CRESSON, CAMBRIA COUNTY -A local veteran is trying to get a symbol of the Vietnam War back in the sky.

He’s part of a group called the Liberty War Birds.  They’re restoring a Vietnam era Huey helicopter. They don’t want this symbol of history to fade away.

Larry Wade from Cresson served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He says everyone from that war knows the Huey.

Now he and the group Liberty War Birds have bought a Huey. They put $50,000 down, but they still owe $200,000. They have pilots and mechanics who worked on Hueys, but the repairs will cost thousands more. The war birds are looking for donations and a corporate sponsor to make it happen.

When it is done they plan to take it to fairs and let people see living history. Wade also feels like it will be some closure for Vietnam Veterans and give them a homecoming they didn’t get after their war.

The closest Huey that still flies is based out of the state of Indiana.

You can go to the Liberty War Birds facebook page to help the fix the Huey.