On May 17, 2011, at Fort Rucker, Ala., the last Huey was retired. Made by Bell, the UH-1 helicopters spanned 50 years of service to our country from Vietnam to other combat zones since then. Most Army veterans know the sound of the Huey.

While in Vietnam, the Huey flew approximately 7,457,000 combat assault sorties, 3,952,000 attack or gunship sorties and 3,548,000 cargo supply sorties. That comes to more than 15 million sorties flown over the paddies and jungles of ’Nam, not to include the millions of sorties flown all over the world. During the war, 7,013 UH-1s served in Vietnam and of these 3,305 were destroyed. In total 1,074 Huey pilots were killed along with 1,103 other crew members.

While in Vietnam with the 2nd Squadron, 1st Armored Cavalry (Blackhawks), I spent many hours flying with Delta Troop (which was all air cavalry) delivering mail to the men around the Central Highlands. Other aircraft can fly overhead, but when the Huey flies over, everyone knows who she is, the grand lady of the sky. Like a two-cylinder John Deere or Harley-Davidson, the two Huey blades made that familiar whop-whop-whop and that was the soundtrack of war.

 

Dennis Brue

“animo et fide”

Albert Lea