"Oh Ninety One" served the United States Army, Navy, National Guard, and NASA, and was later acquired through Army Surplus by the Texas Air Command Museum. In 2002, 091 flew the unprecedented In The Shadow of The Blade mission to pay tribute to her fellow Hueys and those they carried.
Though later converted to an "H" model, 091 began as a UH-1D, rolling off the Bell Helicopter production lines with tail number 65-10091. She was manufactured in 1965, purchased by the U.S. Army in 1966, and by September, was serving her country in Lai Khe, the Republic of Vietnam, as a member of the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company, the Robin Hoods and Crossbows. The aircraft was damaged three times by enemy fire. Flying a resupply mission to a forward area on 18 September, 1966, she took small arms fire. One person was wounded, but the mission was completed successfully and the Huey repaired in theater. On 13 November, 1966, during a close air support mission, she was again damaged by small arms fire and again repaired in theater.
Her most severe damage occurred on 7 January, 1967, during an assault mission on a hot area. Small arms fire through the cockpit damaged the hydraulic system and the helicopter crashed. She was recovered later, most likely by the 408th Transportation Detachment, who used a Chinook from the 1st Aviation Battalion out of Phu Loi to retrieve her. She was finally sent stateside for repairs... and her future career serving the United States of America at Fort Rucker, Fort Sill, Fort Stewart, Fort Belvoir, Langley A.F.B., and in Germany.
Before liftoff on the In The Shadow of The Blade mission, veterans of the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company gathered in Fort Rucker, Alabama, where U.S. Helicopter was preparing the helicopter for its documentary mission. Ed Walsh, 091's in-country crew chief joined other members of his unit to repaint the Robinhood's signature yellow hat on the nose of 091. Rollover the image below and click play to hear
Later, at a Louisiana Landing Zone, 091's in-country pilot Ernie Bruce took the left seat, as did his daughter, when the aircraft landed in Austin, Texas. Click play to see Ernie sharing stories about the aircraft...
At production’s end, 091 had “sung the sound of freedom” through 10,000 miles of American sky, carrying scores of veterans including infantrymen, medics, POWs, nurses, doctors, Red Cross volunteers, USO entertainers and, of course, helicopter crews. She met members from all branches of the Armed Forces and hundreds of veterans’ families. She was the centerpiece of town gatherings, memorial ceremonies, reunions and a renewal of wedding vows. Musicians came to her with guitars and poets came with words. In New Mexico, a Native American blessed her with sage. In Georgia, an artist painted his protective talisman on her side. In 091’s hold, people cried, they laughed, many embraced or held hands. She inspired people to smile, to cheer, to touch each other. She made them feel new. And in return they left her with gifts--patches, badges, photographs, pins, flags and even an unexplained earring pinned into her canvas lining. The stories told in her seats, the tears shed and laughter shared, the memories honored…it all seems to be part of her now.
After filming was complete, the ITSOTB team was contacted by curators from the Smithsonian Museum of American History who were looking for a Huey to include in their American military exhibit. Creative director Cheryl Fries presented an overview of 091's historic mission of healing and reconciliation, and the museum determined that the aircraft's participation in the healing mission perfectly represented the reconciliation theme they were pursuing for the exhibit. The aircraft was purchased by private donors and delivered for donation to the museum.
Goldbook Information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 65-10091
The following is courtesy of Gary Roush, and the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. It is provided here as an estimate of the history of this helicopter and is not intended to be the final authority. This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 1966. Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY
6610 142 208 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6611 158 366 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6612 148 514 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6701 0 514 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6702 0 514 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6703 0 514 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6704 0 514 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6705 0 514 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6706 0 514 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6707 0 514 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6708 0 514 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6709 3 517 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6710 13 530 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6711 0 530 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6712 1 531 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6801 72 603 1641 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6802 85 688 1641 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6803 102 790 1641 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6804 66 856 1641 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM
6805 80 936 1641 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6806 94 1030 1641 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6807 100 1130 1641 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC
6808 3 1133 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6809 72 1205 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6810 85 1290 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6811 67 1357 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6812 39 1396 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6901 45 1441 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6902 0 1441 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6903 0 1441 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6904 77 1518 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6905 74 1592 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6906 0 1592 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6907 0 1592 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6908 111 1703 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6909 101 1804 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6910 116 1920 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6911 74 1994 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
6912 55 2049 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7001 85 2134 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7002 79 2213 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7003 59 2272 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7004 61 2333 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7005 35 2368 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7006 94 2462 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7007 92 2554 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7008 52 2606 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7009 94 2700 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7010 65 2765 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7011 17 2782 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7012 68 2850 W0L808 USA FLT TNG CTR AV SCH FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7101 48 2898 W0L808 USAAVNS ELE AVN SCHOOL FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7102 41 2939 W0L808 USAAVNS ELE AVN SCHOOL FORT STEWART CONARCAS
7103 4 2943 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS
7104 99 3042 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS
7105 75 3117 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS
7106 83 3200 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS
7107 58 3258 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS
7108 16 3274 WTCUAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7109 13 3287 WTCUAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7110 1 3288 WTCUAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7111 3 3291 WTCWAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7112 20 3311 WTCWAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7201 4 3315 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7202 4 3319 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7203 0 3319 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7204 0 3319 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7205 0 3319 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7206 0 3319 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7207 0 3319 W8BQ07 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7208 10 3329 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7209 9 3338 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7210 17 3355 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7211 8 3363 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7212 9 3372 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7301 6 3378 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7302 7 3385 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7303 5 3390 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7304 0 3390 WP1EAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7305 0 3390 W0Y6AA NASA LOAN LANGLY RSH CTR AVSCOM
7306 0 3390 W0Y6AA NASA LOAN LANGLY RSH CTR AVSCOM
7307 0 3390 W0Y6AA NASA LOAN LANGLY RSH CTR AVSCOM
7308 2 3392 W0Y6AA NASA LOAN LANGLY RSH CTR AVSCOM
7309 0 3392 W0CEAA USA PAD GERMANY EUROPE
7310 32 3424 WA90AA HQ 24TH ENG GP GERMANY EUROPE
7311 27 3451 WA90AA HQ 24TH ENG GP GERMANY EUROPE
7312 14 3465 WA90AA HQ 24TH ENG GP GERMANY EUROPE
7401 7 3472 WA90AA HQ 24TH ENG GP GERMANY EUROPE
7402 5 3477 WA90AA HQ 24TH ENG GP GERMANY EUROPE
7403 11 3488 WA90AA 24TH ENG GP HHC GERMANY EUROPE
7404 19 3507 WA90AA 24TH ENG GP HHC GERMANY EUROPE
7405 25 3532 WA90AA 24TH ENG GP HHC GERMANY EUROPE
7405 25 3532 WA90AA 24TH ENG GP HHC GERMANY EUROPE
7409 3 3592 WA90AA 24TH ENG GP HHC GERMANY EUROPE
7410 0 3592 WCLE7A 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7411 2 3594 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7412 0 3594 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7501 1 3595 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7502 0 3595 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7503 0 3595 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7504 1 3596 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7505 2 3598 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7506 0 3598 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7507 0 3598 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7508 1 3599 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7509 0 3599 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7510 7 3606 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7511 3 3609 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
7512 0 3609 WCLEAA 582ND TRANS CO GERMANY EUROPE
Three Huey helicopters appear in the film, but In The Shadow of The Blade's primary Huey helicopter is "091," now on permanent display in the 
to a forward area on 18 September, 1966, she took small arms fire. One person was wounded, but the mission was completed successfully and the Huey repaired in theater. On 13 November, 1966, during a close air support mission, she was again damaged by small arms fire and again repaired in theater.