The Bell UH-1 is perhaps the best-known American helicopter in the world.  Made famous by its use in Vietnam, versions of the “Huey” remain in both military and civil service today.  Designated HU-1 by the Army and H-40 by the Air Force, the first Hueys flew in 1958.  In 1962, the designations were changed to UH-1.  By the mid-1960s, Hueys could be found in every branch of the U.S. military and were entering the civil and foreign military markets.  The early models of Hueys were found to be under-powered at high altitudes or in hot conditions.  This resulted in the development of the larger and higher powered UH-1D in 1961.  This model continued to suffer from limited power issues that often prevented them from hovering in the hot conditions that prevailed in Vietnam.  An even more powerful engine was installed resulting in the UH-1H.  Many D models were eventually upgraded to H standards.  Over 5,000 D and H models were built. The last of them retired from Army service in 2016.

Manufacturer
Bell

Markings
U.S. Army Medical Evacuation markings

Designation
UH-1H

Serial Number
64-13895

Service History

Built by Bell Aircraft, Ft. Worth, Texas and delivered to the U.S. Army in November 1965.

February 1966             56^th Transportation Company, Than Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam.

May 1966                    2^nd Signal Group, Than Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam.

May 17, 1967              Damaged by small arms fire during MedEvac mission.  At least one crew member was injured.

July 1967                    U.S. Army-Vietnam Flight Detatchment, Saigon, Vietnam.

August 1967                Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth, Texas.

October 1967              608^th Transportation Company, Vietnam.

April 1968                   118^th Assault Helicopter Company, Vietnam.

September 1968          To Lockheed Corp. for maintenance, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

March 1969                 Headquarters and Headquarters Detatchment 44^th Engineering Group, Thailand.

December 1969           79^th Transportation Company, Qui Nhon, Vietnam.

January 1970               303 Transportation Company, Vung Tau, Vietnam.

February 1970             79^th Transportation Company, Qui Nhon, Vietnam.

June 1970                    367^th Aviation Detatchment, Hawaii.

December 1970           161^st Aviation, 25^th Infantry Division, Hawai’i.

January 1971               367^th Aviation Detatchment, Hawai’i.

August 1972                Support Maintenance Center, Hawai’i.

May 1973                    Headquarters and Headquarters Troop 3 / 4 Cavalry, 25^th Infantry Division, Hawai’i.

July 1973                    Support Maintenance Center, Hawai’i.

December 1973           Transferred to Continental U.S. through Corpus Christi NAS.

May 1974                    Converted to UH-1H.

September1974           364^th Engineering Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Columbus, Ohio.

January 1983               In storage Corpus Christi Aviation Depot.

June 1983                    To Army Aviation Training Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama.

September 1992          Loaned to Pima Air & Space Museum by U.S. Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, Alabama.