Bell UH-1H Iroquois (Huey)

Aircraft’s Background

The Prairie Aviation Museum’s Huey helicopter was purchased from the State of Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

This helicopter was stationed for approximately 3 years in Vietnam mostly at Tay Ninh. While in the States, it served time at Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 101st Airborne, 1st and 3rd Armies. After this service, it joined the Illinois Army National Guard for a number of years. Finally, the Museum purchased this aircraft in September, 1998, from storage at Midway Airport, Chicago.

During 67-17832’s stay in Vietnam, it was involved in three major accidents, using up one year of time in maintenance and repair. Plus, records show that it experienced battle damage as it flew into the various LZ/landing zones to deliver troops and pick them up. One of the accidents involved a shrapnel hit from a gunship.

Interactive Display

Click on a colored PIN to display additional information (text, video, recording, images).

This feature is an extra benefit as you walk around the display in our Airpark. 

WIFI is provided for your mobile device.  A network QR code or name/password is provided at the desk.

PINS

Videos of Interest

Video #1:  Behind the Scenes: The Huey Helicopter  Run Time (0:01:55)

Video #2: Bell “Huey” UH-1H Iroquois | Curator on the Loose!  Run Time (0:06:34)

Video #3:  Helicopter Door Gunners in Vietnam – The Shotgun Riders  Run Time (0:28:37)

Video #4 US Navy HA(L)-3 “Seawolves” Helicopter Squadron over the Mekong Delta (1967)  Run Time (0:07:00)

Special Note:  The 4th video, “Scramble the Seawolves”, has local interest.  The Seawolves were commissioned and decommissioned in Vietnam and was the highest decorated Navy unit.

Joe Crutcher, whose family documented the video, served as a Seawolf  He graduated from Bloomington High School in 1964.  The full length was shown at the Normal Theatre and is now available on YouTube.

Mike Herrin, a Colfax native also served as a Seawolf crew chief.  Mike is a PAM Board Member.

History

The Bell UH-1 is the most widely used military helicopter. Officially, the UH-1 series is the Iroquois. When the Army adopted its own two-letter designation system, it became the HU-1 (Helicopter Utility), which led to the nickname “Huey.” The DOD standard designation system reversed this to UH-1, the first designation in the new DOD helicopter series. With larger engines and increased capacity, the UH was developed through successive models.

The U.S. Army began shipping Hueys to Vietnam in 1963. The Marine Hueys began Vietnam service in 1964. The Huey was the work horse of the Vietnam war. It’s many missions, included air assault, armed patrol and escort, command and control, troop/cargo transport, combat reconnaissance support, amphibious assault, light utility missions, and medical evacuation. Army, Navy and Marine Corps Hueys evacuated 378 thousand casualties between 1965 and 1969.

Bell and licensed firms like Italy’s Agusta (eventually bought by Bell) have built more than 15,000 Hueys. It is the most numerous helicopter ever built and the most numerous aircraft built since 1945 except for the Soviet-era Antonov An-2 biplane transport. The Huey is operated by more than 60 air forces throughout the world in a wide variety of roles, everything from VIP transport, to flying ambulance, to attack helicopter. It has continued in service well past the five decades since the first Huey lifted off the ground.

ROLE: Multiple
Crew: 2 crew +12 passengers
Bureau Number: 67-17832

SPECIFICATIONS
Main Rotor Diameter : 44 ft.
Length: 42 ft. 7 in.
Height: 14 feet 7 inches
Empty Weight: 4,750 lbs
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 8,500 lbs.
Normal Armament: One manned .30 caliber machine gun each side, although a variety of armament configurations exist.
Engine: One Lycoming T53-L-1 turbo shaft, 1,100 HP

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 138 mph
Range: 212 miles
Service Ceiling: 16,700 ft

Previous Duty Stations and Incident Reports

UH-1H Iroquois (Huey)
Bureau Number: 67-17832

Incident and Duty Station report

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17832
The Army purchased this helicopter October, 1968.
Total flight hours at this point: 1202
Date: 08/13/1969
Accident case number: 690813251
Unit: 187 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Tay Ninh, Vietnam.
Number killed in accident = 0. Injured = 0. Passengers = 0
costing $3750
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC O3 WH WINSATT

Accident Summary:

Chalk 3 aircraft (67-17832) in right turn flew too close to lead aircraft. (68-15478). Chalk 3’s main rotor blades made contact with the main rotor blades of the lead a/c. There was incident damage to the main rotor blades of both aircraft

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17832
The Army purchased this helicopter October, 1968.
Total flight hours at this point: 1398
Date: 10/16/1969
Accident case number: 691016041
Unit: 187 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Tay Ninh, Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0. Injured = 0. Passengers = 0.
costing $4792
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC O2 RW SCHEFFIN

Accident Summary:

As smoke ship was coming out of smoke run, it was hit by shrapnel from rockets being fired into LZ by gunships incident damage.

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17832
The Army purchased this helicopter October, 1968.
Total flight hours at this point: 1407
Date: 11/12/1969
Accident case number: 691112281
Unit: 187 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Tay Ninh, Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0. Injured = 0. Passengers = 1.
costing 9000
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 JD THOMPSON
P O3 JE SURRIDGE
CE E4 BL ROYAL
G E4 EP GRINK

Passengers and/or other participants:
AIR COMMANDER, MCO, G

Accident Summary:

Aircraft was flying Chalk Two, in a flight of seven aircraft, in a staggered trail right formation. On takeoff from Tay Ninh base camp, the pilot , Cpt. Surridge, had control of the aircraft. The flight flew directly to the PZ. The PZ had four to six foot tall elephant grass in it and many tree stumps and a few trees scattered around in it. As the flight approached the PZ the pilot, asked the aircraft commander which load of troops was his, because the troops were scattered and partly hidden by the tall elephant grass. The aircraft commander said the troops they were supposed to pick up were by the marking smoke. On short final to the PZ the pilot had to swing out to the right of the flight to avoid a tall tree in his flight path. After flying around the tree the pilot turned his aircraft slightly back to the left to get back in the flight and continued his approach to the PZ. Cpt. Surridge was confused as to which load of troops was his, because there were two marking smokes in the PZ, and continued his approach to the wrong load of troops. On short final the aircraft commander realized the pilot was going to the wrong load of troops. The aircraft commander at this time put his hand on the cyclic and pushed it slightly to the right trying to indicate to the pilot to go to the right smoke not the left one. At this time the aircraft was in a decelerating attitude, tail low, the aircraft began to slide slip to the right and had stopped its forward motion. Just as the aircraft began its side slip to the right, still in a tail low attitude the tail rotor struck a tree stump hidden in the tall elephant grass. When the tail rotor struck the tree stump the aircraft commander immediately realized what had happened and took control of the aircraft. The aircraft commander immediately rolled off the throttle and executed a hovering autorotation. In his attempt to level the aircraft because it was in a tail low attitude the aircraft commander over controlled slightly and landed on the left front skid first. This resulted in slight damage to the left front skid on front of the cross tube. The crew exited the aircraft and began to remove all radios and weapons. They loaded the radios and weapons onto another aircraft in the PZ.

The following is Goldbook information on helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17832
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in October, 1968.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
196810   0    0 3300   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
196811 101  101 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196812 126  227 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196901 124  351 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196902  93  444 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196903 118  562 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196904 118  680 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196905 122  802 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196906 117  919 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196907 173 1092 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196908 110 1202 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196909  84 1286 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196910 112 1398 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
196911   9 1407 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
196912   0 1407 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
197001   0 1407 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
197002   0 1407 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
197003   0 1407 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
197004   0 1407 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
197005   3 1410 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
197006   0 1410 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
197007   0 1410 WHB1AA 166 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN
197008 111 1521 WGPRAA 336 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
197009 142 1663 WGPRAA 336 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
197010  60 1723 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
197011 107 1830 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
197012  77 1907 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
197101 107 2014 WGPQAA 335 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
197102 132 2146 WGPQAA 335 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
197103  53 2199 WGPQAA 335 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
197104  76 2275 WGPQAA 335 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
197105  75 2350 WGPQAA 335 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
197106 113 2463 WGPQAA 335 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
197107  99 2562 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
197108 118 2680 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
197109  93 2773 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
197110  81 2854 WGPQAA 166 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN
197111  49 2903 WGPQAA 61 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
197112  55 2958 WGPQAA 61 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
197201   0 2958 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVSCOM
197202   0 2958 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVSCOM
197203   0 2958 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVSCOM
197204   0 2958 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVSCOM
197205   0 2958 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVSCOM
197206   0 2958 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVSCOM
197207   0 2958 W0Y6AA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM
197208   0 2958 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM
197209   0 2958 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM
197210  13 2971 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM
197211  38 3009 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM
197212  17 3026 WAB1FF 101ST ABN        3RD ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    3RD ARMY
197301  28 3054 WAB1FF 101ST ABN        3RD ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    3RD ARMY
197302   0 3054 WAB1FF 101ST ABN        3RD ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    3RD ARMY
197303   0 3054 WAB1FF 101ST ABN        3RD ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    3RD ARMY
197304   9 3063 WAB1FF 101ST ABN        3RD ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    3RD ARMY
197305  36 3099 WAB1FF 101ST ABN        3RD ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    3RD ARMY
197306  31 3130 WAB1FF 101ST ABN        3RD ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    3RD ARMY
197307  23 3153 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197308   0 3153 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197309  44 3197 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197310  42 3239 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197311  14 3253 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197312   0 3253 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197401   0 3253 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197402  33 3286 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197403  35 3321 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197404  45 3366 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197405  18 3384 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197409  35 3534 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197410  10 3544 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197411  19 3563 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197412   0 3563 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197501   1 3564 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197502  28 3592 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197503  11 3603 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197504  16 3619 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197505   0 3619 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197506   0 3619 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197507   0 3619 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV    1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197509   0 3619 W0U422 INST MAINT FLT   1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197510   0 3619 W0U422 INST MAINT FLT   1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197511   0 3619 W0U422 INST MAINT FLT   1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
197512   0 3619 W0U422 INST MAINT FLT   1ST ARMY   FORT CAMPBELL    FORSCOM
 

 


Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

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