Robert Dale Erickson

Kayhan International, Tehran—main English language newspaper

March 16, 1974

Headline: "Mehrabad air disaster"

October 31, 1974

Headline: "Hussein pledges backing for PLO—to meet Arafat. Features color supplement commemorating Crown Prince’s 14^th birthday"

December 7, 1974

Headline: "Day the Roof Fell In"

January 30, 1978

Headline: "Begin Sticks to No War Pledge"

January 7, 1979

Headline: "On the road to democracy"

January 8, 1979

Headline: "Fuel crisis may drag on"

January 11, 1979

Headline: "U.S. beefs up navy off Iran"

January 13, 1979

Headline: "Khomeini may come in days"

January 14, 1979

Headline: "Shah rejects coup"

January 15, 1979

Headline: "Oil exports ‘to resume soon’"

January 16, 1979

Headline: "Shah ‘will leave today’"

January 17, 1979

Headline: "Shah flies out"

January 18, 1979

Headline: "Quake toll rises"

January 21, 1979

Headline: "I will be home soon—Khomeini"

January 22, 1979

Headline: "Countdown for Khomeini"

January 23, 1979

Headline: "Army backs Bakhtiar"

January 28, 1979

Headline: "Breakthrough"

January 30, 1979

Headline: "Bakhtiar unmoved"

January 31, 1979

Headline: "9 a.m. tomorrow—Green light for Khomeini flight"

February 1, 1979

Headline: "Homecoming"

February 3, 1979

Headline: "I’ll punch government in mouth"

February 4, 1979

Headline: "Jihad only if peace means fail"

February 5, 1979

Headline: "I’m legal as Mossadeq"

February 6, 1979

Headline: "Stand-off"

Tehran Journal, Tehran—Other English language newspaper

January 9, 1979

Headline: "Tabriz in Flames"

February 4, 1979

Headline: "Civil war looms?"

International Herald-Tribune, Paris

February 9, 1979

Headline: "Bakhtiar Says No ‘Surrender,’ But May Agree to Referendum"

February 10-11, 1979

Headline: "Iran Unit Launches Attack on Air Base"

February 12, 1979

Headline: "Bakhtiar Regime Collapses in Iran"

February 13, 1979

Headline: "Iran Takeover Completed; Khomeini Installs Premier"

Athens News, Athens—English language newspaper

February 10, 1979

Headline: "Bazargan Tells Bakhtiar: “If you are a human being, obey will of people and step down”; “Dead King” Never to Return"

February 11-12, 1979

Headline: "Iran: Civil War Imminent"

February 13, 1979

Headline: "Khomeini’s Revolution Reaches Triumphant Climax"

February 14, 1979

Headline: "Bakhtiar Arrested"

Greek language newspaper

February 13, 1979

Headline (translated): "Massacre of Generals in Iran"

Various Iranian language (Farsi) newspapers

Most issues from period of Iranian revolution in January and February, 1979

Assessment of BHI’s position

December 16, 1978

Memo from BHI General Manager and Vice President R. N. Mackinnon assessing current and future status of the company’s contracts

Employee/Dependent Departure Info

January 2, 1979

Memo with instructions for Bell-organized charter evacuation flights

Technical Instruction Department Employees Roster

January 10, 1979

Revised employee roster for technical instruction department reflecting dwindling personnel

BHI Indemnification for Loss of Personnel Effects due to Iran Situation

December 23, 1978

Memo clarifying BHI’s guidelines for insuring and inventorying personnel effects for maximum reimbursement with attached Personal Property Inventory sheet

BHI Training Division Infogram, Isfahan

December 6, 1978
December 12, 1978
December 20, 1978
December 23, 1978
December 24, 1978
December 30, 1978
December 12, 1978
December 31, 1978
January 7, 1979

Series of memos that summarize recent security incidents and availability of food, fuel and Employee Relation services

Rotor Wash, Esfahan

December 13, 1978
December 24, 1978

Bulletins from BHI Training Division with security updates and Christmas activities

HR News, Hydraulic Research Textron newsletter

March 1979

Story: Exit from Iran. Note: This Textron organization was not directly affiliated with BHI, but the experiences depicted were typical for BHI personnel.

A Christmas Story …, by unknown author in Tehran

Circa December 1978

A parody of The Night Before Christmas that captures the humor of BHI personnel during the period of martial law and curfew during the unrest leading up to the revolution. Note: Some bad language

BHI News, Tehran

April 1976

Headline: "BHI celebrates third anniversary"

February 1976

Headline: "Shahanshah visits Training Center"

April 1978

Headline: "In the Beginning … There was Flight One. Fifth Anniversary of Bell Helicopter International in Iran"

Graduation Program, Technical Training School, Tehran

July 24, 1973

First Technical Training School class graduation program with class roster

Instructor Evaluation Report, Imperial Iranian Army Aviation Training Center, Esfahan

April 24, 1977

Standards and Evaluation report of an Iranian instruction being trained as part of BHI’s counterpart training program

Imperial Iranian Army Aviation Certificate, blank

Circa 1973-1979

Certificate presented to graduates of the Technical Training School

Instructor Certificates

1975
1977  

Certificates earned by Don G. Hodde, supervisory instructor, Technical Training School. Two certificates from 1977.

Aviation Mechanic’s Creed

1953

Creed used to emphasize importance of trust, knowledge and skill expected of aviation mechanics; classroom material

BHI and IIAA staff photo

Circa 1977

Group photo of BHI and IIAA leadership; pictured include Howard Moore, BHI Training Division Director (front row, second from left) and Col. Mohammed Shahnaz, Commandant, Imperial Iranian Army Aviation Training Center (front row, fourth from left)

Iran Employee Directory

1975

BHI Iran Employee Directory

Brochure and program, IIAF Golden Crown aerobatics team

Circa 1977

Program for aerobatic demonstration at Katemi Air Force Base, Esfahan

Letterhead, Commodore Hotel, Tehran

1973

Letterhead from hotel that housed BHI employees based in Tehran upon arrival in Iran

Shah and Empress photo

Circa 1977  

Photo of Shah and Empress in horse-drawn carriage during the celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the Pahlavi dynasty

BHI employees on Spanish vacation

March 1977

Four BHI employees enjoying vacation in Spain; from left: Dale Erickson, Nick Cirincionne, unknown and Don Hodde

Photo, black and white

Circa 1973

Sid Achee, Technical Training School Director, and Don Hodde, TTS Instructor, comparing photographic techniques

Photo, two men in Arab headdress

October 1976

Recently arrived travelers from Israel tour, Don Hodde and Dale Erickson visit residence of Flavil and Nell Johnson in Tehran before connecting flight to Esfahan

Photo, Technical Training School instructors

Circa 1976

Group photo of Technical Training School instructors

Postcard, IIAA Chinook helicopter

Circa 1977  

Boeing Chinook helicopter in Imperial Iranian Army Aviation desert paint scheme

Photo, Bell Model 214A

Circa 1973-1975

Bell Model 214A helicopter specifically designed for the Imperial Iranian Army Aviation

Photo, Bell Model AH-1J

Circa 1973-1975

Bell Model AH-1J helicopter specifically designed for the Imperial Iranian Army Aviation

Photo, Bell Model AH-1J and 214A

Circa 1977  

Photo showing both Bell Model AH-1J and 214A helicopters in Imperial Iranian Army Aviation desert paint scheme

Photo, Technical Training School instructors and managers

March 1978

Group photo of Technical Training School staff during two-year pin presentation

Photo, Shah reviewing army officers

undated

Shah visiting army base and reviewing officers

Calendar, Bell Helicopter

1974

March photo shows Bell Model 214A and AH-1J helicopters

1977

June photo shows Bell Model AH-1J in IIAA desert paint scheme

Information sheet, American Embassy, Athens, Greece

February 1979

Handout to evacuees upon arrival in Athens, Greece, after flight from Tehran

Decorative packaging

undated

Decorative panel from box of candy from Esfahan called “gaz”

Decorated Farsi text scroll

undated

Hand-colored scroll and rose drawing; text unknown

Party invitation addressed to Don Hodde

March 30, 1973

Invitation to get-acquainted party at the Euless home of E. J. Smith, Flight Training School Director, two days before departure of Flight One from Love Field to Tehran

Various receipts and product labels in Farsi with some English

1973-1979

Various receipts and product labels in Farsi with some English as collected by BHI employee, Don Hodde

Maps

undated

Tourist maps of Tehran and Isfahan

Tourist brochures

undated

Iran: The Caspian Coast, Gilan Province (in Farsi) and Hotel Shah Abbas in Esfahan

Christmas and New Year card

Circa 1973-1978

Greeting card to Don Hodde from Dale Erickson

Invitation to BHI 5^th anniversary party in Tehran

April 16, 1978

Invitation to Bell Helicopter International’s Fifth Anniversary celebration in Tehran at the Royal Tehran Hilton Hotel

BHI-IIAA sticker

1973-1979

Sticker showing IIAA and BHI logos

Imperial Iranian Army Aviation shoulder patch

undated

Official IIAA military uniform cloth patch

Bell Helicopter International patch

1973-1979

Bell Helicopter International cloth patch worn on BHI distinctive blazers

Plastic name tag

Circa 1975

Name tag for Tech School Instructor, Don Hodde

Address/Phone Book/Calendar

1978

Farsi address book/phone book/calendar for Imperial Iranian year 2537 (March 21, 1978 to March 20, 1979)

Folder, Welcome to IIAATC, with hotel letterheads

Circa 1974

Folder originally designed to contain handouts for visiting dignitaries to the Imperial Iranian Army Aviation Training Center. Contains letterheads from Shiraz Inn, Tehran International Hotel, Kouroush Hotel, Commodore Hotel and Tehran Tower Hotel. Beverage coaster from Shiraz Inn.

Menu, Farsi/English

1974

Farsi/English menu from Tehran Tower Hotel

Dry cleaner bag

undated

Dry cleaner bag from Takhteh Jamshid Express, Esfahan

Laundry bag

1973

Laundry bag from Commodore Hotel, Tehran

Shopping bags

Circa 1974-1978

Shopping bags from Esfahan Large Store and Super Gharibiyan, Esfahan

TIME Magazine

November 20, 1978

Article, page 50: "The Shah’s Fight for Survival"

Dallas Morning News clippings

November-December 1978

Various newspaper clippings from DMN containing stories of Iranian unrest (found inside TIME Magazine described above)

Novelty note paper, Tehran Bell Hop

undated

Note paper with cartoon of a helicopter riding atop a passenger jet and labeled “Tehran Bell Hop”

Tehran Bell Hop sticker

undated

Sticker with cartoon of a helicopter riding atop a passenger jet and labeled “Tehran Bell Hop”

American Ski Club, Tehran

1973

Gag skiing medal awarded to Sid Achee after breaking his leg skiing at resort northeast of Tehran

Iran Helicopter Industry sticker

1973

English/Farsi sticker from Iran Helicopter Industry (IHI)

Reminders for Instructors handout

1974-1979

Handout provided classroom instructors, IIAATC, Isfahan

Various photographs of BHI personnel in Tehran, Esfahan, and Arlington, TX

1973-1979
October 1999

Photos roughly batched together with event identification in Iran.
Photos of BHI 20^th Reunion in October 1999 at Arlington Convention Center.

Printout of PowerPoint presentation

October 14, 2016

Printout of PowerPoint presentation delivered to Bell Helicopter Retiree group by Ron Clegg. The PowerPoint file is on the Bell Helicopter International Files CD-ROM

BHI News

April 1976

Issue notes the third anniversary of Bell Helicopter International. Printed in Tehran, Iran.

Bell Helicopter International News

September 1977

Typical monthly newsletter. Printed in Tehran, Iran.

Bell Helicopter International News

March 1978

Typical monthly newsletter. Printed in Tehran, Iran.

Bell Helicopter News

March 23, 1973

Articles on pages 3 and 4 plus cover on the creation of Bell Helicopter International. Printed in Fort Worth.

Bell Helicopter News

March 24, 1978

Article on page 2 announcing future Bell 214ST co-production in Esfahan, Iran. Printed in Fort Worth. Article on pages 6 and 7 recounting experiences of BHI husband and wife in Esfahan, Iran. Printed in Fort Worth.

Bell Helicopter News

April 7, 1978

Article on page 3 noting fifth anniversary of BHI. Printed in Fort Worth.

Defence Helicopter

March-April 1992

Article on Iranian Airmobility that mentions Bell Helicopter models originally delivered during the 1970s.

BHI Iran Newsletter

Spring 1998, Fall/Winter 1999, and Spring/Summer 2000

Three newsletters published by and for BHI ex-employees.

Rotor Breeze (photocopy of front page)

Circa late 1972 or early 1973

Photocopy of article that announces the sale of Bell AH-1J and 214A helicopters to the Government of Iran. Printed in Fort Worth. Volume 22, No. 6

Bell Helicopter International brochure

1973

BHI brochure identifying the Board of Directors, descriptions of BHI, Bell Helicopter Company and Textron Incorporated, and photos of Bell AH-1J and 214 helicopters

Document printed from an unidentified Internet article

“Sharing the Pilot’s Seat with the Shah”, an account of the sales and flight demonstrations that convinced the Shah to authorize purchase of the Bell AH-1J and 214A helicopters.

Bell Helicopter International Iran Employee Directory

1975

Employee Directory identifying employee name, organization, location, phone number, spouse and employee ID number.

Bell Helicopter International Interoffice Employee Directory

October 1975

Employee Directory for US-based staff.

Book in slipcase by the Shah of Iran.

1971

Iran, Philosophy Behind the Revolution by His Imperial Majesty Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Aryamehr, Shahanshah of Iran

Life in Iran book

1976

A BHI publication created primarily for new Iran-based employees to acquaint them with Iranian history, language, and culture; BHI operations in Iran; and transportation, housing, school, recreation and communication options.

Bell Helicopter International 5-year service pin

1978

Pin awarded to BHI personnel upon completion of five years employment (five pins).

Iran-Bell Helicopter International dual flag stand

N/A

Desktop flag stand displaying the Iran national flag and the Bell Helicopter International flag.

Bell AH-1J Cobra gun ship model

undated

Model of Bell AH-1J Cobra painted in Imperial Iranian Army Aviation desert colors.

Bell Helicopter International Files CD-ROM

2015-16

CD-ROM comprising photos of two BHI reunion gatherings at the home of June and Howard Brook in Richland Hills (2015 and 2016) and the PowerPoint presentation delivered to the Bell Helicopter Retiree group by Ron Clegg in 2016. The printout of this presentation is included in the documents collection.

Various photos taken in Tehran, Esfahan, Shiraz, and Persepolis, Iran and in Bedford, TX

1973, 1974, 1990, 1994

Personal photos donated by Sid Achee, BHI employee (Director of Technical Training School and Deputy Director of Training). Photos show BHI facilities in Tehran, training school staff, social gatherings, cultural attractions and reunion gatherings in Bedford, Texas.