S&S - JMRC replacing ‘Huey’ helicopters next year

From my archive of press clippings:

Stars and Stripes

JMRC replacing ‘Huey’ helicopters next year

By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes


European edition, Friday, March 27, 2009

Seth Robson / S&S
U.S. UH-1 Hueys drop German personnel during air assault training Wednesday at Hohenfels, Germany. The Army will phase out the Hueys next year at the training center.

HOHENFELS, Germany — The Army will replace its fleet of UH-1 "Huey" helicopters with new UH-72 Lakotas next year at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The aircraft were built in the early 1970s and some saw combat in Vietnam, although they have had most of their parts replaced many times, the 47-year-old Dexter, Maine, native said. The Huey became the signature aircraft of Vietnam, starring in television dramas and movies such as "Apocalypse Now," which featured a squadron of UH-1s assaulting a target accompanied by Wagner’s "Ride of the Valkyries."

This month, JMRC officials are training the last group of pilots who will operate Hueys at Hohenfels, said Maupin, who has been flying UH-1s since 1986."

"One of only five senior instructor pilots for the Huey left in the Army, Maupin will retire next month."

&

"The National Guard will retire its 70 Hueys in September with the last of the Army’s machines due to leave the service by 2012"

Koblenz from the air (1982)

Taken from a German Army UH-1D helicopter.

Herborn-Seelbach from the air (II)

Taken from a UH-1D Huey above Herborn-Seelbach, West Germany, in 1982.

Herborn-Seelbach from the air

Taken from a UH-1D Huey high above Herborn-Seelbach, West Germany, in 1982.