Washington in Tazewell County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Washington Park Veterans Memorial

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, July 28, 2026

1. Washington Park Veterans Memorial Marker

Inscription. The Bell Helicopter model 209 with military designation of AH-1 and nicknamed Cobra, was developed in the 1960's and its government tests in 1965, won the Army contract leading to a new era of airstrip warfare.

The first cobras were built in 1966 and delivered to Ft. Rucker, Alabama for initial training and familiarization of pilots. Six Cobras were shipped to Vietnam in August 1967 and saw their first combat in Bein Hoa on August 29th of that year.

The first Cobras weighed in an 9400 pounds, carried 264 gallons of fuel and cruised at 160 knots, powered by T53 Lycoming engines. They consumed 75 gallons of fuel per hour and had an operating ceiling of 12,500 ft., far above the range of small arms fire.

This Cobra tail #701-6045, was delivered to A company, 101st Aviation Battalion (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, KY in November 1972. It was in use for training and available for deployment at Ft. Campbell until 1980, when it was sent to Bill Textron in Amarillo, TX for modifications at 931.6 aircraft hours and marked for "Transfer to a Combat Theater of Operations".

This Cobra is special...the modifications

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were to AH-1S, which increased the shaft horsepower to 1400RPM, reduced the fuel capacity to 247 gallons, and increased the cruising speed to 166 knots.

On November 20, 1981, the aircraft was transferred to D Troop, 7th Cab, APO SF Korea. It was maintained at several locations in Korea, primary at Camp LaGuardia and Camp Eagle. Units involved with the aircraft included C Company, 2nd Aviation Battalion and D Company, 230 Attack Helicopter Battalion. The last maintenance entry in Korea indicated the aircraft had 2,678.6 aircraft hours.

This Cobra was assigned to the Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at Whiteman AFB, MO on June 11th, 1993. In August 1998, the maintenance logs shows 3,051 aircraft hours. On October 30th, 2000, the last aircraft inspection was performed at Whiteman AFB. On July 30th, 2001, the Army announced the retirement of the Cobra series helicopters.

So, from November 1972 until July 2001, a period of 29 years, this cobra was involved int he defense of our nation from training with the first response units of the 101st Air Assault Command at Ft. Campbell to standing alert in the front line of defense

Washington Park Veterans Memorial Left Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, July 28, 2026

2. Washington Park Veterans Memorial Left Plaque

of our efforts in Korea, and finally to training with the special forces at Whiteman AFB.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Korean • War, Vietnam. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1972.

Location. 40° 42.737′ N, 89° 24.685′ W. Memorial is in Washington, Illinois, in Tazewell County. It is on Lincoln Street half a mile West Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling north. This marker is the furthest left of all of the plaques featured at the memorial. It faces west towards Lincoln Street. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Washington IL 61571, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the Illinois River Valley

and in Greater Peoria.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Honor and Memory of U.S. Veterans

Washington Park Veterans Memorial Leftside View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, July 28, 2026

3. Washington Park Veterans Memorial Leftside View

(here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Washington Park Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Washington Park District (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Town & Country Gardeners Recognition (approx. 0.7 miles away); Lincoln in Washington (approx. 0.7 miles away); In Honor of William Holland (approx. 0.7 miles away); Washington's Bell / Bandstand (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Washington.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Washington Rewind Article - Washington Park. Local article from the Washington Historical Society about Washington Park. Features a section that covers the creation of the Veterans Memorial.

Excerpt: "In 2002, Washingtonian Eric Ingram began an Eagle Scout project to construct a Veterans’ memorial on park grounds..."

(Submitted on July 30, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 30, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.