Retiring the last Huey
Apr 1, 2020 12:07:14 #
Thank you for sharing that wonderful tribute to the Grand Old Lady of the skies of Vietnam. I, too, have over 1000 hours flying Hueys, and still run out too look out when I hear that unforgettable sound of a Huey. I was always amazed at what a Huey could and would do. The last flight I flew in a Huey was in 1977 when I taught some Nat’l Guard pilots how to conduct sling load operations. Sadly, I was never able to join the Guard due to paperwork foibles, thanks to Washington D.C.
Vietnam, ‘68-‘69, 199th LIB Avn. Sect. III Corps.
Vietnam, ‘68-‘69, 199th LIB Avn. Sect. III Corps.
Apr 1, 2020 12:25:59 #
pokeyid
Loc: Idaho
I flew them in the Navy’s gunship squadron HAL-3. The squadron was commissioned and decommissioned in VN, whose main function was supporting the riverine forces, but we supported army spec ops when scrambled, and lots of others. There were nine detachments through out southern VN guaranteeing scrambling in five minutes, do we got lots calls. Best bunch of troops I served with in my 27 years.
Apr 1, 2020 12:33:38 #
pokeyid wrote:
I flew them in the Navy’s gunship squadron HAL-3. The squadron was commissioned and decommissioned in VN, whose main function was supporting the riverine forces, but we supported army spec ops when scrambled, and lots of others. There were nine detachments through out southern VN guaranteeing scrambling in five minutes, do we got lots calls. Best bunch of troops I served with in my 27 years.
Where was your unit located? We used the Navy base at a place called Nha Be, on the river, south of Saigon, as a refueling point when operating in that area. My favorite time was landing at Nha Be after night operations, for fuel, and then shutting down so we could go to the Navy mess hall for breakfast. Breakfast consisted of omelets made with real eggs, onions, ham, cheese, real milk, not the nasty powdered skim milk the army used over there, and good coffee. It was a treat, and the best twenty seven cents I ever spent. You guys knew how to live over there. So, here’s my thanks to the U.S. Navy for helping me keep a bit of my sanity.
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Apr 1, 2020 12:35:06 #
Apr 1, 2020 12:58:39 #
Never had a "ride" in a Huey - on the way in or on the way out - that I enjoyed. Old pilot once told me "Never trust an airplane where the wings are going faster than the plane".
Apr 1, 2020 13:07:47 #
dick ranez wrote:
Never had a "ride" in a Huey - on the way in or on the way out - that I enjoyed. Old pilot once told me "Never trust an airplane where the wings are going faster than the plane".
Those aren't wings. Actually it's a big cooling fan because helicopter pilots are really hot stuff!
Apr 1, 2020 13:15:10 #
Rode in them a few times and had a number of buddies who flew them. They were all f’d up a bit...some moreso than others. That’s a compliment👍
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
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Apr 1, 2020 13:38:54 #
Huey Driver wrote:
Those aren't wings. Actually it's a big cooling fan because helicopter pilots are really hot stuff!
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸
Apr 1, 2020 14:54:46 #
As one commenter mentioned you always remember the thump thump of the Huey. I was a passenger many times.
Apr 1, 2020 15:37:50 #
wdburt
Loc: Tualatin Oregon
Thank you. All of you. From all of us still looking up and hearing "wop wop wop"
Apr 1, 2020 17:16:27 #
Huey Driver wrote:
Didn't make it to Nam. In Korea from 69-71, somebody had to go there.
At Ft. Hood 71-73 crewed a B model, she was magnificient.
A/C # 6414006. Borne in 1964.
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Apr 1, 2020 20:32:37 #
Huey Driver wrote:
What a wonderful sound!!!!!!
Apr 1, 2020 20:36:58 #
USAF - I commuted to work 2 x week for 3 1/2 years on a Huey. Sat up front with pilot many times, cool view.
Lots of stories.
My memories though mainly are hot or cold, very noisy, but always safe. Never could miss that sound.
Lots of stories.
My memories though mainly are hot or cold, very noisy, but always safe. Never could miss that sound.
Apr 1, 2020 21:56:57 #
Huey Driver wrote:
Ever so thrue ´
Apr 2, 2020 00:30:58 #
Jacksonville
Loc: Australia
A fitting tribute to US and Australian/New Zealand vets. We are celebrating ANZAC Day on April 25th. The vets can't march on the day due to the virus, but all will be honoured. I am American but was declared 4F just before it all hit the fan. Wandered off to Australia and wound up staying here for 54 years so far. There is a Vietnam War Museum at Philip Island near Melbourne. Got a chance to see a Huey there and heard a few stories from the vets there. All love and respect to all vets from that war.
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