resources available to support the increased workload were 2 medical companies (air ambulance) located at Long Binh and Qui Nhon, and 8 medical detachments (RA) located at Gia Le, Phu Bi and Chu Lai in the I CTZ, Pleiku and Nha Trang in the II CTZ, Long Binh and Cu Chi in the III CTZ, and Soc Trang in the IV CTZ. With these units, the 44th Medical Brigade was authorized 98 air­craft which provided minimally adequate evacuation support to the theater. On numerous occasions this capability was severely strained and frequently on short notice aircraft and crews were moved from one tactical zone to another to support areas of increased activities. This was especially true in the I CTZ where, because of limited air ambulance coverage, the assets of II CTZ North were repeatedly called upon to provide additional aircraft and crews. Aircraft maintenance throughout 1968 was generally satisfactory. Minimum acceptable availability was established at 70% and this availability rate was maintained with several exceptions. During February when the number of aircraft damaged by hostile fire doubled, availability rates dropped to 63%, and at times to below 50%. Although the same number of aircraft were damaged by hostile fire during the May Offensive, aircraft availability was maintained at 74%. This high availability was attributed to in­creased field maintenance responsiveness and the use of float aircraft issued to the air ambulance units by the supporting maintenance activities. The problem of limited resources and large geographic areas to support required field siting of aircraft to support a conflict characterized by small unit engagements at scattered locations. Often as many as 26 aircraft were field sited at 20 locations. Although the field siting of aircraft at sites remote from maintenance facilities created problems, it provided a responsiveness to tactical units that could not be assured by conventional area support. On 1 July 1968, the 101st Airborne Division was redesignated as an airmobile division. The 50th Medical Detachment (RA), located at Gia Le was assigned to the division and became the nucleus of the air ambulance platoon of the 326th Medical Battalion. The loss of the 50th Medical Detachment (RA) had no adverse effects on the brigade aeromedical evacuation capability because the unit had previously directed the bulk of its resources in support of the 101st Airborne Division. The arrival in-country of four additional medical detachments (RA) in November and December significantly increased