R-4 at the National Museum of the United States Army

[Noha307]

What's the identity of the R-4 that is in the National Museum of the United States Army? There's a news article with a picture that shows the aircraft with the number "005629" painted on the tail boom, but this doesn't seem to correspond to any of the R-4 serial numbers.

The number of surviving R-4s is limited and the only currently unaccounted for R-4 I could find was 43-46521, which was displayed at the Pima Air & Space Museum, but, according to its Aerial Visuals dossier, is now supposedly in storage at the United States Army Aviation Museum. (Not to be confused with 43-46592, which is apparently a different airframe and the one currently on display there.) Could it be that airframe repainted?

[Noha307]

Just to follow up on this question, I emailed the Army Historical Foundation/National Museum of the United States Army and they confirmed that the helicopter on display is indeed 43-46521, an R-4B. It was previously on loan to the Pima Air and Space Museum, but was returned in 2006. It is now painted as an R-4 that served with the 1st Air Command Group in the China-Burma-India Theater.

[sandiego89]

Visited the museum a few months ago. Too bad most of the aircraft are hung from the ceiling- they are tough to see. Very much a story telling museum, and it does that well, but not a hardware enthusiasts type place, with only a few aircraft and vehicles.

[p51]

I donated money a few times to the museum when it was in planning (and they spent that money a hundredfold in stuff mailed back asking for more coin) and I kept up with what they were going to do. I was a former Army officer, so I supported the idea of a museum devoted to the Army overall.
The museum was made for the popular modern concept of what I call, "a storytelling museum" which focuses on telling a story over showing, "Old stuff".
Folks like us already know the story; we wanna see the old stuff!
And that's such a shame considering how much of that old stuff they have crated up in storage.
One of these days, I very much wanna get there to see it.

[bdk]

Where is the one Ed Maloney/Planes of Fame had?

[Dan K]

Where is the one Ed Maloney/Planes of Fame had?

That would be 43-46565, now with CASM in Ottawa.

https://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/art ... orsky-r-4b

[bdk]

Where is the one Ed Maloney/Planes of Fame had?

That would be 43-46565, now with CASM in Ottawa.

https://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/art ... orsky-r-4b

Thanks Dan. I'm guessing the Japanese aircraft involved in the exchange was the Judy?

[Matt Gunsch]

Where is the one Ed Maloney/Planes of Fame had?

That would be 43-46565, now with CASM in Ottawa.

https://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/art ... orsky-r-4b

Thanks Dan. I'm guessing the Japanese aircraft involved in the exchange was the Judy?

It was done in 1983, that would have been in exchange for the Val,

[bdk]

It was done in 1983, that would have been in exchange for the Val,

Thanks Matt! Long time ago.

[Matt Gunsch]

It was done in 1983, that would have been in exchange for the Val,

Thanks Matt! Long time ago.

I was at the airshow at Chino right after it arrived, that was the same year as the Spruce goose opening in Long Beach, I had flown to the show in the B-17 Sentimental Journey (you could not buy rides then, you had to be crew in order to fly on the plane).

[JohnB]

If you are interested in the R-4, try to find the helicopter episode of the 1958 TV anthology series"Flight". I stumbled across if a few years back online.
Each episode, hosted by General George Kenney, dramatized an event in aviation history.

One episode told the story of a rescue of an Army squad.

The one used in the episode didn't have any windows, I have wondered if it was the example at PoF?
Anyone know when they received theirs?
I can't imagine there were many R-4s in LA at the time.

All flying scenes were stock film...mainly newsreels or training films.
At any rate, it's interesting to watch, if nothing else, you see rare old footage.
Note it lands in front of the B-19 at 6:51. It has pre-42 markings, probably a prototype at Wright Field.

Last edited by JohnB on Tue Jun 21, 2022 12:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Dan K]

If you are interested in the R-4, try to find the helicopter episode of the 1958 TV anthology series"Flight". I stumbled across if a few years back online.
Each episode, hosted by General George Kenney, dramatized an event in aviation history.

One episode told the story of a rescue of a downed pilot by an R-4 in Burma.

The one used in the episode didn't have any windows, I have wondered if it was the example at PoF?
Anyone know when they received theirs?

All flying scenes were stock film...mainly newsreels or training films.
At any rate, it's interesting to watch, if nothing else, you see rare old footage

Ask and you shall receive:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-6_DX6I_Jc

[airnutz]

..."ya' know these ain't jus' Texas cotton bolls yer throwin' Loootenant?"

...."just gotta keep the fuel mixture extra lean and pray for a good tailwind" ....oy vey...

[sandiego89]

..........
The museum was made for the popular modern concept of what I call, "a storytelling museum" which focuses on telling a story over showing, "Old stuff".......

That is how I felt visiting. The building and displays are very well done, as is the storytelling, dividing into several eras of the Army history/themes, but as an aviation and military buff, I wanted to also see the hardware. I recognize that enthusiasts are not the target audience, and these types of museum focus on storytelling to the general public (and do that well). I am glad I visited and folks should do so, but as another poster commented on a another thread, I walked out with just a casual "that was nice" thought. I felt the same way at the WWII Museum in New Orleans and the USMC Museum at Quantico, which also are storytelling places and also have aircraft hung way up that are hard to really see. An aviation and armor/vehicle annex would be most welcome.

[p51]

I felt the same way at the WWII Museum in New Orleans and the USMC Museum at Quantico, which also are storytelling places

Having been to both, I agree with this take. The New Orleans museum was disappointment to me for all the replica items on display. At least the Quantico museum shows you the real stuff!