Sikorsky H-19 @ Orlando Paintball Park ID'd - Korea Vet

[Craig59]

For those who saw my post a couple weeks ago about the Sikorsky H-19 at an Orlando paintball park, the ship has now been identified as an Army veteran of the Korean War.



The owner was kind enough to crawl into the aft fuselage and photograph the modification data plate to find this is H-19C, serial number 51-14247.



Sid Nanson (SIDSIKO) provided the following:

51-14247 was delivered 11 July 1952. It served in Korea with the 7th Aviation Co, returning to the CONUS in May 1962. It went to Fort Rucker in November 1962, then to the 80th Transport Co. at Fort Richardson in November 1965. Then to Aberdeen proving grounds same month. It was probably acquired by Orlando Helicopters Airways from there.

I have never noted it at Sanford (OHA location), nor have I ever had a report of it being there, nor does it appear in the listing of military log books held by Orlando. There again, it might not have come with a log book after being at Aberdeen. I first visited Florida in 1990, I think it might have gone by then.

Indeed, one website shows it as WFU from Sanford in 1988. Being an early H-19C and never upgraded to a D, it likely held little use to Orlando Helicopter other than perhaps for parts and was likely disposed of. We have no idea how long it’s been at the paintball park.

[Warbird Kid]

Such a sad ending to a true vet. Wish someone could get in there and take anything off of it that's useable.

[davidwomacks]

Looks likes its pretty well stipped but I'd think if one had enough money she'd make a great static display bird.

[mrhenniger]

I would very much like to nail down the location of the H-19/paint ball park for the Locator...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Paintball Park - H-19

Can anyone help with lat and lon coordinates?

Mike

[Andy Marden]

Mike,
N28.53377, W81.09850 is close enough.
Andy Marden
USAMOOS

[SIDSIKO]

Here is a picture of the old girl in happier times, in Korea

[url][URL=http://s722.photobucket.com/user/SIDSIKO/media/51-14247KOREA_zps5180053e.jpg.html][/url][/url]

[mrhenniger]

Mike,
N28.53377, W81.09850 is close enough.
Andy Marden
USAMOOS

Thanks Andy!

Mike

[BOF]

I Just noticed this thread whilst searching for something. For the record I recorded 14247 at Sandford on 26th April 1984 with Orlando Helicopters. My notes say it was in a compound along with Navy H-19's 130165, 130208 & 130226 plus H-34 149353.

Rgds,

Barry Fryer

[Craig59]

Barry,

Welcome to WIX and thank you for that information. There's a PM in your inbox.

[Craig59]

Barry,

Welcome to WIX and thank you for that information. There's a PM in your inbox.

[b747cf]

Here are a couple of the Sikorsky air frames at Sanford Airport these were taken in the 90's










Mark Fidler

[Cherrybomber13]

Mark thanks for posting. I know the 34 pretty well. I was just inside her last Monday. She became part of the Connecticut Air & Space Center over a decade ago. She looks exactly the same. Waiting for restoration... She served in Vietnam on the USS Kitty Hawk

[Craig59]

N95487 also escaped the boneyard and was recently restored as an Army H-19 and is on display at Fort Sam Houston wearing an accurate paint scheme with a spurious serial number.

Listed with the FAA as serial number 55-3197, it's true ID is unknown as Sid Nanson noted the real 55-3197 in Allied's yard at Mesa in 1994 and it's likely now amongst the few unidentified airframes in storage in Casa Grande, AZ.