A group of New York auto body students is restoring a piece of American history while working on a Vietnam-era helicopter whose pilot was killed in combat in 1968.
The class at the Orleans BOCES Center in Medina, New York, about an hour east of Niagara Falls, worked with the local American Legion Garrison to restore a retired UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter .
But they have a vision for the legendary helicopter that began its long career in the U.S. military in 1956 and remains in active service today.
“It's not about looking brand new,” says shop class teacher Jim Rozewski. told ABC 7 Buffalo. “We want it to have the history it deserves and the history it has earned throughout its lifetime.”
However, this helicopter has a tragic history.
On February 1, 1968, on the first day of North Vietnam's massive Tet Offensive, Chief Warrant Officer Tommy G. Sandefur of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was piloting a helicopter when a bullet pierced the helicopter, killing him, and his co-pilot was killed. Landed the bird. .
Scott Wimisak, commander of American Legion Post 1253, told the station he learned about the doomed pilot while researching a famous piece of military machinery history.
And when the students finish their work (which includes overhauling it so it can have flashing lights), they'll remember him properly.
“We have a portrait of him. It's reflected in the pilot's window,” Wimichak said, adding that they have been in touch with the war hero's niece and have memorials placed on a piece of black granite. He added that he plans to present it.
For Vietnam veteran Cliff Grant, the corps' treasurer, seeing the helicopter again brought back memories.
“It was such an amazing sound to hear the helicopter coming to pick you up at the scene, because you had been there for several weeks,” he told the station.
Meanwhile, the students are just excited about the living history lesson.
They got the Huey in October and are applying a satin-finish clear coat that blackens the windows. According to the corps' Facebook post.
Students also repair rotted aluminum.
“This could actually be of great benefit to us, because just having this, imagine all the other things and other great crafts we could get here. ” said student Khalil Golden as he taped one of the windows.
Another student at the store, Xander Lotempio, told the station that the old Huey was “more complex and much better than I imagined.”
And this is good on-the-job training for Evan Quiroz. He said, “I was going to join the military and do pretty much the same thing.”
The helicopter will eventually be displayed at the new Veterans Memorial Park being built near the Heartland Fire Company fire station, the department said.
