MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- More than 130 veterans and their families from the United States Air Force Helicopter Pilot Association visited Malmstrom July 14 for a luncheon at Sun Plaza Park.
While visiting Montana, the group also traveled to Glacier National Park, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Ryan Dam, and the Great Falls of the Missouri River.
According to their website, the USAFHPA was established in 1985 and their purpose is to perpetuate the history of the Air Force helicopter operation, its pilots and memory of lost comrades; to provide a central registry for helicopter pilot names and addresses; to arrange reunions for social and recreational benefit of members; and to support the intent of the organization.
The association held their first reunion in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1985 and again in Reno, Nevada, in 1987. The group tries to hold a reunion every year but unforeseen circumstances may cause them to skip a year.
Eighty-two-year-old retired Air Force Maj. Kyron “K.V.” Hall, the chairman of the USAFHPA, served at Malmstrom from 1972 until his retirement in 1974. Hall piloted numerous aircraft throughout his career including the UH-1F, the precedent to the aircraft flown at Malmstrom today.
One thing Hall said the entire association has in common is all of the members are Air Force helicopter pilots.
“You must be an Air Force helicopter pilot to be a member,” Hall said. “We have pilots who flew during Vietnam who piloted fixed wing aircraft, so they converted and went to helicopter school. Most probably went back to fixed wing, but some stayed with helicopters.”
Hall said the group has around 500 retired, active duty and auxiliary members. The ages in attendance at the lunch ranged from 60 to 90 years old. Hall also said the group has a few World War II pilots who were not able to attend the event.
Each year, this social non-profit organization attempts to hold a reunion to come together to reminisce and make new memories. However, according to Hall, not every member from the group lives to attend the following year’s reunion.
“Some of us are in our 60s, 70s, and even 90s,” Hall said. “As you get older, things start falling apart. Our last reunion was last year around April in South Carolina and since then we have lost 20 of our pilot members and two wives. They have gone on their ‘final flight,’ as we say.”
The group has traveled all over the country from Florida to California, but this year Hall said the group finally decided to visit Montana to share their passion for military aircraft.
“Primarily, this is the first time most of them have been to Montana and so far we’re having a good time,” Hall said. “We do have a few members that were stationed here and even one that was here in 1961 when they started to build the missile sites.”
The 40th Helicopter Squadron provided a UH-1N Iroquois static display for the guests to observe while they ate lunch at the park. They also stood by to speak with the guests about the helicopter and shared camaraderie with one another.
Lt. Col. Joshua Hampton, 40th HS commander, said he enjoyed his time speaking with the HPA members and listening to their experiences.
“I supremely enjoyed my time spent talking with several of the members,” Hampton said. “I enjoyed listening to their stateside and (overseas) experiences of operational challenges, development of the Air Force as a whole and of course their camaraderie – their shared experiences which caused friendships to grow into the bond which keeps them close today.”
Hampton added that mingling with the pilots helps the unit stay in touch with their own heritage.
“We draw direct historical lines to the organizations these men were a part of since the inception of the Air Force helicopter,” Hampton said. “We were happy to share in this part of their 20th reunion in order to educate the younger generations of aircrew and pilots.”