Cobrahistorian

Hi.

I’m a docent with the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum (home of the Spruce Goose) and I’m working on developing the history of one of our exhibits - an AH-1 Cobra, serial number 69-16434.

I have some of its history at the beginning of its service life, but am missing information about it after the Vietnam War:

The Cobra, serial # 69-16434, construction #20866, was built as an AH-1G for the U.S. Army and saw combat in Vietnam during 1971 with A-Troop, 7th Squadron of the 1st Air Cavalry: “The Apaches.” Its nose art carried the name 96 Tears. Operating mostly in the 44th Special Tactical Zone near the Cambodian border, the unit was tasked with interdicting supplies and North Vietnamese troops coming into South Vietnam.

Postwar, it was returned to the United States and updated to the AH-1S (transfer docs from US Army say AH-1J) standard with an armored canopy and the capability of launching TOW missiles. It was later modified as it appears in the Museum, to AH-1F standards with "head-up” displays and a laser rangefinder.

It was photographed at Kiel Holtenau (KEL / EDHK), by German Photographer: Erik Frikke  on 07/09/1986. Probably because it was with one of the two Aviation border units —the 11 ACR in Fulda (Bad Hersfeld), and the 2nd ACR at Feucht— stationed there. These were the only USAREUR aviation units that could operate within the 5K zone along the border. With its TOW capabilities, it would have been the first to see action if the Cold War had gone hot.

In June 2006, it was placed on display at Evergreen. It is on loan from the U.S. Army Tank & Automotive Command (TACOM).

Can you give me any of its history after its SEA deployment?

I suspect it was modified in the states sometime in the 1970s and then shipped to Europe in the late 70s and served there throughout the 1980s along the West German border, but I have no proof. Also, can you tell me what happened to it after it was demobed in Europe? Was it assigned to Army NG units? Did it sit at AMARG? Dates and locations would help round out our records.

Any information you could give me would be of great help in developing a narrative that I can pass along to the Museum’s 500,000 annual visitors.

Thank you.

Keith Riggs, docent
Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum https://www.evergreenmuseum.org/
McMinnville, Oregon
541-680-1044 (personal phone)
keithdriggs@gmail.com (personal email)