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Yankees arrive at HMLA-773, JB MDL

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 Detachment B "Red Dogs" received their first UH-1Y, or Yankee as the Marines know it, utility helicopter April 25, 2014, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

The new model Huey replaced the UH-1N after approximately 50 years of service to provide the Marines with increased capabilities to accomplish the array of close air support missions they carry out.

The engines were upgraded and paired with the most noticeable upgrade, two four-blade rotors, to provide greater speed and more lift capabilities than its predecessor. Its increased capabilities equate to more time in the air, more Marines and ammunition on the aircraft and quicker response time.

"We had to pick and choose between Marines and cargo with the old aircraft," said Capt. Adam Snyder, HMLA-773 pilot. "The Yankee allows us to bring more to the fight and allow us to stay on a mission for up to two hours."

The increased capabilities enable the Red Dogs to perform multiple mission sets including escort, reconnaissance, medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, cargo escort, assault support and more.

"We can now carry approximately double the amount of ordinance we could previously carry," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Gilbow, HMLA-773 crew chief and gunner. "The difference in payload has changed our role as warfighters."

The Yankee is a versatile aircraft that provides the Marines with an advantage in the fight. It also comes with its own set of obstacles, however, that are expected with any new aircraft.

"All of the maintainers here have the basic knowledge to work on aircraft, but need experience with the new systems," said Gilbow, a native of Dayton, Ohio. "They're starting from scratch and need time with hands on the aircraft. It will also take some time for logistics to stockpile parts for the aircraft to be readily available to us."

HMLA-773 pilots will also need some experience and time to adjust to the new aircraft.

"There's a whole new set of systems to learn and concepts to grasp, all while keeping the aircraft in the air," said Snyder. "A lot of us developed habits and gained muscle memory flying in the November (UH-1N Huey) and those need to be broken and relearned in the Yankee."

Snyder, having logged 1,000 flight hours in the Yankee between his previous assignment and deployment, is teaching his fellow pilots the ins and outs of the Yankee.

"Every time I got in the aircraft while deployed I was thankful the country provided me that aircraft," said Snyder. "It had the tools I need to perform the mission sets and never failed me once in combat. The Yankee performed as advertised every time."

The Yankee has very large shoes to fill when it comes to dependability and longevity. The Huey is a legendary aircraft known for its distinctive sound and longevity bridging several wars and generations.

"Building on the distinguished combat legacy of the November, the Yankee will allow us to provide an enhanced attack and utility capability to the Marine Air Ground Task Force commander and Marines on the ground well into the future," said Lt. Col. T.W. Batzel, Jr., HMLA-773 Det. B commander.

All three detachments in HMLA-773 will receive three Yankees and will fulfill the Marine Forces Reserve's order for the newest addition to Marine aircraft fleet.