Sikorsky R-4 roundup

[airnutz]

25/January/1945
"Rescue" is a bit of a stretch, Ryan. Two L-5's were accompanying YR-4B, 2-107237, on the 2nd MEDEVAC mission
ever. The R-4, due to altitude limitations had to skirt mountains in a less than direct track to the refuel stop at Sinkiling,
as well as, taking 3 tries to get over a 5000ft mountain. This left him a bit short of fuel and he and the L-5's put down on
a sandbank on the Chindwin River where he explained(no radio aboard) his plight. They were actually in sight of the
airfield when they set down. Better safe, than sorry. They completed the EVAC on the 26th when the R-4 brought the
injured soldier off the mountain where he was handed off to one of the L-5's of the Air Jungle Rescue Unit which rushed him
back to medical care.

I meant to post this link back in Jauary in Jack's Egg Beater thread, but wandered off doing something else.
Story here..
www.helis.com/stories/burma45.php

Here's the original caption... I didn't know just how close they were, but I'd still call it a rescue if I was about out of gas and no radio!


And another caption read: "Being Needed For Rescue Work In The Burma-India Theatre A Yr-4 Helpicopter Was Flown From Wright Field, Ohio In A Douglas C-54. After Leaving Myitkyina, Burma The Helicopter Is Shown On The First Leg Of Its First Rescue Mission."

Interesting to get more details filled in from that article. I should've specified that it was this helicopter's first rescue mission. The other (for those interested) was with the 1st AC Group.

Ryan

I wouldn't say they recued him, as he may have had enough fuel to make it, but did not want to try and stretch it. If he crashed the helicopter he would be of no use and could not save anyone at all. This is a smart way to fly. This is the basis for what I do today. Really interesting stuff.

Kind of what I was thinking MD...but the "out of gas and rescue version" sells better in the pilots lounge afterwards!

[JBoyle]

Combining the two lists I get 11 survivors.
Anyone have anything different?
Air Britain lists only 10 in their book. Plus it says there is one in South Korea. Can anyone confirm that? (I wonder if it wasn't an H-5 instead...R-4s were long gone by Korea).

For more on the early days of USAAF helicopters, lety me strongly recommend...
Anything a Horse Can Do...the Story of the Helicopter by Col. H.F. Gregory, New York, Reynal & Hitchcock, 1944. (My copy is autographed, I paid all of $20 for it not long ago).

Gregory was head of the Helicopter section at Wright Field and one of the first..if not the first, USAAF helicopter pilot.
You've probably seen the photo of him, Orville Wright and Igor Sikorsky at Wright Field after he flew the prototype R-4 there from the Sikorsky factory...the first helicopter cross-country flight.

Gregory passed away just a couple of years ago.
I saw some of his desk models for sale on eBay...

[RyanShort1]

Here are a few more shots from the ole' Col. of the R-4 at the NEAM and NASM.







Ryan

[Andy Marden]

Combining the two lists I get 11 survivors.
Anyone have anything different?
Air Britain lists only 10 in their book. Plus it says there is one in South Korea. Can anyone confirm that? (I wonder if it wasn't an H-5 instead...R-4s were long gone by Korea).

I suspect the Korean reference is to H-5H 492007 which is at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul.
How complete is the one at Midland? Any photos?
Regards,
Andy Marden