114 Sikorsky H-34's up for sale

[JohnB]

Some good news...
Vietnam Vets of America Post 890 and the Marine Corp League, Det. 1110 of Sandpoint Idaho (a trendy resort town at on Lake Pend Oreille) have gone together to restore one.

It's currently parked outside of a body shop on the highway leading into town. The body shop owner told me it came from Oregon and they were having trouble finding parts. Thinking they may not have known aboutthis stash, I called the POC and told him about the Tucson/Washington outfit. It turns out their ship, an ex-Army example, came from that source.

They plan to fix it up and tow it in parades and allow folks to get their photo taken in the pilot seat.
Some photos can be seen at: http://dawgdriverforever.blogspot.com

Well done.

[Craig59]

Drove by there today while in town shuttling my Mom to and fro. The carnage is nearly complete. About one-dozen complete airframes remain and the rest are contained in the massive mound of shredded pieces.

I'm glad that a few made it out. Had there been a viable market for the remainder, more might have been saved. The sad reality of supply and demand...

[whistlingdeath77]

man i wish we had all those parts

[mrhenniger]

I am hoping a few will still be there when I pass by next week.

It is sad... but not all can be saved.

Mike

[Craig59]

I am hoping a few will still be there when I pass by next week.

It is sad... but not all can be saved.

Mike

Mike,

At the pace they appear to be working - I doubt it. Still, take pictures and/or post an update.

[SIDSIKO]

Word is that they have been bought by a Vietnamese businessman, who is taking the shredded remains back to Vietnam for recycling.

On a brighter note, Jack is said to be saving 6 or 8. I don't know if he already has buyers for them or not.

Sid

[Rob Mears]

I wish to God the history of each of those birds could have been researched prior to destruction to determine if there were any truly priceless airframes among them. Even in this day and age, no one apparently seems to take the time to care about such things until after the fact. Some future H-34 enthusiast will find a serial number listing of this group and determine that three or four of them were crucial to the success of some infamous battle in Vietnam, etc.

Is there any evidence that these airframes were researched at all duriung their many years in storage??

[Cherrybomber13]

I know they all cant be saved but wow this just makes me sick to the stomach...

[Craig59]

I wish to God the history of each of those birds could have been researched prior to destruction to determine if there were any truly priceless airframes among them. Even in this day and age, no one apparently seems to take the time to care about such things until after the fact. Some future H-34 enthusiast will find a serial number listing of this group and determine that three or four of them were crucial to the success of some infamous battle in Vietnam, etc.

Is there any evidence that these airframes were researched at all duriung their many years in storage??

Sid posted this earlier in the thread:

There are several ex US Army CH-34C's in there, that did see service time with the S.Vietnamese Air Force, before being returned to the US in 1969. Out of the 6 ex USMC UH-34D's at Tucson, BuNo's 143977, 148095, 150250 and 150255 all have Vietnam time on them and probably still have the patches to prove it. Also ex USN UH-34G, 139017, went to serve with the VNAF from 1967 to 1969, before its return to the US. At least 3 ex US Army CH-34C's also served with the VNAF, 53-4522, 54-3039 and 57-1770. Some of them still wear faded VNAF markings.

On page 2 of the thread Andy posted the entire list of known serial/bureau numbers.

BuNo150255 made it out of the compound.

[wingsandrotorspilot]

I saved 150255, and so far during her restoration, we have found over 62 battle damage repairs. She was in rough shape, we repaired a broken back, where it appears the main transmission was dropped on her during removal in the yard, replacing 4 rows of formers and all new skins. She served in Vietnam from '65 thru '68, with HMM 365, 162, 161, and 163.

Pat Rodgers

[Rob Mears]

You...are...the...man wingsandrotorspilot. The one guy who could step up and make it happen. It's too often the rare occurrence. Bravo to you sir.

[Fouga23]

My hat off to you for saving one! Do you have any pictures you can share?

[darrenvox]

Just getting one to plunk in the back yard and make helicopter noises with the kids would be a hoot! (and save one from the scrappers torch)

that would be a great idea...

[Craig59]

I saved 150255, and so far during her restoration, we have found over 62 battle damage repairs. She was in rough shape, we repaired a broken back, where it appears the main transmission was dropped on her during removal in the yard, replacing 4 rows of formers and all new skins. She served in Vietnam from '65 thru '68, with HMM 365, 162, 161, and 163.

Pat Rodgers

Pat,

Kudos for saving 150255 from the scrapper. I know posting updates can be a pain but, really, there are those here (myself included) who would love to follow the progress of the restoration. You could start a separate thread on the Maintenance Hangar page. From the museum website, I see it's going to be a flyer - COOL!

[Scotty2]

I just stumbled across this thread. Does anyone know if this gentleman managed to save a couple back? I would be very interested in purchasing one. Thanks.

Scott