Vehicles
Sikorsky R-4
Also Known As Hoverfly The name used for the R-4 in British service under Lend-Lease.
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A two-seat helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky, first flown on 14 January 1942 and entering service in January 1943 as the world's first large-scale mass-produced helicopter. It was operated by the US Army Air Forces, US Navy, US Coast Guard, the Royal Air Force (as the Hoverfly) and the Royal Navy, and flew the first helicopter rescue, a January 1944 blood-plasma delivery after the USS Turner's explosion, and the first combat helicopter rescue, evacuating a downed pilot in the China-Burma-India theater in April 1944.
Facts
SignificanceProved the helicopter as a practical rescue tool rather than a novelty: its January 1944 blood-plasma delivery is recognized as the first helicopter rescue, and by June-July 1945 R-4s and their successors carried out the largest combat helicopter evacuation before the Korean War, lifting 75 to 80 wounded soldiers near Manila. 1 Manufacturer or Builder Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Sikorsky R-4
WikipediaLead sectionQuote, Lead section
The R-4 was the world's first large-scale mass-produced helicopter
1. Wikipedia: Sikorsky R-4
WikipediaOperational historyQuote, Operational history
Following the explosion and sinking in January 1944 of USS Turner, U.S. Coast Guard Commander Frank Erickson flew the first U.S. helicopter rescue in a Sikorsky R-4 carrying life saving blood plasma for the casualties from New York City.
1. Wikipedia: Sikorsky R-4
WikipediaBritish serviceQuote, British service
In British service it was known as the Hoverfly.
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