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Read more: Local, State, Military, Eagle, Army, Helicopter, Retiring, Vietnam War, Huey, Vail, Military
EAGLE, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado Army National Guard will formally retire the last of its Bell UH-1 "Huey" helicopters at its high-altitude training site near Vail. The helicopters will perform a ceremonial fly-by at the High Altitude Army Training Site on Tuesday. The UH-1s first flew in 1956 and were used heavily in the Vietnam War. The Army is phasing them out in favor of the faster, more powerful UH-60 Blackhawk. The Colorado Guard has been flying Hueys since the 1970s and has five left. In Colorado, they've been used for rescues, humanitarian assistance and firefighting. Huey crews conducted search-and-rescue missions during the 1976 Big Thompson Canyon flood, which killed 145 people and caused $41 million in damage. They have also ferried hay to cattle during Colorado blizzards. (Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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