Huey: The helicopter that became an Australian legend
Mark Lax
One of the most famous and well-known aircraft in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) armory was the ubiquitous Iroquois, more affectionately known as the ‘Huey’, built by Bell. It saw service with the ADF from 1962-2007 in both war and peacetime roles. The Huey was a general utility helicopter, performing a range of operational roles including troop carrier, weapons platform, search and rescue, disaster recovery support and supply lift in both Australia and overseas. The Huey also supported peacekeeping, protection of Australia’s national resources and Aid to the Civil Power tasks. An icon of our aviation history, this is a remarkable record of the Huey, given its original design for service with the US Army in Vietnam was primarily as a ‘throwaway’ cheap helicopter. This book presents us an exciting Australian history of this remarkable machine and its operators.
Mark Lax is a well–known and credentialled author in the field. This book adds to his already impressive publication record, including RAAF official history. With a lifelong RAAF service record and strong academic credentials, the author is well-placed to present the story of the Huey’s deployment by Australians. Of course, such a story about one aircraft cannot really be told in isolation, and Huey quite appropriately covers the full range of helicopters operated by the ADF within which the Huey played a key role. In that pursuit, Lax’s extensive record of publication on other aircraft and his intimate knowledge of ADF deployments of its helicopter assets over time is possibly without parallel.
The Huey enjoyed remarkable longevity in the ADF, even after combat and mechanical/accident losses, giving it a well- deserved reputation. While, as the name implies, Huey is about the Iroquois fleet which over the years, included three different models (B, D and H). Over 17 chapters, the author takes the reader on a journey from the first interest in helicopters as aerial spotting platforms during World War II right through experimentation, acquisition, deployment and eventual disposal of the Huey during its service life in the ADF.
Flown by all three Services, this remarkable helicopter is addressed in outstanding format. So detailed is the author’s knowledge he presents every aircraft by its identifier, almost invariably being able to name aircrew and other key players in the story, places, events and other factors in the story. Technical detail is excellent; rarely seen in such a work.
The inter-service rivalry and pressure within each ADF Service as they vied for their finite slice of the Defence budget is laid open, a process that this reviewer found highly informative on one hand and sobering on the other. RAAF’s preoccupation with the direction of winged aircraft in the jet and missile age at the time is made clear; at the same time Army in particular saw the helicopter for what it eventually became during and since the Vietnam War, an essential tool of the land battle in its combat support role. Navy, like Army, also had a very practical need for a helicopter for their search and rescue support function. How this contest played out is wonderfully woven, as is the ‘two air forces’ concerns which formed the basis of much of the interservice tension, lasting until Army eventually became the dominant operator of the ground battlefield support helicopter platforms.
A particularly appealing feature of this book is how each aircraft, through use of its serial name, alongside frequent naming of the crew operating it, are treated almost like ‘people’. Having been Infantry ‘cargo’ many times in the wonderful Huey, this reviewer can recall the affection, care and diligence with which aircrew could often be seen to apply when operating their aircraft. The author replicates that sense of ownership through the most impressive use of detail about the aircraft, their crews, support staff and advocates. I found that such an approach made the book even more enjoyable as well as informative.
Coverage of the machinations regarding acquisition and determination of operational responsibility for the varying roles required of a general utility helicopter, including the seminal Battlefield Support Helicopter Review, makes compelling reading. Notwithstanding, the Iroquois did serve in all three branches of the ADF in several configurations, and one might say that it satisfied all three Services; insular needs. The Vietnam experience, including the development of the Bushranger armed helicopter in-country to accompany the ‘slicks’ was particularly influential in the eventual transfer of the Huey, along with its replacement Blackhawk and their larger cousin the Chinook, to Army in the primary battlefield support role. A role of penultimate importance to that Service.
There are many little-known facts embedded in the story. For instance, the first Australian war service deployments involving the Huey was not Vietnam – the so-dubbed ’helicopter war’, but Malaysia. Previously unpublished information about the nature and level of advocacy for and against what aircraft to procure and then who should operate it at senior staff and political level are presented, with strong Endnote support. Background of how Army had adopted the concept of air mobility warfare well before Vietnam largely alone also underscores the lack of a true joint approach with RAAF which might have made a material difference in operations of all natures during times when no Service operates alone during deployments. Lax weaves these expertly into the total story.
The level of quality research is reflected in first class information support including top quality Endnotes, Bibliography and Index. Four Appendices include a Roll of Honour, ADF helicopter orders, Iroquois serials (each aircraft) and Write offs of those aircraft lost while in service. An excellent set of Artwork is also presented in the last chapter, providing a comparative view thanks to the expertise of illustrator Juanita Franzi. Other imagery is a combination of official source and private photographs, all attributed. Diagrams/figures demonstrate clarity of thought in the presentation of complex concepts and timelines that communicate effectively to the reader what words alone usually cannot.
The overall packaging of the book itself is most attractive, and it is very easy to locate points of interest for those who prefer to read a book in a manner other than from front to rear. Involvement of RAAF History and Heritage undoubtedly contributed to this high quality. In all, this is a reference book in its level of detail; a most remarkable product. Especially when it does not, in my opinion, read like a reference book. It is a story, and it is a story very well told. I believe that it is the first product of its kind about ADF helicopters from a holistic perspective. As such, it now serves as a very important component of our aviation/ADF history.
Because of its currency, many readers will even know some of the characters in the story of the Huey. Which makes for an even more personal experience reading it. Mark Lax’s Huey is strongly recommended and is suitable for the general reader and veteran alike. It is especially valuable to aviators and miliary historians who possibly have a greater desire for technical information. It is certainly attractive to those who rode to war for real, or in training, in the back of one of our venerable Hueys. After all, who can fail to remember the unique thudding sound from the rotors as these wonderful birds approached or flew over us? A top product deserving of one’s attention.
Big Sky Publishing, Newport NSW, 2025
Reviewer: Lieutenant Colonel Russell Linwood, ASM (Retd)
