Amazing photographs from Korea circa 1951/52 continue to flow in from Mike McMahon, son of the late Marine Combat Photographer, Ssgt. H. Michael McMahon. In addition to the new material presented below, I've added a second page of his work on my website here:
http://hrs-helicopter.com/index_011.htm Scroll to the bottom of the page for the link to page 2.
McMahon joined the Marine Corps at age 17 in 1943 and was with the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal before being trained as an aerial gunner and serving with VMB-611. He was assigned as a photographer to HMR-161 in June 1951 and went with them to Korea. Like so many veterans of the era, we lost him - a year ago August.
The fifteen new Sikorsky HRS-1's of HMR-161 sit on the dock at North Island San Diego along with (help me out here if I'm wrong) FJ-2 Fury's prior to being loaded aboard the USS Sitkoh Bay (CVE-86) for the trip to Korea. They set sail on August 16, 1951 and arrived at Pusan Harbor on September 2.
HR-14 (BuNo127803) is hoisted aboard the Sitkoh Bay. It was hastily transferred to HMR-161 from sister squadron HMR-162 after the original HR-14 (BuNo127799) was damaged in an accident on July 24th.
BuNo127803 did not last all that long itself as seen below. On March 1, 1952 while transporting a load of logs the tail rotor shaft sheared. Autorotating from 200 feet altitude, the aircraft crashed and the tail rotor separated. Despite appearing as though it might have been repairable, it was Stricken and listed for salvage or scrap.
Accident Report
A main rotor assembly so clean it looks like you could eat off of it. HR-4 was BuNo127787 survived the war, returned to the states, and served until 1957 when it became a training aid at NATTC Memphis. Later sold to the civilian market, it may still survive today.
Sikorsky HO3S, BuNo122522 is seen here probably at Camp Pendleton, CA. This one also made it to the civilian market as N5555A.
Finally, BuNo127801 is seen delicately placing two wheels on the upside of a steep slope. It joined HMR-161 in late December 1951 as a replacement aircraft and was numbered as HR-2, replacing another squadron aircraft.
So, you're out in the middle of nowhere and need to perform some maintenance on your rotor head. Problem is, you have no crane. Solution? Call in a tank retreiver from the 1st Marine Division!
SNIPER PATROL – Marines await the word to move out on a patrol for snipers and enemy guerrillas who have harassed United Nations supply lines in Korea.
Defense Department Photo (Marine Corps) # A - 132528
LIGHTING UP FOR LUCK – Private First Class Herbert J. Martin of St. Louis, MO., a forward observer with the 1st Marine Division takes time out during a troop drop in the “Punch Bowl” sector in Central Korea as Marine units are dropped in a surprise move against the Reds. In the background is another 1st Marine Air Wing helicopter carrying a load of assault troops. The mission was accomplished at dusk.
Defense Dept. Photo (Marine Corps) # A- 132081
HOT THANKSGIVING CHOW – Marines at front line positions in Korea unload containers of hot Thanksgiving dinners from a transport helicopter that flew the holiday meals to all Leathernecks on the Korean front.
Defense Dept. Photo (Marine Corps) A132350
HELICOPTERS SHUTTLE TO AND FROM FRONT – Leathernecks of the 1st Marine Division in Korea wait for an incoming helicopter which will take them from the front lines to the rear. Helicopters were used in the largest transport battle-line relief of the Korean War, when more than 2000 Marines were moved between front-lines and rear areas.
Defense Dept Photo (Marine Corps) A132270
THE WELL DRESSED PILOT – The Marine pilots of HMR-161 are testing a new type of cold weather skin in Korea which allows the wearer to use a regular work uniform minus the added weight of present cold weather clothing. The new longies are of a foam type rubber and weigh only a fifth as much as the present gear. Pictured left to right are Major Victor J. Layton, designer of the skin; Capt. Gaylord Guthneckt who is wearing the skin as part of the experiment; and Lt. Frederick Adams in the old style long underwear.
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