Bell UH-1B Iroquois
In 1953, the US Army issued a requirement for a general purpose helicopter that would be relatively simple to operate and maintain. Bell responded with its Model 204, which used a turboshaft powerplant rather than a piston engine, making it faster and more efficient. The Army liked the design and ordered it into production as the HU-1A in 1960, though this was quickly superseded by the HU-1B, with an extended fuselage that allowed for seven troops to be carried. The HU-1A designation was often read as "Huey," and the name stuck far more than its official one, even after the official designation switched to UH-1 after 1962.
The Huey would first see combat in Vietnam, and it became the symbol of that war: just the sound of the UH-1, which is distinctive, echoes that war. The UH-1 was central to the US Army's airmobile concept, which involved moving troops rapidly from point to point in Vietnam, in an attempt to catch North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops. It was somewhat successful, in that American forces could concentrate quickly, move fast, and avoid ambushes along the way. The Huey was vulnerable as it approached the landing zone, and hundreds were shot down: the most dangerous job in the Vietnam War was arguably that of a Huey crewman. Weapons limited only by the crews' imagination were soon added to UH-1s. Vietnam-era slang reflected the Huey's job: a "slick" was a troop-carrying UH-1 with only door guns, while a "hog" was a gunship carrying rockets and heavier guns. Though vulnerable to ground fire and loud, the Huey turned in a superlative performance in Vietnam.
Over 16,000 UH-1s would be produced, and many are still in service, having seen action in every war since Vietnam, worldwide. It is only rivaled by the Russian Mi-8/17 Hip in use.
The identity of this Huey is a mystery. It is listed on numerous websites as 64-13914, a UH-1B, but it carries the tail number of 68-3019 and USAF Reserve markings, along with what remains of USAF 1980s-era Europe One camouflage--but on the tailboom only, while the fuselage looks to be faded US Army olive drab. The USAF never used the B model; their early Hueys were the UH-1F version. Given where the camouflage patterns differ, either this is 68-3019 partially repainted as 64-13914, or the tailboom of 68-3019 has been attached to the fuselage of 64-13914.
Assuming this is 64-13914, it has had quite the eventful career. Delivered to the US Army in 1966, it began its career attached to the Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, but in 1967, it was transferred to the 129th Assault Helicopter Company at Tuy Hoa, South Vietnam. During its year in Vietnam, 64-13914 was hit four times by ground fire delivering troops to landing zones.
Following its Vietnam service, 64-13914 returned home and was then sent overseas again, this time to the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in West Germany, where it would remain until 1972. As the Army was replacing its UH-1Bs with the UH-1H, 64-13914 was transferred to Fort Rucker, Alabama, where it was used as a training helicopter until 1977, when it was retired. It was then acquired by the state of Montana that year, and flown by the State Department of Lands until 1999, when it was retired for good. 64-13914 was then donated to the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, Montana.
64-13914 (if this indeed that helicopter) has seen better days. Being on public display outdoors, it is subject to harsh Montana winters and thousands of people climbing into and on it. Though its paint job is faded and the helicopter is badly beat up on the interior, it is still more or less intact.
Bell UH-1B Iroquois
In 1953, the US Army issued a requirement for a general purpose helicopter that would be relatively simple to operate and maintain. Bell responded with its Model 204, which used a turboshaft powerplant rather than a piston engine, making it faster and more efficient. The Army liked the design and ordered it into production as the HU-1A in 1960, though this was quickly superseded by the HU-1B, with an extended fuselage that allowed for seven troops to be carried. The HU-1A designation was often read as "Huey," and the name stuck far more than its official one, even after the official designation switched to UH-1 after 1962.
The Huey would first see combat in Vietnam, and it became the symbol of that war: just the sound of the UH-1, which is distinctive, echoes that war. The UH-1 was central to the US Army's airmobile concept, which involved moving troops rapidly from point to point in Vietnam, in an attempt to catch North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops. It was somewhat successful, in that American forces could concentrate quickly, move fast, and avoid ambushes along the way. The Huey was vulnerable as it approached the landing zone, and hundreds were shot down: the most dangerous job in the Vietnam War was arguably that of a Huey crewman. Weapons limited only by the crews' imagination were soon added to UH-1s. Vietnam-era slang reflected the Huey's job: a "slick" was a troop-carrying UH-1 with only door guns, while a "hog" was a gunship carrying rockets and heavier guns. Though vulnerable to ground fire and loud, the Huey turned in a superlative performance in Vietnam.
Over 16,000 UH-1s would be produced, and many are still in service, having seen action in every war since Vietnam, worldwide. It is only rivaled by the Russian Mi-8/17 Hip in use.
The identity of this Huey is a mystery. It is listed on numerous websites as 64-13914, a UH-1B, but it carries the tail number of 68-3019 and USAF Reserve markings, along with what remains of USAF 1980s-era Europe One camouflage--but on the tailboom only, while the fuselage looks to be faded US Army olive drab. The USAF never used the B model; their early Hueys were the UH-1F version. Given where the camouflage patterns differ, either this is 68-3019 partially repainted as 64-13914, or the tailboom of 68-3019 has been attached to the fuselage of 64-13914.
Assuming this is 64-13914, it has had quite the eventful career. Delivered to the US Army in 1966, it began its career attached to the Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, but in 1967, it was transferred to the 129th Assault Helicopter Company at Tuy Hoa, South Vietnam. During its year in Vietnam, 64-13914 was hit four times by ground fire delivering troops to landing zones.
Following its Vietnam service, 64-13914 returned home and was then sent overseas again, this time to the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in West Germany, where it would remain until 1972. As the Army was replacing its UH-1Bs with the UH-1H, 64-13914 was transferred to Fort Rucker, Alabama, where it was used as a training helicopter until 1977, when it was retired. It was then acquired by the state of Montana that year, and flown by the State Department of Lands until 1999, when it was retired for good. 64-13914 was then donated to the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, Montana.
64-13914 (if this indeed that helicopter) has seen better days. Being on public display outdoors, it is subject to harsh Montana winters and thousands of people climbing into and on it. Though its paint job is faded and the helicopter is badly beat up on the interior, it is still more or less intact.