Sikorsky H-19 "Chickasaw" Helicopter
Model Airplane News Cover Art for May, 1962
by Jo Kotula
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The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw, was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the Army and Air Force. It was also license-built by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom. Navy and Coast Guard models were designated HO4S, and HRS for the Marine Corps were designated HRS.

  

Photos of the Sikorsky H-19 "Chickasaw" Helicopter
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The H-19 (also known by its Sikorsky model number, S-55) entered operations in 1950. Over 1,000 of the helicopters were manufactured by Sikorsky and another 550 were manufactured by licensees.The helicopter was widely exported, used by many other nations, including Portugal, Greece, Israel, Chile, South Africa, Denmark and Turkey.

The H-19 Chickasaw was the US Army's first true transport helicopter and played an important role in the developing strategies for battlefield troop-carrying helicopters. During the Korean War, it was used for medical evacuation, tactical control and front-line cargo support,

France made aggressive use of helicopters in Algeria, both as troop transports and gunships, especially for the transport of paratroopers and quick-reaction commando teams. In 1956, the French Air Force tried to arme but found that even lightly-armed H-19 gunships were underpowered. The H-19 was also used in the early days of the Vietnam War before being supplanted by the Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw, which was based on the H-19.

Here is a video about the Sikorsky H-19 "Chickasaw" Helicopter:

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