As a mechanic with the 20th when they formed at Eglin AFB in Nov,'65, I am researching:
1. What were the tail#'s of the original 14 CH-3C's sent over to Tan Son Nhut in Dec,'65?
2. When was 676, "Black Maria" painted black?

The Individual aircraft histories are filed at the AF Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL and are also put on microfilms . I have copies of most of these films and from this source I can provide the following serial numbers.

JCH-3C 62-12579 assigned to 20th at Eglin on 19 Oct 1965 ; arrived at Tan Son Nhut 5 Dec 1965 (note that the document keeps on indicating this one as JCH- up to 10 Feb 67)
CH-3C 62-12582 assigned to 20th at Eglin on 19 Oct 1965 ; arrived at Tan Son Nhut 1 Dec 1965
CH-3C 63-9678 assigned to 20th at Eglin on 19 Oct 1965 ; arrived at Tan Son Nhut 1 Dec 1965
CH-3C 63-9681 assigned to 20th at Eglin on 19 Oct 1965 ; arrived at Tan Son Nhut 1 Dec 1965
CH-3C 63-9682 assigned to 20th at Eglin on 19 Oct 1965 ; arrived at Tan Son Nhut 1 Dec 1965
CH-3C 63-9689 assigned to 20th at Eglin on 19 Oct 1965 ; arrived at Tan Son Nhut 1 Dec 1965
CH-3C 64-14222 assigned to 20th at Eglin on 19 Oct 1965 ; arrived at Tan Son Nhut 1 Dec 1965
CH-3C 64-14236 assigned to 20th at Eglin on 2 Nov 1965 ; arrived at Tan Son Nhut 1 Dec 1965
CH-3C 64-14237 from Sikorsky/Bridgeport to Tan Son Nhut 13 Dec 1965
CH-3C 65-5690 from Sikorsky/Bridgeport to Tan Son Nhut 13 Dec 1965
CH-3C 65-5691 from Sikorsky/Bridgeport to Tan Son Nhut 12 Jan 1966
CH-3C 65-5692 from Sikorsky/Bridgeport to Tan Son Nhut 12 Jan 1966
CH-3C 65-5695 from Sikorsky/Bridgeport to Tan Son Nhut 13 Oct 1966

This makes only 8 from Eglin to TanSN such as you indicated. I cannot find the others (6)
The info does come from the official records however.

CH-3C 63-9676 4485 TW Eglin assigned as of 10 Mar 64 to 38 ARS at Nakhon Phanom 28 June 65
to Udorn 23 Dec 65 ; to Tan Son Nhut 14 Jan 66 ; to 20 HS at Udorn 5 Apr 66 ; to 14 ACW at udorn 10 Aug 67 ; to Don Muang for overhaul 9 Apr 68 - maybe the black paint was done during this overhaul. I have no information however.

CH-3C 63-9685 4485 TW Eglin as of 6 Jun 64 to 38 ARS at NKP on 28 Jun 65

Success with your research work.

Best wishes,
Johan Ragay
"USAF Rotorheads Message Board" H-43 Historian
and
www.h43-huskie.info

I was a pilot in the 20th during the period early December 1966 to late November 1967. When I arrived on station at Udorn around 1 December 1966, aircraft 676 was already painted flat black. The painting was done sometime prior to that, as was the upgrade of the engines and the redesignation as CH-3E on all of the aircraft. I was told that the engines were changed on station at Udorn. Apparently, that was considered to be of a routine nature.

I'e got a couple of tail numbers 65-682 and 14721

Do you have any tail numbers of the first UH1F helicopters to be assigned to the 20th. in Viet Nam. I am interested in the 4 gunships.