Saturday, December 03, 2011

Restored Huey on pedestal: Vietnam-era helicopter now on display. Ocean City Municipal Airport (KOXB), Maryland

The newly restored Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter was placed in its cradle at the Ocean City Municipal Airport. A dedication date has not yet been announced.
LAURA EMMONS/WORCESTER COUNTY TIMES

OCEAN CITY -- Years after the idea for its restoration came about, a Vietnam War-era helicopter is now on permanent display at the Ocean City Municipal Airport.

The Huey helicopter, used for all types of missions during the Vietnam War, was mounted on a pedestal at the airport in November by members of the Ocean City Aviation Association. Although the site still awaits landscaping and fencing, the display can now be viewed by the public.

"It's generated a tremendous amount of interest," said Tom Oneto, president of the OCAA.

The Huey arrived in Ocean City July 27 after OCAA worked with the Town of Ocean City to get the helicopter from the U.S. Army, which had it in Pennsylvania. Oneto, who'd seen display aircraft at other airports, said the idea of bringing a display aircraft to Ocean City had been discussed by the OCAA since 2005 but the Army did not contact the organization regarding an available one until 2009.

Funding issues slowed the project down but when OCAA received an $8,000 loan from the town it was able to arrange for the shipment of the aircraft to the airport off Route 611. Since its arrival, volunteers from as far as Easton have been restoring the helicopter while town employees constructed a "cradle" for the Huey to sit on. Oneto is pleased with the support the effort has gotten.

"We're really proud of that," he said. 

He said the project was also getting a significant amount of interest and support from veterans organizations.

"I'm sure people will want to hold events there," he said.

Oneto expects the display, which gives Ocean City its own veterans memorial, will be both an attraction for the town as well as something to bring more people to the airport. A dedication ceremony for the memorial will be held once the final site work is complete.

"We're hoping winter weather doesn't slow us down," Oneto said.

Throughout the restoration process the OCAA has been collecting donations for the project, a practice that will continue so that the loan from the town can be repaid in time.

TO DONATE

Donations may be sent to:

Ocean City Aviation Association
P.O. Box 4355

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