US Army trials of the Bell 204 helicopter in 1955 lead to the development of the HU-1.
Because of the initial designation the nickname Huey came about. It was soon realized
that the HU-1 didn’t have the lifting power for heavy loads or room for enough troops so it
was given a larger cabin, larger engine, a modified main rotor along with a few other
improvements and re-designated the UH-1B. Later versions of the UH-1B received an
even more powerful engine. There were 1,010 “B” variants delivered to the US Army.

Originally formed in 1939 the RAAF 9 Squadron was disbanded in 1944 and reformed in
June 1962. Originally intended to be a Search and Rescue unit but this was changed to
providing airlift for the Australian Army. The Squadron would be equipped with the new
Bell UH-1B Iroquois (Huey). In 1966 the unit was sent to Vietnam and mostly provided
troop transport and re-supply of ammunition and food to the troops in the field. Eventually
the Squadron duties included becoming Dust-Offs, airlifting wounded soldiers to filed or
base hospitals. These helicopters provide to be very versatile and were used for
dropping propaganda pamphlets and aerial spraying around the Australian bases in an
effort to eliminate malaria mosquitoes. In 1969 4 of the Australian helicopters were
converted to gun ships. The Squadron left Vietnam for Australia in December 1971 and
resumed their duties as airlift for the Army as well as civilian search and rescue. In 1986
all RAAF battlefield helicopters began to be transferred to the Australian Army. In 1988
the 9 Squadron began to be re-equipped with S-70A Blackhawk helicopters.

Specifications for the Bell UH-1B helicopter

Powerplant
Engine: 1 X 820 kW Lycoming T-53-l9 or L-11 turbo-shaft, two blade main and tail rotors

Performance
Maximum speed: 137.9 mph   (222 km/h)
Cruising speed: 119 mph   (193km/h)
MIRC: 1,900ft/min (579.1 m/min)
Service ceiling: 16,700ft   (5,090m)
Hovering ceiling: 11,800ft OGE   (3,597m) / 10,600ft IGE   (3,231m)
Maximum ferry range: 287.7 miles   (463km)

Weight
Empty: 4,519lb   (2,050kg)
Maximum take off: 8,499lb   (3,855kg)

Dimensions
Main rotor diameter: 44ft   (13.41m)
Fuselage: 38.39ft   (11.70m)
Height: 12.6ft   (3.84m)
Main rotor disk area: 1,521ft2    (141.3m2)

Armament
1 X 7.62mm gun, rockets, torpedoes

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