USAF 9th SOS / A Flight / Chieu Hoi Patch

USAF 9th Special Operations Squadron / A Flight / Chieu Hoi Patch

The Chiêu Hồi Program (also spelled "chu hoi" or "chu-hoi" in English) loosely translated as "Open Arms") was an initiative by the South Vietnamese to encourage defection by the Viet Cong and their supporters to the side of the Government during the Vietnam War.

A hard to find patch in this state. Vietnam made. Circa 1971

Mission

Clandestine penetration of enemy territory using low-level formation procedures to provide aerial refueling of special operations helicopters and the insertion, extraction, and resupply of special operations forces by low or high altitude airdrop or airland operations.

Vietnam War
A 9th SOS C-47D dropping leaflets near Nha Trang, 1969. Consolidated with the Vietnam Era 9th Air Commando Squadron (Psychological Operations) in 1985. The 9th ACS operated primarily C-47 Skytrains over South Vietnam from March 1967 to January 1972. The squadron's psychological warfare missions directly or indirectly influenced the surrender of thousands of enemy soldiers. In addition, carried out night combat operations against enemy forces and hamlets through flare drops. 

Despite the often heavy and accurate enemy antiaircraft fire used light observation aircraft to perform search and rescue missions to locate and direct recovery forces finding downed airmen over enemy-controlled territory. Inactivated in 1972 as part of the drawdown of forces in Indochina.

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