By Cecelia Ellis
For The Republic
Soldiers who were trapped in the jungles of southeast Asia know well the sound of a Huey helicopter. Bartholomew County residents now will also be able to hear that same iconic sound now and then as one of the helicopters has been brought to Columbus.
Columbus resident Jim Ogilvie brought the “Columbus Indiana Huey” home on Sunday, and it is here to stay.
Ogilvie purchased the UH-1 Iroquois aircraft from Rice Aircraft in Yuba City, California. It is the second purchase of a Huey for Ogilvie, who purchased a OH 58 or Kiowa model of Huey in 2004.
With three of his aircraft-certified buddies, Ogilvie flew the restored antique UH-1 Iroquois helicopter 2,000-plus miles over mountains, deserts, hills and valleys back to Columbus. The Huey was manufactured in 1970 as one of more than 7,000 that were contracted the U.S. Army for use during the Vietnam War.
The Huey’s crew members were all Vietnam War-era veterans who are older than age 70. They made the grueling trip in around 20 hours of flight-time during a span of less than three days.
“Probably the hardest thing about the trip was also one of the best things. The Huey can only fly about two hours without re-fueling so we had to find an airport or refueling place and set down every few hours,” Ogilvie said. “The good thing about that was veterans would hear and recognize the sound of the Huey and they would follow us in their cars.”
The UH-1H burns almost 90 gallons of fuel per hour.
Variations of the Huey helicopter have served the U.S. military for more than 60 years, so there are many veterans from all branches of service that recognize its sound.
“No one knew we were coming ahead of time, but we always had people waiting for us when we landed. We met some really great people everywhere we stopped,” Ogilvie said.
Ogilvie spent more than 20 years as a Huey pilot for the Indiana National Guard. He retired in 1989, but kept his certification as a helicopter pilot current.
He purchased an OH-58 Kiowa helicopter in 2004 and volunteered with Charly Walker’s Indiana Air Search And Rescue, where he met the two crew chiefs for Columbus Indiana Huey flight home mission.
The OH-58, which uses about 30 to 40 gallons of fuel per hour, was primarily used for scouting by the Army. It’s designed for four passengers while the UH-1H workhorse can hold 12-15.
Loren Johnson, 71 of Fortville and Stu Reynolds, 72, of Indianapolis, both spent time in Vietnam as Huey crew chiefs, which meant they both were capable of taking a Huey apart and then putting it back together again.
Johnson spent over nine years in the U.S. Army as a crew chief and then worked for civilian companies as an aircraft mechanic.
Johnson said he understood why many Vietnam veterans feel an emotional attachment for the helicopter because it was the Huey that delivered most of the supplies used by soldiers fighting in remote places.
It was also the Huey that transported wounded soldiers back for medical aid.
“During my time in Vietnam, I spent a lot of my time in a Huey flying missions to help wounded soldiers. I know the Huey is an exceptional aircraft,” Johnson said.
After Reynolds left the military, for many years, he wanted nothing to do with any helicopter. He studied animal behavior, worked as a park ranger and then went into computer systems. He used his mechanical skills to make extra money fixing everything from boat engines to motorcycles.
Eventually, Reynolds also found his way to Walker’s Indiana Air Search and Rescue organization and again put his helicopter mechanic skills to work helping others.
Now he will help mechanics to work on the Columbus Indiana Huey.
In addition to his duties as a mechanic and navigator aboard the Columbus Indiana Huey on a flight across the country, Reynolds served as the mission’s photographer.
“The scenery was so beautiful, I must have taken 1,000 photos just coming through the mountains. It was amazing,” Reynolds said.
The second pilot on the Columbus Indiana Huey was 77-year-old Dave Williams from Thorntown. He retired as a colonel from the Indiana National Guard after spending 37 years first as a Huey pilot and then piloting Blackhawk and Cobra helicopters.
“It was a good flight and it was a fun flight,” Williams said.
Explaining how there is no other sound like a Huey unless it is another Huey, Williams said the best part of the trip was seeing the veterans who came to see the Huey at the fuel stops.
“There is something about hearing and seeing a Huey that really affects vets, especially Vietnam vets,” Williams said. “Sometimes it makes them smile and sometimes it makes them cry but it always does something. It’s like it opens, then closes a door, and that is good.”
Ogilvie bought the helicopter as a part of a 501c3 organization designed to support both civilian and veterans charitable groups. He said he has requested information on the history of his the new helicopter, but has not received the information yet from Rice.
Known as the work horse of the Army, Ogilvie’s recently purchased UH-1H or Iroquois model was manufactured in 1970. It was one of 7,000 models manufactured for possible use in Vietnam. Most often called simply “Huey” the UH-1H is considered an icon of the Vietnam War. It was used to transport soldiers in and out of combat, move supplies and provide gun-support for troops on the ground.
The UH-1H can fly nearly 200 miles per hours and uses around 90 gallons of fuel an hour, with seating for 15 people.
By the 1990’s, the U.S Army discontinued use of the UH-1H Iroquois but law enforcement agencies and foreign countries still use the restored helicopters. The Marine Corps uses the upgraded versions of the Huey now known as the Viper and Venom models of helicopters.
The Columbus Indiana Huey will be housed in a hanger at the Columbus Municipal Airport and will be displayed at local civic events.
