I’ve just returned from a talk given by one of the Bristol Sycamore pilots that took part in the world’s first Helicopter assault on 5th November 1956 during Operation Musketeer (Suez). I’m surprised that there has been so little mention of it’s 60th anniversary.The talk was the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop which has one of the Bristol Sycamore that took part in the operation on display, and it made me think; how many other aircraft from that operation have survived and are in museums?
By: J Boyle - 4th November 2016 at 02:00
I might take the “world’s first helicopter assault” claim with a grain of salt.
My guess would be the US in Korea with H-19s or to be precise, HRS (the basis for the Whirlwind) when the Marines of HMR-161 staged an assault on 21 Sept. 1951. A few days later, it staged a night assault, tricky stuff in the pre-nvg days.
Before then, smaller helicopters H-13 and H-5/HO3S (the basis for the Dragonfly/Widgeon) in the UN action were used in their more traditional roles as observation and liaison, and of course casualty evacuation.
Also in 1956, the French used the Piasecki H-21 (father of the Chinook) in Algeria.
It may come down to how one defines “assault”.
In addition to the Marine action, know the USAF H-19s inserted special squads in Korea for recon work as well as recovering a wrecked MiG-15, as well as the well documented rescue work.
Still, it sounds like it was interesting. More notice needs to be made of rotary wing history.
For more information, read Whirlybirds, U.S. Marine Helicopters in Korea, by Lt. Col. Ronald J. Brown, available free by doing a Google search.
Sign In
November 3, 2016 at 9:36 pm