In the small town of Ellinwood, Kansas, the local American Legion is up to something cool: they’re restoring an original Vietnam helicopter. The goal is to get the chopper back to its original look, members told their local news source, Channel 12.
Efforts are said to include a new paint job, restoring the helicopter to its original war-time look, and placing the bird near the local Legion, where it will sit as a “static display,” members said. It will not hold any flying capabilities but sit as a learning piece for all who visit. And for many, it will be a reminder of years past.
Sourced and ran by Vietnam Vets of the chapter, they found the helicopter in a nearby county, and voted to purchase it with funds from their post, #320 in Barton County.
For the last 60ish years, the helicopter has been living just one county north.
“This was used in Vietnam in the mid-to-late 60s. Needless to say, it needs a little TLC,” Ken Lebbin, who is spearheading the helicopter project told KWHC.
The chopper has spots of rust and decayed metal, it’s missing an entire floor piece, and its original paint is all but worn off the exterior metal, showing layers of gray and green. Glass is missing from windows, while others host frosted layers that carry decades of dirt. Holes still riddle the outer layers. Inside it’s essentially a box, without any seats or equipment of any kind to speak of.
Lebbin himself is a Vietnam Veteran, and said he is using the project to honor other Vietnam-era vets, especially the pilots who flew this type of helicopter.
“Not just Vietnam, but veterans in general. Not just the Army, all veterans,” he said.
Lebbin and other Legion members are doing much of the work themselves. However, it’s a project that comes with a hefty price tag: It’ll take close to $20K to get the helicopter back in shape.