Forces of Valor 84001 1:48 U.S. UH-1D HUEY

So unassuming is the humble Huey® that its role as one of the major combat aircraft of the century is easily forgotten. More than 12,000 of all models were built and --- on any given day, during its heyday in Vietnam --- 2,000 could be in the air at once.

From 1962, when the first short-fuselage HU-1s arrived, to the later large-doored versions, they took on transport, utility and medevac or "dustoff" missions. The Huey® later morphed into a gunship with multiple protrusions of guns and rocket pods added to protect and escort the unarmed troop-carrying “slicks”.

When the new Huey Cobra appeared, a true Air Cavalry was born. Though most of the USAF machines are gone, the army expects to keep the Huey®through the first decade of this century.

Forces of Valor® replica is of a Bell UH-1D Huey® helicopter used in Vietnam during 1968.