Last UH-1 Huey retired from the Army

After a colorful and decorated 52 years of service to the Army, the UH-1 Iroquois (or "Huey" as it was commonly called) has finally been retired from all service duties. More info in the link.

Don't trust any bird under 40!

Army.mil Article: Post honors UH-1 Huey as aircraft retires

Sad to see it go...nothing sounds quite like this craft when your on the ground and it's coming at you!

That is just for Ft. Rucker. The Army still flys them in several other locations, including at the National Training Center at Ft Irwin.

A couple pictures I took there last year:

Most of my fondest memories are crewing a Huey. There is nothing else like it. I had the opportunity to fly left seat for a maintenance test flight and after the test pilot completed the test profile looked over at me and said " You have the aircraft!" talk about the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

I have never had the privilege of piloting any helicopter, but have been flown in UH-1 Hueys, CH-47 Chinooks, and a couple OH-6 Loaches. The Loach was a hot rod rollercoaster and made me feel like we wouldn't get there without crashing. The Chinook made me sick. But every flight I took in a Huey was great, I always kinda felt honored to take a ride in such a distinguished bird, it's unique wop-wop-wop-wop sound was just awesome, you knew from miles away what the bird was. Sorry to see it be resigned to the Hot LZ in the sky, but so goes progress.

I remember back in 1971, a young infanteer and we were told that we would be taking tactical helicopter training. Well when the day came the Maine National Guard had sent 4 Hueys to our base in New Brunswick and there we practiced loading, unloading and what to do and not do. What they didn't tell us was that the pilots flying the Hueys had all done multiple tours in Vietnam and as a special treat for us the flew tactical following the contour of the land.
I was one of the lucky ones and was seated by the side doors, as they flew i would see the ground , then the sky. It was scary but absolutely great and since then I have always looked up when i heard the distinctive Huey whoop whoop. I believe the UH-1 Huey is in the same class as the DC 3 both giants of there times.
P.S. During the training runs one guy 6ft 6in 275 lbs of muscle actually bent the aluminum seat support rods hanging on( scared sh-tless) and when we landed absolutely refused to get back on the bird. He walked home 27 miles.

First, I'm being rushed to write this because we need to check out of the motel we're in. Run on sentence galor.
Ha, I remember stories of my father in law when he was in Vietnam in '67-'68. He was attached to the 2/60th Infantry with the 9th Infantry Division. He was back at base camp and his company commander asked his guys if anyone wanted to volunteer for a dangerous mission involving choppers. My father law, having already racked up several hours in the Huey on their way out on ops, volunteered. What he volunteered for what he described his most exciting job. He talked about how he was literally strapped to the side of the loachs with his boots on the skids. The chopper would hover high over suspected VC/NVA areas. Once the chopper pilot saw any glimpse of troops coming out of hooches or where directing fire on US Soliders, he would basically free fall the loach to the area. My father in laws job would be to take his stomach out of his mouth pop of smoke grenade and throw it into the area where the troops where. Then as quickly as the loach descended it would ascend to get out of there. Then the Cobras would come in and mop up the area.
He said he should have know better after the first time, but decided to volunteer 2 more times. He figured he would get killed over there anyways. Why not do it with excitement.

Text from the article for those who can't link:

"FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Hundreds of Fort Rucker community members and leaders from the local area gathered at Cairns Army Airfield May 17 to bid farewell to a beloved "Family member," the UH-1 Iroquois, affectionately known as the Huey.

The last three UH-1s operating with the Army out of Fort Rucker were retired during a ceremony at Cairns; however, Hueys will still fill the skies over the Wiregrass as the Air Force operates them, known as TH-1Hs, out of the air field as part of its rotary-wing training program, according to Lisa Eichhorn, public affairs officer.

Maj. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield, Fort Rucker and U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence commanding general, described the ceremony as a "Family reunion."

"That's why we're here today - to say goodbye to a Family member," Crutchfield said. "This is an incredible machine, as you all know. And it served us proudly for over 52 years. It was first introduced in 1959, and in its first 20 years of service, more than 7,000 of these aircraft served in combat in Vietnam and more than 16,000 were built and served all around the world.

"Many of us cut our teeth on this aircraft learning to fly," the general continued. "It has a special place in our hearts. Thank you for your outstanding 52 years of service."

Crutchfield then introduced CW4 Larry Castagneto, a safety officer with the 1st Aviation Brigade who flew the UH-1 in Vietnam, and among those with a special place in their hearts for the Huey.

"This is going to be a hard day," Castagneto said. "To be honest, it's a very sad day, an end of an era - an era that has spanned over 50 years - the retirement of this grand old lady, our mother, the Huey."

The chief warrant officer then gave some facts about the UH-1's storied career.

"It was 48 years ago to this month, in 1963, that the first Hueys arrived in Vietnam to units that would become the 145th and 13th Combat Aviation Brigades, both units still assigned here at Fort Rucker," he said. "While in Vietnam, the Huey flew approximately 7,457,000 assault sorties, 3,952,000 attack or gunship sorties, and 3,548,000 cargo supply sorties - over 15 million sorties over the paddies and jungles of Vietnam.

"And that does not to include the millions of other Soldiers flown all over the world and in other combat zones since then. What an amazing journey. I am so honored and humbled to have been a small part of that journey," he said.

Castagneto continued by saying those who flew, worked on or rode in the UH-1 knew how difficult it was for him to describe his feelings for the aircraft.

"We are the chosen few - we are the lucky ones," he said. "We understand what this aircraft means, for she is alive. She has a life of her own and has been a lifelong friend. She is as much a part of me and my fellow brothers as the blood that flows through our veins. Try to imagine all of those that have been touched by the shadow of her blades."

And that shadow extended well past Vietnam and even continues to touch the young Aviators of today, he added.

"They may love their Apaches or Blackhawks, but they will say there is no aircraft like flying a Huey. It is special," Castagneto said. "There are two kinds of helicopter pilots: those who have flown the Huey, and those who wish they could.

"So with that I say to her, that beautiful lady, sitting out there, from me and all my lucky brothers who were given the honor to serve their country and the privilege of flying this great lady in the skies of Vietnam, I say 'thank you' for the memories, 'thank you' for always being there, 'thank you' for always bringing us home no matter how beat up or shot up you were - you will never be forgotten," he said. "We loved you then, we love you now, we will love you until our last breath.

"And as the sun sets today, if you listen closely, you will hear that faint whop, whop, whop of our mother speaking to all her children, past and present, who rode her into history in a blaze of glory," he continued. "And she will be saying to us, 'I am here, I will always be here with you. I am at peace, and so should you be, and so should you be.'"

The UH-1 is still flown by the Army, Air Force and other services, Eichhorn said, adding that two of the three Hueys will retire among their brethren at other Aviation museums - with one going to Fort Rucker's own U.S. Army Aviation Museum and another going to the Army Aeromedical Evacuation Museum at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The destination for the third Huey was unavailable at press time."

And the complete text of the ceremony speech, given by CW4 Larry Castagneto, who flew the Huey in Vietnam:

"As a Vietnam Veteran Army Aviator, I would like to thank everyone for coming to this special occasion, on this to be honest...very sad day, the end of an era. An era that has spanned over 50 years. The retirement of this grand old lady "OUR MOTHER" ... the Huey.

I would like to thank, MG Crutchfield for allowing me to speak at this event and try to convey in my own inadequate, meager way.. what this aircraft means to me and so many other Vietnam veterans.

First a few facts:

It was 48 yrs ago this month that the first Huey arrived in Vietnam with units that were to become part of the 145th and the 13th Combat Aviation Battalions; both units assigned here at Ft Rucker today. 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 over 15 million sorties flown over the paddies and jungles of Nam, not to include the millions of sorties flown all over the world and other combat zones since then ....what a amazing journey.... I am honored and humbled to have been a small part of that journey.

To those in the crowd that have had the honor to fly, crew, or ride this magnificent machine in combat, we are the chosen few, the lucky ones . They understand what this aircraft means, and how hard it is for me to describe my feelings about her as a Vietnam combat pilot.... for she is alive... has a life of her own, and has been a life long friend.

How do I break down in a few minutes a 42 year love affair, she is as much a part of me, and to so many others,,,as the blood that flows through our veins. Try to imagine all those touched over the years ...by the shadow of her blades.

Other aircraft can fly overhead and some will look up and some may not; or even recognize what they see but, when a Huey flies over everyone looks up and everyone knows who she is... young or old all over the world she connects with all.
To those that rode her into combat... the sound of those blades causes our heart beat to rise... and breaths to quicken... in anticipation of seeing that beautiful machine fly overhead and the feeling of comfort she brings.

No other aircraft in the history of aviation evokes the emotional response the Huey does... combat veteran's or not... she is recognized all around the world by young and old, she is the ICON of the Vietnam war, U.S. Army Aviation, and the U.S. Army. Over 5 decades of service she carried Army Aviation on her back, from bird dogs and piston powered helicopters with a secondary support mission, to the force multiplier combat arm that Army Aviation is today.

Even the young aviators of today, that are mainly Apache pilot's, Blackhawk pilot's, etc., that have had a chance to fly her will tell you there is no greater feeling, honor, or thrill then to be blessed with the opportunity to ride her thru the sky... they may love their Apaches and Blackhawks, but they will say there is no aircraft like flying the Huey " it is special".

There are two kinds of helicopter pilots: those that have flown the Huey and those that wish they could have.

The intense feelings generated for this aircraft are not just from the flight crews but, also from those who rode in back ...into and out of the "devils caldron". As paraphrased here from "Gods own lunatics", Joe Galloway's tribute to the Huey and her flight crews and other Infantry veterans comments:

Is there anyone here today who does not thrill to the sound of those Huey blades?? That familiar whop-whop-whop is the soundtrack of our war...the lullaby of our younger days it is burned in to our brains and our hearts. To those who spent their time in Nam as a grunt, know that noise was always a great comfort... Even today when I hear it, I stop...catch my breath...and search the sky for a glimpse of the mighty eagle.

To the pilots and crews of that wonderful machine ...we loved you, we loved that machine.

No matter how bad things were...if we called ... you came... down through the hail of green tracers and other visible signs of a real bad day off to a bad start. I can still hear the sound of those blades churning the fiery sky ....To us you seemed beyond brave and fearless... Down you would come to us in the middle of battle in those flimsy thin skin -chariots ...into the storm of fire and ****,..

...we feared for you , we were awed by you. We thought of you and that beautiful bird as " God's own lunatics"... and wondered ...who are these men and this machine and where do they come from ...... Have to be "Gods Angels".

So with that I say to her, that beautiful lady sitting out there, from me and all my lucky brothers, that were given the honor to serve their country, and the privilege of flying this great lady in skies of Vietnam - Thank you for the memories...Thank you for always being there...Thank you for always bringing us home regardless of how beat up and shot up you were..., Thank You!!!!.

You will never be forgotten, we loved you then..... we love you now... and will love you till our last breath ...

And as the sun sets today, if you listen quietly and closely you will hear that faint wop wop wop of our mother speaking to all her children past and present who rode her into history in a blaze of glory ...she will be saying to them: I am here... I will always be here with you.

I am at peace and so should you be ... and so should you be."

The Huey fans will be happy to know that the Marines have updated the engines in their Hueys and added two more rotar bladews the also did the same to the cobras.