The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, better known as the “Huey,” began arriving in Vietnam in 1963 and was the most widely used military helicopter in Southeast Asia. More than 7,000 of these versatile aircraft were deployed for MedEvac, command and control, and air assault. In addition to transporting personnel and material, some were heavily armed and used as gunships.
This Huey (#160) is itself a combat veteran, serving with distinction with the famous “Green Hornets” of the 20th Special Operations Squadron of the United States Air Force.
The 20th S.O.S. conducted dangerous and highly classified missions into hostile enemy territories of Laos and Cambodia. The mission was to conduct clandestine infiltration and extraction of special operations forces such as the U.S. Army Green Berets. They also performed psychological warfare, covert resupply missions, and worked closely with forward air controllers and other USAF aircraft to rescue downed American pilots. The UH-1P is a variant of the UH-1F and was used solely by the Green Hornets. Only 120 were built.
Although a USAF helicopter, Aviation Heritage Park received special permission from the National Museum of the United States Air Force to do this restoration in U. S. Army livery for the purpose of honoring Colonel Raymond T. Nutter and all veterans who had experiences with a “Huey”.
This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, Ohio.
