These aircraft could be converted from the "Slick" transport configuration to "Bushranger" gunships. As No 5 Squadron was the training unit for No 9 Squadron, the search and rescue flights and the Royal Australian Navy, in addition to providing Army support throughout Australia, a further seven UH-1Hs were ordered for 1970 delivery: A2-484 to A2-490.ĭuring 1969 gunship modifications were carried out on some aircraft by No 9 Squadron. This enabled the withdrawal of the Bravos from Vietnam to Australia, where these aircraft were able to reinforce search and rescue flights at Darwin, Williamtown, Pearce and Butterworth, and the type was also flown by the Aircraft Research and Development Unit. A2-376 to A2-383 were received in February 1968, followed in July by A2-766 to -773. Sixteen UH-1Hs were ordered to replace the UH-1B's in No 9 Squadron and were delivered direct from the US Army to Vung Tau. RAAF Deltas were later retrofitted to this standard. A further six were delivered to No 5 Squadron (A2-505 to A2-510), but the UH-1D was soon superseded in production by the UH-1H, which had the same enlarged fuselage powered by the 1300 shp T53-L-13. The larger cabin of the "Delta" enabled carriage of an additional four passengers. It appears that there had been some confusion on the last three of the US military serials. Six months later, in May 1967, 66-1166 was received by No 9 Squadron and although A2-166 was to be allocated, it became A2-649. Two of an enlarged version of the Iroquois, the UH-1D, were delivered over 1966-67 to Vung Tau as replacements. Army roles included airlift and resupply, aeromedical 'dust-off' evacuation and insertion and extraction of SAS troops. Arriving at Vung Tau in June, No 9 Squadron began immediate operations in support of Australian ground forces. In April 1966, No 5 Squadron reformed at Fairbairn, and No 9 Squadron then deployed with the third batch of aircraft to Vietnam. A third batch, delivered in late 1964, A2-1018 to A2-1025, incorporated the Lycoming 1100 shp T53-L-11 engine, replacing the previous T53-L-9. In May 1964, No 5 Squadron was formed at Fairbairn with four aircraft, and deployed to Malaysia to provide support during the confrontation with Indonesia. In December 1962 a second batch of eight UH-1Bs were ordered that were delivered twelve months later as A2-714 to A2-721. The Iroquois began exercising in troop support for the Army, and this was to become a major role for No 9 Squadron.
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These aircraft were serialled A2-384 to A2-391 and had been allotted US Army serials 62-4606 to 62-4613. No 9 Squadron, under Squadron Leader R.A. Scott, received the first aircraft on 29 October 1962.
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The later model, redesignated UH-1B, flew in 1961 and in April that year the RAAF showed great foresight in ordering eight of this version for search and rescue. The prototype Bell XH-40 flew in October 1956 and entered service with the US Army in 1959 as the UH-1 (nicknamed "Huey").
#Army huey helicopter full
In September 1962, the designation was changed to UH-1, but "Huey" remained in common use.The RAAF operated Dragonfly and Sycamore helicopters in the 1950s, and had been involved with the introduction of the Sioux to Army service, but it was not until 1962, when the Iroquois was introduced, that the full capability and flexibility of the modern helicopter was available to the RAAF. We are now delighted to be able to offer Flight Experiences in this iconic aircraft!įact Time: The original designation of HU-1 (Helicopter Utility) led to the helicopter's nickname of Huey. In 2005 she landed on UK soil! Since then we have attended many air shows and events across the country. We purchased Huey 509 in 2003 and commissioned her full restoration. Between 19 she served with the Army National Guard, US Army Troop support and Aviation Readiness Command, the USARASF and was sent to the Aerospace Maintenance Central facility in Arizona in 2000. Records show she flew 559 combat hours before returning to the US in 1973.
![army huey helicopter army huey helicopter](https://www.dailyherald.com/storyimage/DA/20210818/SUBMITTED/210819305/EP/1/2/EP-210819305.jpg)
Huey 509 was purchased by the US Army in 1972 and joined the 129th Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam in July 1972. It has become synonymous with the Vietnam War, being used to transport troops and equipment as well as for air assault missions.Ī total of 4869 helicopters were lost by US forces in Vietnam, the biggest losses, 2591 aircraft, being sustained by the US Army.
#Army huey helicopter series
The military helicopter Bell UH-1 series was designed and built by the Bell Helicopter Company in the late 1950s as a multipurpose machine.