Pipe Creek Township in Grissom Air Force Base in Miami County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Bell Aircraft Corporation UH-1H-BF

68-16256

— Grissom Air Museum —

Bell Aircraft Corporation UH-1H-BF Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

1. Bell Aircraft Corporation UH-1H-BF Marker

Inscription.
Specifications:
Manufacture: Bell Aircraft Corporation
Designation: UH-1H-BF
Serial Number: 68-16256
Official name: Iroquois
Nicknames: Huey, (derived from classification U-hee), Dustoff, Hog, Frog and Cobra
Function: Utility Helicopter
Cost: $273,000
Crew: Four; Pilot, Co-pilot, Crew chief/gunner, Door gunner
Main Rotor: Twin blade, semi rigid, 48' diameter
Length: 57'1"
Fuel capacity: 209 gallons, 1,392 lbs
Power plant: Lycoming, T-53-L-13B Turboshaft
Shaft horsepower: 1,400 Empty weight: 5,215 lbs
Max T/O weight: 9,500 lbs
Max Speed: 125 mph
Range: 315 miles
Armament: (2) M-60 7.62 door mounted machine guns and 2.75 Rocket pods
Number Built: 16,000.
Year built: Prototype YH-40 delivered in 1958. The last variant, designated TH-1H was built for the Air Force in 1976.
Year retired: The U.S. Army began replacing their Hueys with Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawks in 2005 and with Airbus UH-72 Lakotas in 2009. The last of the UH1s were retired from Army National Guard units in 2016 but the US Air Force continued to employ these helicopters in support of remote missile sites into 2018.
Mission:
The UH-1 is

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best remembered for her service during the Vietnam War as basic transportation. These versatile helicopters also served as gunships, observation platforms and as MEDEVAC air ambulances (Dustoff medical missions). As early as 1962, UH-1 "Slicks", armed only with door mounted machine guns were modified by their crews to accommodate rocket and grenade launchers for self-defense and ground attack. It wasn't until 1966 that the UH-1C was introduced as a genuine gunship.

US Air Force Lieutenant James P. Fleming was awarded the Medal of Honor after rescuing six Special Forces soldiers under heavy enemy fire near the Cambodian border of Vietnam on 26 November 1968. He is one of seven Huey helicopter pilots to be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War along with Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Novosel, who joined the Army as a warrant officer to fly combat helicopters. Assigned as a Dustoff pilot, Novosel is crediting with saving 29 soldiers during 15 extremely hazardous extractions in a single battle on 2 October 1969.

Our Huey:
Joined up with the 170th Assault Helicopter Company, Camp Holloway near Pleiku, South Vietnam

Bell Aircraft UH-1H-BF and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

2. Bell Aircraft UH-1H-BF and Marker

in February 1969 and provided support to the 4th US Infantry Division, the 25th US Infantry Division and the 22nd ARVN Infantry Division accumulating more than 1,100 combat flying hours. This Company was primarily responsible to support a 5th Special Forces Group (MACSOG) which led mercenaries on long range recon patrols deep in the mountainous jungle along the Ho Chi Minh Trail network. The following January she moved north with the 170th to Kontum Airfield mostly in support of infantry platoons. This helicopter returned from Vietnam in 1972 and was based out of Fort Benning, Georgia. She came to the Museum from the 38th Aviation Brigade, Indiana Army National Guard. This exhibit is respectfully dedicated to CW2 Lester Hansen who is still listed MIA and the other 56 men of the 170th Assault Helicopter Company who were killed defending freedom in Vietnam. To them we owe a solemn obligation.

This exhibit is the property of the US Army and maintained through your participation in the Grissom Air Museum donor program.

Erected by Grissom Air Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space

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• Military • War, Vietnam. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1969.

Location. 40° 40.121′ N, 86° 7.776′ W. Marker is in Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, in Miami County. It is in Pipe Creek Township. It is at the intersection of West Hoosier Boulevard and U.S. 31, on the right when traveling west on West Hoosier Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 W Hoosier Blvd, Peru IN 46970, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana.

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: Boeing EC-135L (here, next to this marker); EC-135L (here, next to this marker); Cessna O-2A (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Safe Ramp Tower (a few steps from this marker); Douglas TA-4J (a few steps from this marker); Grumman F-14B (within shouting distance of this marker); Lockheed T-33A (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grissom Air Force Base.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.