National Guard helicopter crew impressed with Iowa hospitality

Connecticut's State Army Aviation Officer says one of his helicopter crew's trip to Iowa is one that they won't soon forget.

Col. William Shea with the Connecticut National Guard says the four person crew on the Chinook helicopter was flying the aircraft to Washington State. Shea says the helicopter had spent a year in service in the middle east and was on its way to Ft. Lewis for “deep maintenance.” The colonel says the crew landed near the Keswick, IA water tower late on Saturday, April 24th. The crew reported visibility issues due to a weekend rain storm.

The two pilots and two flight engineers spent the night with the helicopter hoping the weather would improve and that they'd be able to leave on Sunday. But the weather didn't improve and by then they large twin-rotor helicopter had become something of a sight to see for people in Keswick.

Col. Shea says the crew had several offers for help and someone even loaned them their pick-up truck so they could go into town to get some supplies. One of the Chinook's pilots reported that the people in town were very gracious and great to work with.

After securing the helicopter Sunday night the crew called the Keokuk County Sheriff's office and left for a hotel in Sigourney. They got back in the air early Monday morning.