68-15532’s First Assignment in Vietnam
On May 10, 1969, Crew Chief Craig Fouts received a shiny new UH-1 Huey Helo for his 21st birthday. Aircraft 68-15532 would join a small platoon of UH-1 Hueys and 0H-6A Loaches, known as Snoopy Flight, to conduct command and control operations for the 3rd Brigade 1st Cav Division. Fouts’ first impression on 532: “It is not as shiny as 918 was and is more of a dull brown color. We are going to have to paint a ‘Snoopy’ on the nose and give it some bright orange paint for the Snoopy identification colors.” When it was done, it was the only aircraft in the fleet on which Snoopy had a tail.
Until recently, NVVMF’s knowledge of 532’s service was the units, hours, and time periods, but not how it was employed. Fouts provided insight into how the Huey’s of Snoopy Flight flew at higher levels than the 0H-6A Loaches, but they were integral to every mission. NVVMF has also been in contact with a few others who flew on 532 while a member of Snoopy Flight.
Fouts’ last six months in country were 532’s first six months in country and thankfully, it got through those months without much damage. He wrote in his log: “Aug. 07, 69: Tonight, they were prepping our perimeter with artillery shells from a friendly LZ not far from here. One of the rounds fell short and hit over by our hangar. It put a large hole in the ground and completely blew away the back wall of the hangar. Nobody was inside the hangar when it hit, so there were not any injuries. The amazing thing is the helicopter, 532, that was parked inside the hangar was not even touched. There were pieces of shrapnel, wood, and dirt scattered all over the place inside, but the chopper was not damaged.”
When 532 arrived in Nebraska, it was in good condition with a red cross on the nose, indicating it had done medivac missions. Now as the Iowa Western Community College Aviation Maintenance students, aircraft restoration experts, and volunteers diligently work to restore 532, there are big decisions to make about the final paint job. Should it be painted to be restored to look like it did in May 1969 when it was part of Snoopy Flight or like it did when it left service as a medivac chopper?
The UH-1 Huey Helicopter being restored at the Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) Airport Facility is not only helping students learn about aircraft mechanics, it is also helping the students learn about the Vietnam War and the value of the aircraft that flew during the conflict.
See what Tim Johnson of the The Daily Nonpareil said about the restoration project: Nonpareil Online
Benny and the Vets
On Friday May 7 at the Bellevue University Veteran Center twelve members of the Operation Restore Huey crew gathered for their first team meeting to discuss the restoration of a UH-1 Huey helicopter that will be on display at the future Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The meeting started with Tom Brown, president of the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation (NVVMF), providing a brief description and history of Benny, a UH-1 Huey (tail number 68-15532) that was donated by a Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 601 in Bennington, Vermont to the Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 279 in Omaha, Nebraska. Benny earned its name when it traveled over 1300 miles last November from Bennington, Vermont to Bennington, Nebraska.
Next, JR Richardson, board member for NVVMF and project coordinator for Operation Restore Huey, introduced himself and asked everyone to also introduce themselves to give the team a brief background of their interest in this restoration project and their involvement capabilities. As each man took their turn, the group learned of each other’s affiliation with the UH-1 Huey and their strengths. Soon it was realized that among them there were influencers, fixers, collectors, inventors, and doers.
They all came from different backgrounds but they were all excited to be part of the crew to restore Benny and honor all the Vietnam Veterans for their service and sacrifice. The next time these eager volunteers will meet will be at a hangar at the Council Bluffs Regional Airport, where the Iowa Western Community College owns a hangar for their Aviation Department and has agreed to store Benny while it is being restored for display. Over the next few months the Veterans will also have the chance to mentor young minds of students enrolled in the IWCC Aviation Maintenance course. There was once a time that Benny served in Vietnam as a support helo and a rescue icon, now Benny will serve again to foster camaraderie between our Vietnam Veterans and a new generation of aviation enthusiasts.
Huey Back On The Highway
After spending a brutal winter in a Bennington barn, Benny went back on the highway on May 15. A dozen volunteers lifted Benny onto a low-boy trailer and it went back on the highway on its way to the Iowa Western Community College Aviation Department at the Council Bluffs Regional Airport. A handful of those volunteers then unloaded Benny and parked him in his new home in a 15,000 square foot hangar. Benny will be joining seven airplanes and two other helicopters in the hangar. The aircraft in the hangar are used by the students of the two-year Aviation Maintenance program for hands-on training. After the Huey is restored there might be an opportunity for residents across Nebraska to see Benny in real life depending on when the Huey is fully restored and the opening of the Memorial. … #hueyonahighway.
Volunteers gathered in Bennington to take the Benny from the back of the lowboy trailer and slide the Huey into a barn for safe-keeping during the winter.
UH-1 Huey 68-15532 Service in Vietnam
The UH-1 Huey Helicopter tail number 68-15532 came into service April 1969. It joined the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in Quan Loi, Vietnam. While part of the 3rd Brigade, 68-15532 flew 478 hours in support of operations from May ’69 to October ’69. 68-15532 was employed as a Command and Control aircraft to support operations in many ways from rescue missions to calling in airstrikes. Then, it joined the 229th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopters) in January ’70. Over the next 21 months, 68-15532 flew 2,262 hours with two reported incidents with zero wounded. It deployed for a short stint, only 73 hours, with the 244th Assault Helicopter Company in October ’71 and another 18 hours with the 114th Assault Helicopter Company before it landed with the 48th Assault Helicopter Company. During its time with the 48th AHC, 68-15532 flew 202 hours. The last flight for 68-15532 was in August ’72, when it was transferred to the 142nd Transportation Company. In the end, 68-15532 flew a total 3180 hours in Vietnam and returned to Texas almost unscathed. There is no record of it ever flying after serving 4 years in Vietnam, however it has spent a lot of time on highways across the United States. Check out the travel across the United States … #hueyonahighway.
From Bennington to Bennington
A UH-1 Huey Helicopter with the tail number 68-15532 traveled across the states from Bennington, Vermont to Bennington, Nebraska on the back of a Freight 4 All, Inc. truck. Roger, a 70-year-old Iowa native, drove the truck with the “Bird of Mercy” on the back over 1300 miles along Interstate 90 through Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio and Interstate 80 through Illinois and Iowa. It took a 2-day detour to Lake View, Iowa to let Roger rest, then it was back on the road again via Highway 30, Interstate 29, and Highway 36 to Bennington, Nebraska. Along the way, Roger reported multiple people stopping to take pictures and ask about the #hueyonahighway. Roger was also excited to meet a UH-1 Huey helicopter pilot from the Vietnam War. Follow the restoration project of the UH-1 Huey 68-15532 on Facebook and Instagram. If you are interested in volunteering for #OperationRestoreHuey contact NVVMF.
[…] Additional information concerning this helicopter can be found on our website at: Operation Restore Huey Taking Flight […]