Two Bell UH-1 “Hueys” and F-111 Crew Module to be preserved in Western Australia

David Eyre 19 October 2012

ABOVE: A2-703 Bell UH-1H Iroquois “Huey” “Bushranger” gunship of 9 Squadron, RAAF, taking off from Karratha Airport during November 1983 for Exercise “Kangaroo 83”. It is fitted with six-barrelled 7.62mm M134 Miniguns near the cockpit and a 2.75-inch FFAR (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket) launcher on the cabin doors. This particular Huey is to preserved at the RAAF Museum, Point Cook.
Photo © Peter Eyre, via David Eyre

ABOVE: Crew Module from A8-141 General Dynamics F-111C (cn D1-17) of the RAAF Heritage Centre, Amberley, QLD, displayed at RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012. Photo © David Eyre

19 October 2012 © David Eyre

On 2 October 2012, Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the preferred recipients of six Bell UH-1 Iroquois (also know as “Huey”) helicopters reserved for RSLs and historical organisations.

In Western Australia, the Australian Flying Corps & RAAF Association Western Australia Division will receive one, which will be displayed at the Aviation Heritage Museum, Bull Creek, as will the Merredin Military Museum, Merredin, WA. It is not yet known which particular aircraft are involved.

A third Huey, Bell UH-1B Iroquois serial A2-1024, is reportedly already being restored for display at the Special Air Service Regiment Barracks at Swanbourne, WA.

In addition, the Minister announced that the Australian Flying Corps & RAAF Association Western Australia Division will receive an RAAF F-111 crew module, similar to the one displayed at RAAF Pearce Air Show, as shown above.