnaissance Aircraft Company was a U.S. Army aviation unit activated in the late 1950s, with its primary mission focused on aerial reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and support of ground operations. The unit was most notably deployed to Vietnam, where it operated fixed-wing aircraft such as the O-1 Bird Dog and later the O-2 Skymaster, providing vital visual reconnaissance and artillery spotting for American and allied forces. The 21st played a key role in counterinsurgency operations, often flying low and slow over hostile territory to identify enemy positions and coordinate close air support. After several years of distinguished service, the company was eventually inactivated as part of post-war force reductions and the transition to newer reconnaissance platforms.