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Lancashire reunion for Vietnam vets and restored helicopter
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Lancashire provides the setting for a remarkable reunion between Vietnam
veterans and a Huey helicopter which served in their unit.
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Inside Out North West helped to bring Vietnam veterans over from the United States to see
the restored aircraft fly at Lancashire's Lytham Hall.
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The emotional journey
can be seen on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One (North West) tonight at 7.30pm.
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The Huey helicopter, which still bears bullet holes from the action it saw, is
owned by Wesham-based businessman Phil Connolly.
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He traced its history and
discovered that it served in Vietnam from 1972 as part of the 129th Helicopter
Assault Company.
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Phil soon realised he was flying a living memorial to the
35 men from the unit who died in service and so decided to track
down some of the surviving veterans from that unit.
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For the two veterans who visit Lancashire, it is a chance to see a helicopter
which they have not seen fly for more than 30 years and a chance to say a final
goodbye.
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Also visiting is Mark Jackson whose brother was killed in Vietnam when
his helicopter crashed on his 21st birthday.
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His brother's name, Crew Chief
Lawrence Jackson, is now among those on the door of Phil Connolly's Huey.
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At Lytham Hall, the veterans saw the Huey for the first time as Phil surprised
them by flying the helicopter in.
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For former pilot Ron Paye it was also an opportunity which he thought would
never come: to fly a Huey for the first time in 30 years.
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He says: "Greater than anything else, the Huey is a symbol of Vietnam. When you hear a
Huey, you're drawn to it."
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Ron is touched that someone from the
UK saw the importance of restoring this helicopter: "Now we can go back to the
US and tell them, look what Phil did in the UK."
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Phil Connolly says: "I've always been obsessed by helicopters ever since I was a little boy.
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"The helicopter that everyone really wants to fly and own is a
Huey. It's always number one on everyone's list."
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With its distinctive rotor blade sound, the Huey helicopters were used to take
troops in and out of battle. The helicopter had the call sign U H, but everyone
called it the Huey.
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Phil Connolly first found the Huey at The Museum of Flight in Seattle.
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It had
been left to gather dust in the field behind the museum and was missing its
tail and engine.
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Phil restored it and now uses the helicopter to raise money
for charity by appearing at air shows across the country.
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Notes to Editors
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Please credit: Inside Out, 7.30pm, Friday 9 February 2007, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One (North West).
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HH2
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