US Army trials of the Bell 204 helicopter in 1955 lead to the development of the HU-1. Because of the
initial designation the nickname Huey came about. It was soon realized that the HU-1 didn’t have the
lifting power for heavy loads or room for enough troops so it was given a larger cabin, larger engine, a
modified main rotor along with a few other improvements and re-designated the UH-1B. Later versions
of the UH-1B received an even more powerful engine. There were 1,010 “B” variants delivered to the
US Army.

Originally formed in 1939 the RAAF 9 Squadron was disbanded in 1944 and reformed in June 1962.
Originally intended to be a Search and Rescue unit but this was changed to providing airlift for the
Australian Army. The Squadron would be equipped with the new Bell UH-1B Iroquois (Huey). In 1966
the unit was sent to Vietnam and mostly provided troop transport and re-supply of ammunition and food
to the troops in the field. Eventually the Squadron duties included becoming Dust-Offs, airlifting
wounded soldiers to filed or base hospitals. These helicopters provide to be very versatile and were
used for dropping propaganda pamphlets and aerial spraying around the Australian bases in an effort
to eliminate malaria mosquitoes. In 1969 4 of the Australian helicopters were converted to gun ships.
The Squadron left Vietnam for Australia in December 1971 and resumed their duties as airlift for the
Army as well as civilian search and rescue. In 1986 all RAAF battlefield helicopters began to be
transferred to the Australian Army. In 1988 the 9 Squadron began to be re-equipped with S-70A
Blackhawk helicopters.