Patrick Cavanaugh

The 156th ASA Aviation Company was a United States Army unit specializing in aerial signals intelligence (SIGINT) operations during the Vietnam War. Activated in the mid-1960s under the Army Security Agency (ASA), the company operated fixed-wing aircraft such as the RU-21 and RU-8D to conduct electronic surveillance and intercept enemy communications. The 156th played a crucial role in gathering real-time battlefield intelligence, supporting both tactical ground operations and strategic command decisions. Following the drawdown of U.S. forces in Southeast Asia, the unit was eventually deactivated or merged into other intelligence aviation assets as Army electronic warfare capabilities evolved.