A genuine Zippo lighter brought back from the Vietnam War, this Zippo lighter was once owned by a member of the 1st Air Cavalry Division. The lighter has engraved on the front the 'First U.S. Army' insignia, engraved on the back is the text '1st Air Cav Div Viet Nam 68-69'. It features the manufacturers machine stamped base that shows the correct period Zippo logo and date markings along with BRADFORD PA and the trademark logo and patent number 2517191, on the base of the lighter either side of the Zippo logo are four vertical lines one side and on the other side another four vertical lines, this indicates the Zippo lighter was made in 1966. The lighter mechanism also features machine stamped Zippo markings and fits nicely in the case and appears to be in working order.
Air cavalry, airmobile helicopter formations widely used by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War to locate and assault enemy ground forces and transport U.S. troops into battle. The Vietnam War saw the first large-scale use of helicopters in a combat role. The first air cavalry unit to see duty in Vietnam was the 1st Air Cavalry Division, in 1965. A total of five air cavalry squadrons operated in Vietnam, including the well-known 1st Squadron/9th Cavalry of the 1st Air Cavalry Division.
