The Bandits trace their origin to the 145th Airlift Platoon, 145th Aviation Battalion. The 145th Aviation Battalion arrived in Theater during 1964 and was assigned to Phan Thiet to support Special Forces operations. On 6 January 1965 the 145th Airlift Platoon was moved to Nha Trang to support Headquarters, I Field Forces, Republic of Vietnam. The platoon was reassigned again on 25 December 1965 by General Order 256, Headquarters, United States Army Republic of Vietnam to the 10th Aviation Battalion. General Order 4, Headquarters, 12th Aviation Group dated 25 January 1966 consolidated the 145th Airlift Platoon with the 6th Platoon, 171st Aviation Company to form the 2nd Platoon, 171st Aviation Company. The mission of the 2nd Platoon was to provide aviation support as directed by the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) that was Headquartered in Nha Trang. The primary mission was support of the 5th Special Forces  Detachment B-52, Project Delta, and its RECONDO training activities in Nha Trang. The 281st Aviation Company (Airmobile) was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia by General Order 318, Headquarters, 3rd U.S. Army on 7 October 1965. The Order activated the Company Headquarters, Service Platoon, 499th Signal Detachment and the 483rd Transportation Detachment to form the 281st Aviation Company (AML). The Advance Party of the 281st arrived in the Republic of Vietnam on 23 May 1966, the Main Body closed on Nha Trang on 4 June 1966. The 281st received the assets and assumed the mission of the 2nd Platoon, 171st Aviation Company per General Order 27, Headquarters, 17th Aviation Group, on 14 July 1966. Initially the 2nd Platoon (Lift) was assigned the Special Operations mission along with the 3rd Platoon (Gun Platoon). The 1st Platoon (Lift) was assigned to support missions for HQ, 5th SFG at Nha Trang and throughout II Corps. In later years the mission assignments became intermixed and both lift platoons rotated the Special Operations mission along with the Gun Platoon. 
Research by Steve Matthews, Rat Pack 15
For a year by year History of the 281st Assault Helicopter Company see 281st Intruder Website