Minnesota
Army National Guard Retires its Vietnam Era UH1 Hueys. Retirement Ceremony
Was Held on the State Capitol Grounds on November 10, 2004
Minnesota
Army National Guard Retires its Vietnam Era UH1 Hueys. Retirement Ceremony
Was Held on the State Capitol Grounds on November 10, 2004
After 42 years of federal and state service, these Vietnam-era Helicopters were retired. The Minnesota Air National Guard hosted a flyover and memorial ceremony to honor those who flew, maintained and relied on the legendary aircraft. After extensive service in Vietnam -- more than 5,000 Hueys were used in Southeast Asia -- Hueys were acquired by the Minnesota state Guard in 1970 and performed many missions, including firefighting, search and rescue and support for flood and tornado relief. The UH-1 Huey helicopters from the Minnesota Army National Guard flew over the State Capitol at noon on Wednesday, November 10, 2004. The guard will now use UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters after the November 15, 2004 retirement of the Hueys. The ceremony was held at the Vietnam memorial on the Minnesota State Capitol grounds. After the flyover, one Huey returned low and slow and hovered facing the Vietnam Memorial for a minute as a final salute. The crowd of veterans and non-veterans were treated to an impressive and emotional display of the distinctive wop wop sound of the rotors during this salute.
The photo above is a Navy version of the Huey taken in October 1968 above the waters of the Mekong Delta. The photos below are of the retirement ceremony for the Minnesota Army National Guard Hueys. Click on the small photo to see a larger version.
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