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UH-1B, Iroquois



UH-1B, Iroquois
The Bell UH-1B Iroquois, better known as the "Huey", first flew in 1956 as Bell's first production turbine-powered helicopter. Early in the Vietnam conflict, the Navy sought helicopter gunship support for its riverine operations. Though Army UH-1B's flew from ships in the Mekong River Delta, limitations in Army doctrine forced the Navy to consider its own gunship program. In the summer of 1966, four detachments from squadron HC-1 were formed as the Navy's first dedicated attack helicopter force, the "Seawolves".

From the success of integrating the Seawolves with the smaller craft of the "Brown Water Navy", emerged a new squadron, Helicopter Attack (Light) Three, in 1967. HAL-3 would see intensive action over the next five years, especially in 1968 during the Tet Offensive. When they disestablished in March 1972, HAL-3 pilots and aircrew had amassed more than 17,000 combat decorations, making it one of the most decorated units in naval aviation.


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