Historic Navy Helicopter Lands in National Rescue Museum

The Rescue Museum has added a remarkable new showpiece: a historic Navy helicopter that was deployed for search and rescue operations at sea! The impressive aircraft has been given a place in the museum's main hall.

The helicopter is an Agusta Bell 204B, better known as the “Huey”. Between 1963 and 1977, this aircraft flew with the Naval Air Service (MLD). The helicopter was deployed during Search and Rescue missions and assisted in locating and rescuing people in distress at sea.

This Huey also has a direct link to one of the most impressive stories in our collection. In 1975, two helicopters of this type were deployed during the disaster involving the lifeboat Christiaen Huygens. This lifeboat has been part of the permanent collection since last year. Now, both stories come together in the museum.

We owe it to former helicopter pilot Ruud Heinen that the helicopter can now be admired in Den Helder. Together with two other former MLD personnel, he brought several Huey helicopters back to the Netherlands from Sweden in 2006. He has now donated one of these aircraft to the National Rescue Museum.

Come by and admire this special helicopter up close.