The Real Veterans
Prose & Photography: Kevin J. Donegan
8:45, Saturday morning 3rd August, I find myself with my two regular cohorts, Sven and Ray, sat in McDonalds having our customary pre-aviation-fix breakfast. We are discussing the last time we paid a visit to today’s location, trying to confirm exactly how long it has been. Over sausage and egg McMuffins and orange juice, we agree it was May 2016, over 3 years ago. Today we are heading to see a couple of veterans, unusually for us the journey is less than an hour’s drive. (The North West of England isn’t exactly a hot bed of military aviation and our aviation chasing journeys are normally at least 2 1/2 hours!) Our venue today is just off the M55 near the small town of Wesham. Just over an hour later and we are approaching our destination, sandwiched between a TVR restorers and a Llama farm, the familiar sights are still there from 3 years ago, along with a couple of new additions; namely a huge howitzer and a brand spanking new visitor centre. We park the car and head over to be greeted by Colette, one of the team here.
The new visitor centre has been built to enable our hosts to offer pleasure flights in their aircraft to members of the public. Inside, the centre is packed with helicopter and Vietnam memorabilia, photos, helmets and models as well as a small but select range of souvenirs. But, it does provide a tantalising glimpse into what awaits outside the doors. After a brief browse I head out into what has developed into a glorious Lancashire morning; the sun is out, there is a scattering of clouds across a pale blue sky. I turn into what is without a doubt the absolute best ever “man cave” you could possibly hope to see. Missiles, Rockets, Fuel Tanks, Recon Pods are all attached to walls and suspended from ceilings. Flags of various types also decorate the eves, and a huge parachute provides a tented ceiling effect. To be fair, I have been to a few “man caves” and some of them have those items as well, but none have the jewels in the crown that this one has;
A Bell UH-1H “huey” Iroquois and a Hughes OH-6A “loach” Cayuse.
Parked side by side inside this hangar, gleaming in polished Army Green paint work. The love and care invested in the painstaking restoration of these two Vietnam War veteran helicopters is evident for all to see. They are a proud testament to the work that Phil Connolly and his team have put in which enables them to rightly carry the legend that they are “The only authentic Vietnam war veterans of their types flying in the UK.”
The military helicopter Bell UH-1 series was designed and built by the Bell Helicopter Company in the late 1950's as a multipurpose machine. It has become synonymous with the Vietnam War, being used to transport troops and equipment as well as for air assault missions.
A total of 4869 helicopters were lost by US forces in Vietnam, the biggest losses, 2591 aircraft, being sustained by the US Army.
Huey 509, or “Miss Jo” as she is now christened (after Phil’s wife), was purchased by the US Army in 1972 and joined the 129th Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam in July 1972. Records show she flew 559 combat hours before returning to the US in 1973. Huey 509 served in a Unit, calling themselves ‘Bulldogs’ (Troop Lift Platoons) and ‘Cobras’ (Gunship Platoon), with the call sign ‘Bite and Strike’. 'Huey 509' participated in aerial combat operations until 1973, primarily in support of the US 101st Airborne Division and Republic of Korea Forces. ‘Huey 509’ suffered combat damage on two flights while on combat operations. Some of the repairs from these are still visible in the floor of the cabin highlighted for all to see with spots of yellow paint.
Between 1973 and 1996 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.
Huey 509 was purchased by Phil and his team in 2003 and so began a two-year long full restoration. The project was completed in May 2005 and the aircraft arrived at its new home near Blackpool, Lancashire on 30th July 2005. ‘Huey 509’ has been fully restored to flying condition and has authentic 129th livery. Whilst the UH-1H helicopter can carry four crew, pilot, co-pilot, crew chief and door gunner and ten troops, ‘Huey 509’ is permitted under UK CAA Regulations to fly with 8 persons on board. It can fly at a speed of 110 knots for a distance of 293 miles.
The helicopter is powered by a Lycoming T53-L13 turbine engine, installed above the fuselage and close to the main rotor unit, just behind the gearbox unit allowing a large cargo hold. This engine produces 1400 shp and has a maximum weight of 9,500 pounds with internal loading. The UH-1H’s weapons can be used with great versatility. ‘Huey 509’ is fitted with two door mounted, de-activated M-60 medium machine guns.
The original designation of HU-1 (Helicopter Utility) led to the helicopter's nickname of Huey. In September 1962, the designation was changed to UH-1, but "Huey" remained in common use.
Helicopter OH-6A 69-16011 was manufactured in 1969 and was number 470 off the production line of the Hughes Tool Company. The aircraft was shipped direct to Vietnam where it served in the 20th Transport Company.
The aircraft technical records show that at 250 hours from new on the 17th August 1970 whilst serving in this Unit, the helicopter was on a recon mission and came under fire at a flight level of 100 feet and 80 knots in South Vietnam and took 11 hits from small arms and automatic weapons. The majority of these hits were on the underside of the aircraft causing damage to the fuel system and some aircraft components. Luckily the armour plating proved effective protecting the flight crew and out of the three crew on board, only one was wounded in action.
The aircraft served with the 13 other aircraft from Alliance Airport at Fort Worth and was disposed of by auction on 4th May 2004. It was then purchased by a helicopter dealer and put into storage for a number of years. It was at this point where Phil Connolly found the unit in storage in Seattle and having conducted the research with the aircraft records regarding the battle damage in 1970 he decided it would be the ideal fit into his helicopter activities and business in the UK.
Did you know the nickname “loach” came from the US Army requirement acronym LOH for Light Observation Helicopter?
Today, though, there are more than these two veterans in attendance: we are honoured to have Sgt Allen Feser of the 23rd and 66th MP’s who served in Vietnam between Jan 1968 and July 1969 and Dennis Sheridan of the 327th Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division who served in Vietnam between 1969 and 1970. Both of whom are on a visit from the US and have been invited along as guests of the Huey team. They are enthusiastically chatting with the gathered people, recalling and reminiscing about their time in theatre and their own memories of these two beautiful machines, even providing little nuggets of information that Phil and his team were not aware of. They are given hands on guided tours of the aircraft by Neil Airey, one of the 3 pilots qualified to fly “Miss Jo”. Neil himself has amassed thousands of hours on helicopters and until recently was a pilot for the North West Air Ambulance. He pays particular attention to the only part of the paint scheme that is not authentic to the aircraft from its time in Vietnam. Painted onto the doors of “Miss Jo” is a list of 34 names, members of the 129th AHAC who lost their lives, and 1 person who is still listed as “Missing in Action” in the Vietnam War. A poignant moment for both veterans, and one which clearly touches both of them deeply.
About an hour into the morning, they start to move the two aircraft out of the hangar and prepare them for flight. “Miss Jo” first, carefully backed out with a team of volunteers to ensure she doesn’t catch the hangar door, or anyone who is gathered around. She is pushed by a small tractor out to the purpose-made pad. The “loach” follows next, already on her own mobile pad; she is towed out forwards and positioned midway between “Miss Jo” and the gathered people. Neil and Simon Johnson start the pre-flight checks, easing the rotor blades of the “huey” round and round to help grease the workings, explaining to those watching that as it has been a couple of weeks since her last flight; these checks were essential. A short time later, after clambering onto the roof to inspect the rotor head, Neil starts the engines and the rotors slowly begin turning, until that familiar “Thwump Thwump” sound is resonating around the site. Followed soon after by Dick Barton in the “loach”, her smaller four bladed rotors starting quicker and with a more constant insect-like, buzz, she starts to gently vibrate on her launch pad.
After confirming that all is ok, Dennis and Allen are invited to take a seat in “Miss Jo” and she is wound up to full power ready to lift off. As Neil lifts the collective she almost leaps of the pad into the air. He dips her nose and she transits forwards into flight, her side doors open, with the joy and excitement visible on Dennis and Allen’s faces as she disappears off to our right. Dick, lifting the “loach” immediately afterwards with a pedal turn to the right, he follows “Miss Jo” and they both depart into the Lancashire sky.
There follows a period of the aircraft performing a number of flypasts, both in formation and individually, with both then demonstrating the types of landings and take offs they would have used in theatre when deploying troops. The presence of a period dressed re-enactor manning the M60 in “Miss Jo” helping to add an extra touch of realism.
After around 20 minutes both aircraft are brought in to land for a final time. Dick brings the “loach” in first, a wide swing enabling him to keep the viewing people in sight until the last moment when a deft flick of the pedals and sideways movement on the cyclic brings him over the pad, and he is guided down by Simon. Neil then brings “Miss Jo” down, but keeps the rotors turning and calls over a group of re-enactors to pose by the side of her. Giving those with cameras the chance to capture a surprisingly, considering we are in Lancashire, realistic looking scene. A short while later both aircraft are shut down and we are once again allowed to get up close and personal with them both, but not before Neil has issued a warning that exhausts etc will still be hot!
Phil, Neil, and Simon also take this opportunity to pose for photographs alongside “Miss Jo” with Dennis and Allen, the two veterans passing their own cameras and phones to people to capture this moment for them also. Dennis and Allen then head off to look over some of the jeeps and other vehicles that have been brought to the day by various owners and enthusiasts from all over the North West of England.
The day now takes on a very relaxed feel, both aircraft sitting calmly and quietly, almost belying their original purpose of machines of war. Staff and volunteers mingle with guests. I take this chance to get some images of both aircraft in what has now become a slightly overcast day, providing near shadowless lighting. People start to make their way home and soon I find that it’s just myself, my cohorts, the veterans and the volunteers left. We sit around on the covered veranda of the visitor centre as tales and war stories come from all around. Time seems to stand still as we listen and, more often than I thought, laugh with the veterans over their stories. But time hasn’t stood still; it's soon time to leave and head home. We stand, shake the hands of two men who stepped into the hell of war, and came out the other side. We thank them for their service, something that really seems to be nowhere near enough, and wish them the best for their future as we return to our car. The drive back home is filled with discussions about how good it has been to get close to these two beautiful aircraft again but also takes on just a little bit more solemnity due to the conversations with the guests from today, the real veterans.
The Huey team have close links with the 129th AHC (Assault Helicopter Company) in the United States and Phil and Stuart are members of the US Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF).
Phil and his team are available to take “Miss Jo” and the “loach” to many air shows and events around the UK. They were awarded the Concourse D’Elegance for the best civilian owned aircraft at the Royal International Air Tattoo this year. They have recently received CAA approval for public to take paid flights in “Miss Jo”. A rarity in the UK, as there are not many other ex-military helicopters that the public can pay for flights in, and certainly there are no other authentic Vietnam veteran aircraft in the UK that you can. In what are changing times for heritage aircraft on the UK Air Show scene, it is comforting to see one small operation still thriving, and expanding. It seems the future of the UK ex-military aviation flying may just have rotary wings.
