First Helicopter Flown in Combat Rescue Mission

[cutiger83]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_R-4

 

On 22–23 April 1944, U.S. Army Lieutenant Carter Harman of the 1st Air Commando Group conducted the first combat rescue by helicopter using a YR-4B in the China-Burma-India theater. Despite the high altitude, humidity, and capacity for only a single passenger, Harman rescued a downed liaison aircraft pilot and his three British soldier passengers, two at a time. On 22–23 January 1945, another rescue by the R-4 involved several legs for refueling and navigating through passes between mountains nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 m) tall, to reach a weather station located at an elevation of 4,700 feet (1,400 m). The higher than normal altitude required a downhill run of 20 ft (6.1 m) to get airborne.

 

While the R-4 was being used for rescues in Burma and China, it was also being used to ferry parts between floating Aviation Repair Units in the South Pacific. On 23 May 1944, six ships set sail with two R-4s on board each vessel. The ships had been configured as floating repair depots for damaged Army Air Forces aircraft in the South Pacific. When the helicopters were not being used to fly the parts from one location to another, they were enlisted for medical evacuation and other mercy missions.

 

 

 

 

[River Patrol]

Great history there on the early use of rotary wing aircraft in war. Thanks for sharing this!

[blitz67]

I believe the picture shows Igor Sikorski and CDR. Frank Erickson, taken at Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn at Floyd Bennett Field.

[respectingthesacrifice]

Thanks for information, didn't know it was used so early

[ian_]

There is a nice display relating to Burma helicopter operations at the Helicopter Museum, Weston Super-Mare, UK. Surprised me too, always thought it was Korea. The Germans used helicopters late in the war to supply Alpine bases as well.

[Brian Keith]

Floating Aviation Repair Units, on LST's, known as Operation Ivory Soap.

WW II Rotary Wing Aircraft artifacts are pretty uncommon!

BKW

[gwb123]

There is a good account of the early use of these aircraft in the book:

Air Commandos Against Japan: Allied Special Operations in World War II Burma by William T. Y'Blood.

 

The accounts are pretty hair raising... flying unproven early helicopters over some of the most hostile terrain on earth.

But the pilots and crews learned how to master the new technology and successfully rescued wounded ground troops over and over again.

 

Available on Amazon.com.

[patches]

Here's one in India October 44.

[P-59A]

Nice job Cutiger83!!!

[atb]

The National Museum has an early Army helicopter on display. I believe it is an R-4.