Argentinian pilot reunited with his UH-1 Huey

[Rallye Driver]

Lt Col Francisco 'Pancho' Ramirez last saw his UH-1 Huey helicopter at Port Stanley in 1982. On Thursday he was flying in it again at North Weald....

Back in March we were contacted by former Royal Navy Sea King pilot Bill Fewtrell with an enquiry about who operated the UH-1 Huey helicopter, G-HUEY, which is based at the Airfield's Hangar 4a and had originally served with the Argentinian Army. We were able to put him in touch with the owner, Mark Fitzgerald.

Bill had flown Sea Kings in the South Atlantic with 846 Squadron in 1982, serving initially on HMS Hermes and the roll-on-roll-off ferry Norland, which carried 800 men of 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment and men of 848 Naval Air Squadron to San Carlos on 21 May.

Bill also ‘flew shotgun’ with Royal Marine liaison officer Col Peter Reynolds on many missions. In 2004 Peter was the British Defence Attaché in Buenos Aires and had met ‘Pancho’ Ramirez there and they had become firm friends.

It turned out that Pancho had flown G-HUEY with the 601 Combat Aviation Battalion in Port Stanley. He later expressed an interest in seeing the helicopter again when he visited England. And this is why we received the original query.

The trip finally came to fruition on Thursday of this week when Pancho along with his wife and daughter (who had flown in from Texas) visited the Airfield. Peter, Bill and their families came along too. Mark Fitzgerald later took Pancho and his wife for a short flight in the helicopter.
We were delighted to welcome these veterans to North Weald for a reunion in happier circumstances and for Pancho to be able to fly in ‘his’ helicopter for one more time!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/Septemebr%20and%20October%202019/Huey%206-1000_zpslmedl1mb.jpg
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https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/Septemebr%20and%20October%202019/Huey%205-1000_zps3ypdexbp.jpg
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https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/Septemebr%20and%20October%202019/Huey%209-1000_zpslxaacyj0.jpg

[sandiego89]

Great story, thanks for posting.

Would be neat to see it re-painted in its 1982 colors, but that may raise a few eyebrows....

[Thud_and_Blunder]

I had no idea she was still going! Had the great privilege of joining RT and his redoubtable restoration/ techie crew, taking G-HUEY around the tractor shows and similar for her first few seasons. Loved flying her, was gutted when it all came to an end. Had heard she'd been a backdrop in a BBC anti-everything right-on one-off production and assumed the worst. A couple of months ago I even found the old SOAF Flight Reference Cards I used to keep to hand - amazing what moving house can unearth.

Lovely story - very best wishes both to the original Argentine operator(s) and to the present owners.

[Marcantilan]

Great story!

Pancho Ramirez cab was AE-413

Here is a story of the pilot as the helo, recently published in the Argentine press: https://www.infobae.com/documentales/2019/09/22/la-increible-historia-del-helicoptero-que-ayudo-a-salvar-vidas-en-malvinas-y-termino-en-una-pelicula-de-james-bond/

The article ends informing a forthcoming meeting in the UK .... this one.

Best regards!

[Rigga]

Thanks, Thud and Blunder, for recognising us as redoubtable. You weren’t so bad, yourself!
Whilst I knew it was in “The Living Daylights” (which translates to “His Name is Danger”) I didn’t know that it was in so many films!
(Courtesy of Google Translate)
”Although 413 also went to a museum, the truck carrying it suffered an accident and was damaged. An investor group acquired it, repaired it, respecting its original color, even the aviation badge of the Argentine Army that bears the Latin motto "Train to destroy."

That was how he was rented to participate in films 007: his name is danger (1987); Kingsman: the secret service (2014) and Attack in Paris (2016) In this way, the current retired colonel Ramírez could see, on the big screen, the flight of his aircraft, which still had the original registration.

Through an English military with whom he became friends years after the end of the war, and that it happened that he had fought in a logistic unit of helicopters in Malvinas, Ramírez was able to find out that his old helicopter was at an airfield north of London. It had another license plate, it was the G-HUEY, and it was used for ride flights and exhibitions.”

[lsh]

Good story.

Served with Bill Fewtrell when he was on exchange with 230 Sqn.

lsh
:E

[NutLoose]

Remember it well and the story of its "liberation" and subsequent delivery to the Uk, a story well worthy of a film in its own right.

[NutLoose]

Mercantilan,

you will find this of interest photo wise

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235052161-huey-argentinian-owned-british-captured-inf-required/

[Fonsini]

I recall that HM Armed Forces were very happy to receive some of the “free” Argentinian kit. The Army were very fond of the para style FALs with the folding stocks and receivers with the select fire option added although they were never “officially” added to inventory, the SAS liked their two A109s, and I hear the RAF Regiment very much missed their Sky Guards and the associated twin 35mm Oerlikons when they were retired - although there were some grumblings about the refurbishment costs at BMARC costing more than brand new units from Oerlikon Contraves.

On another note I was always of the opinion that a lot of kit was scrapped when it could easily have been sold commercially and the money used to fund new kit, especially the vehicles (including quite a few brand new Mercedes G Wagons). But yes, I know it doesn’t quite work that way.

[NutLoose]

I seem to remember rumours of an issue at Odiham re the G wagons that when they tried to order spares Merc wanted payment for the vehicles as they hadn't received it, they were told to take that up with Argentina.

[Fonsini]

I seem to remember rumours of an issue at Odiham re the G wagons that when they tried to order spares Merc wanted payment for the vehicles as they hadn't received it, they were told to take that up with Argentina.


As I recall the Argentinians got a storming deal on spares and support and eventually Mercedes honoured it with the UK.

[MOSTAFA]

“I recall that HM Armed Forces were very happy to receive some of the “free” Argentinian kit”.

Sorry, I don't think any of it was for free; two hundred and fifty five servicemen died.

[lsh]

Good story.

Served with Bill Fewtrell when he was on exchange with 230 Sqn.

lsh
:E

Hi Bill,
I see your PM, but your inbox is too full to accept my reply!
lsh

[charliegolf]

Bill Fewtrell make a few guest appearances in my logbook too Si.:ok: Hope all is well Bill.

CG

[Marcantilan]

Thanks a lot NutLoose!

[MACLINE6]

Hi Ish, The system is blocking me - I have written to admin. Bill

[MACLINE6]

Hi Ish, There seem to be issues and despite being a long term member, as I have not posted for a while I am blocked. My in box is empty. Can you try a TXT to 07890 420920? bill

[Rigga]

I’ve just noticed Rob Tierney in Picture 9 of 10. Nice to see he was part of this reuniting visit as he was the ‘receiving’ pilot on the UK side and the brains behind the recovery and restoration - and the Airshow Coordinator of course.

[arty cars]

As part of the story and the one who took the machine from Stanley sports field and for whom it was a major part of my life for 8 years I can fill in and correct some inaccuracies contained in number of responses with a high degree of certainty. AE 413 never went anywhere as a museum exhibit during my involvement although it very nearly went for scrap after the bridge/blade accident.

It was collected by the RN from Felixstowe and taken by truck to Finningley for the 1982 BoB Static Display. It was whilst being moved from Finningley to Abingdon for the latter's BoB display that the front blade tie came free allowing the blade to rise and strike a road bridge over the A1 near Alconbury. This damage wrote off the forward main rotor blade, rotor head, mast, engine, Main Rotor Gearbox, engine to gearbox drive shaft, front tail rotor drive shaft, the windscreens and nose structure, the main fuselage structure under the MRG and the undercarriage. Apart from that it did not look in too bad a condition. The story of how all these components were repaired or replaced is a book in itself !

Initially it was allocated to AAC Middle Wallop REME for battlefield repair practice but after a discussion with the allocations committee it was allocated to me at RAF Odiham. By this stage it had already been stripped to identify what would need repair and this would have made a move extremely difficult. Engineers from Bristows suggested the repairs at normal commercial rates would cost in the order of £3.5million. However, after managing to get spares donated over the next 3.5 years and the work of some very dedicated RAF engineers working entirely voluntarily in their spare time the aircraft was ready to fly again at a cash expense of some £8k. At this stage the RAF Benevolent Fund became involved and were registered as owners by the MoD. Thus UK registration could take place. My initial suggestions were rejected but the letter of refusal had a reference that began G-HUEY/.... And so that became the UK registration.

Over the next 5 display seasons some 400 flying hours were amassed and around 350 appearances were made. At shows, damaged and failed components were offered for sale as well as the opportunity to have one's picture taken in the pilots' seat. These generated about £10k of income each season. At the end of the 1st season, the partaking in the Living Daylights meant that the accounts showed a small positive balance. For the 2nd, 3rd and 4th seasons Superkings sponsored the operation and during this period the machine was painted in 'its Jacob's coat of many colours' to celebrate the colours of Search and Rescue machines from around the world. For the 1st 4 seasons and during the rebuild Bristows provided the Technical Support and for the 5th season this was provided by Alan Mann Helicopters. The repaint was carried out by Marshall's of Cambridge. The support for day today items by personal serving at RAF Odiham was crucial to the continued operation was much appreciated.

The 5th season was entirely self supporting and at the end of it the RAFBF, having been mistakenly told it was worth £millions, decided to sell it to raise funds for BoB Appeal that year. It sold for less than £200,000 but nevertheless this meant that the project raise around £250,000 for the RAFBF over the 5 years.

Its story for the succeeding 32 years needs to be told by others. But I find it amazing that this machine which had such an uncertain future in 1982, was rebuilt under such difficult conditions, may well be the only machine from the Falklands conflict that is still airworthy - notwithstanding that Chinook BN and some Gazelles are still flying with their respective Services. The Harriers, Vulcans, Sea Kings, Wessex, Scouts are all now out of service. Some Argentinian aircraft 'escaped' back home at the end of the conflict so they may also need to be considered.

[Thud_and_Blunder]

arty cars

That didn't take long to work out! You may have to reinforce your private-message inbox, because I suspect you are going to be hearing from quite a few people who remember you well. Unless, of course, you are already all over social meejah - I'm not, and have no intention of starting - in which case everyone's probably already caught up with you.

I admire how restrained you are in your description of the activities/skullduggery at the end of the 5th season - I could never be so polite.

Very best wishes from deepest Devon.

[arty cars]

2nd try! Good to know you are still around even in SD. Had thought you had moved but presume still in the area of same town. Occasionally go to see an old schoolfriend who lives in a village to N of the town on edge of moor. We are still in the same house [after 43 years], so if you can recall where we are you are welcome to call in if ever you are passing. Best wishes,

[Thud_and_Blunder]

arty, you may not be familiar with the Private Message function - have a look at the top-right of this page (when you are logged-in) and you'll see a link under the "welcome to (your name)" to your PMs. Click on that - you'll find one there from me.

[India Four Two]

arty,

You can't use the Private Messaging function (and some other features) until you have at least ten posts.

[arty cars]

Many thanks. Arty cars

===========================

Until you have a posting history you don't have access to private messaging and adding urls.

[typerated]

It was collected by the RN from Felixstowe and taken by truck to Finningley for the 1982 BoB Static Display. It was whilst being moved from Finningley to Abingdon for the latter's BoB display that the front blade tie came free allowing the blade to rise and strike a road bridge over the A1 near Alconbury. This damage wrote off the forward main rotor blade, rotor head, mast, engine, Main Rotor Gearbox, engine to gearbox drive shaft, front tail rotor drive shaft, the windscreens and nose structure, the main fuselage structure under the MRG and the undercarriage. Apart from that it did not look in too bad a condition. The story of how all these components were repaired or replaced is a book in itself !



The damaged rotor blade was sliced into thin sections and sold for fundraising.
My father got a cross section - with the trim tab.

Anyone got any history of the cab before it came to the UK?
Any record of what it did during the war? Or before the war?

[NutLoose]

Try

https://www.facebook.com/groups/431549447220624/

[typerated]

Try

https://www.facebook.com/groups/431549447220624/

Ta - I think I had found this site before but it would not load.

[melmothtw]

I seem to remember rumours of an issue at Odiham re the G wagons that when they tried to order spares Merc wanted payment for the vehicles as they hadn't received it, they were told to take that up with Argentina.

Realise I'm replying to an old post, but the G Wagons were used by the UK BRIXMIS mission in East Germany.

Mercedes actually chased Argentina for payment, who told them to take it up with the British as they now owned them. The British told Mercedes to go take it up with the Argentines as they had signed the contract for them. Mercedes probably still chasing payment to this day!

[ShyTorque]

I remember the one that was liberated back to Gutersloh. It looked almost new apart from a few bullet holes. The BFG tester refused to pass it for road use because of their sharp edges. After the application of a few “not very obvious in silver” speed tape patches it became the squadron transport.