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24 September 2014
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Lancashire reunion for Vietnam vets and restored helicopter


Lancashire provides the setting for a remarkable reunion between Vietnam veterans and a Huey helicopter which served in their unit.

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.

The emotional journey can be seen on 大象传媒 One (North West) tonight at 7.30pm.

The Huey helicopter, which still bears bullet holes from the action it saw, is owned by Wesham-based businessman Phil Connolly.

He traced its history and discovered that it served in Vietnam from 1972 as part of the 129th Helicopter Assault Company.

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.

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.

Also visiting is Mark Jackson whose brother was killed in Vietnam when his helicopter crashed on his 21st birthday.

His brother's name, Crew Chief Lawrence Jackson, is now among those on the door of Phil Connolly's Huey.

At Lytham Hall, the veterans saw the Huey for the first time as Phil surprised them by flying the helicopter in.

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.

He says: "Greater than anything else, the Huey is a symbol of Vietnam. When you hear a Huey, you're drawn to it."

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."

Phil Connolly says: "I've always been obsessed by helicopters ever since I was a little boy.

"The helicopter that everyone really wants to fly and own is a Huey. It's always number one on everyone's list."

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.

Phil Connolly first found the Huey at The Museum of Flight in Seattle.

It had been left to gather dust in the field behind the museum and was missing its tail and engine.

Phil restored it and now uses the helicopter to raise money for charity by appearing at air shows across the country.

Notes to Editors

Please credit: Inside Out, 7.30pm, Friday 9 February 2007, 大象传媒 One (North West).

HH2

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Category: North West Regional TV
Date: 09.02.2007
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