- The U.S. Air Force retired the last UH-1N Huey from Yokota Air Base after 45 years of operational service in the Pacific.
- The helicopter was loaded onto a C-5M Super Galaxy and returned to the U.S. as part of the Air Force’s rotary-wing modernization effort.
The United States Air Force has ended the operational presence of the UH-1N Huey at Yokota Air Base in Japan, marking the conclusion of more than four decades of continuous rotary-wing operations across the Pacific theater.
On December 3, 2025, Airmen from the 730th Air Mobility Squadron and the 22nd Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California, loaded the last UH-1N Huey into a C-5M Super Galaxy for departure, closing a chapter on a platform that served at Yokota since 1980.
According to the Air Force, the UH-1N provided extensive support for aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, and high-priority airlift missions throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The aircraft became a familiar presence across the theater, routinely tasked in disaster-relief operations and emergency evacuations.
The Air Force said in a statement that the aircraft “played a key role in evacuation, transport and disaster-relief operations” since its arrival at Yokota more than 45 years ago.
Though the UH-1N has been gradually phased out of frontline service, its continued use at select bases reflected its reliability and adaptability. The retirement at Yokota aligns with the Department of War’s broader effort to replace legacy platforms with upgraded systems offering improved range, survivability, and mission flexibility.
In recent years, the Air Force has transitioned to more advanced helicopters capable of supporting the expanding range of missions across the Pacific, including quick-response operations, distributed logistics, and personnel recovery. While the Air Force has not publicly stated what system will replace the Huey at Yokota, platforms such as the MH-139A Grey Wolf have been procured for similar roles elsewhere.
The removal of the last Huey was executed by the 22nd Airlift Squadron, which transported the helicopter aboard a C-5M Super Galaxy, one of the Air Force’s largest strategic airlifters. The C-5M’s cargo capacity made it possible to carry the retired Huey back to the United States for disposition.
For generations of U.S. personnel and allied partners in the region, the UH-1N served as a dependable platform across peacetime and contingency missions. Its contributions ranged from humanitarian relief after natural disasters to support for joint training exercises with regional partners.