UH-1H Huey 57th Medical Detachment UH-1H "White Elephant" 1972
Livery for the UH-1H flown by the 57th Medical Unit in Vietnam.
Info from „https://vietnam-hueys.tripod.com“
In 1969 the Defense Department started a program with state agencies to provide emergency medical personnel and medevac helicopters in response to serious traffic accidents in the states. The program was called MAST (Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic). Military helicopters assigned to the MAST program were painted white with large red crosses on the sides.
The Medical Service Command in Vietnam got the idea that medevac helicopters were being shot at in Vietnam because they were olive drab and looked too much like other choppers. The order came down that some medevac helicopters should be painted white like the stateside MAST helicopters, and maybe the enemy would stop shooting at them! Needless to say, medevac units chosen to receive these white Hueys were overjoyed with this decision.
The 57th Med Detachment began taking delivery of these white Hueys in January 1972. The flight crews quickly dubbed these aircraft "White Elephants". The nose retained the flat black paint, with the lower half of the nose painted white. This particular Huey had "ALIVE & KICKIN II painted in white on the nose above the red cross. As expected, the NVA and VC targeted these white helicopters just as quickly as other choppers.
Best wishes to all pilot who love this legendary helicopter.
Willowfsx
EchoBravo85
of course when you have time and if you want to.
https://www.airpics.net/photo/ES691-Bell-UH-1H-Iroquois-Huey-Hellenic-Army-Aviation/36677
Willowfsx author
4 days ago
EchoBravo85
gooood job as always!!!
Willowfsx author
4 days ago