Helicopter saw extended action in Korean War
Through the centuries, many unique and distinguished locations and objects have been named in honor of the Chickasaw Nation. Towns, counties, companies, ships and aircraft all have carried the "Chickasaw" moniker.
Named for the fighting spirit of the Chickasaw people, the Sikorsky UH-19B Chickasaw helicopter (UH-19B) is one of note.
Since its 1949 maiden flight, the Chickasaw helicopter served all branches of the U.S. armed forces. It also has been used by foreign forces.
Its primary function was transport and rescue operations. It was the world's first transport helicopter with an enclosed body used to carry passengers and cargo.
"The UH-19B was one of the first helicopters adapted by the Army," said James Stemm, curator of collections at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Ariz. "The helicopter had enough lift capacity to haul a number of people. It was one of the first modern styles of helicopters deployed."
Engineering of the Sikorsky Chickasaw helicopter was groundbreaking for its time.
The engine is mounted in its nose. This design freed the main cabin space -- its center of gravity -- for payload and various configurations of the aircraft. Maintenance is easy and often could be completed in the field without specialized equipment.
As a rescue helicopter, the UH-19B carried six litters and one medical assistant. One variation of the rescue helicopter was its ability to hoist 400 pounds. The hoist is mounted above sliding doors to allow rescues from inhospitable terrain or ships at sea where landings are not possible.
During its years of service from 1950 to approximately the mid-1960s, the UH-19B Chickasaw was a supply workhorse for the military. The helicopter was fitted with an external sling capable of hauling 2,000 pounds. Food, ammunition and light-weight fighting vehicles were quickly hauled from one field of action to another.
The Sikorsky Chickasaw was the first to fly combat airlift missions.
During the Korean War, the U.S. Marine Corps used the UH-19B in this way.
Combat personnel and cargo were dispatched to areas of rugged terrain or intense fighting where traditional resupply operations could not be carried out by other helicopters.
The UH-19B was the U.S. Army¹s first dedicated transport helicopter. The qualities and benefits utilized during the Korean War were later the basis of innovative fighting doctrines known as air mobility and air assault. These are still in use by the military.
More than 1,200 Chickasaw helicopters were produced by Sikorsky Aircraft.
The production design was licensed to other helicopter manufacturing companies in various countries, including Mitsubishi of Japan and Westland Aircraft of the United Kingdom. In all, more than 30 countries used variants of the Sikorsky Chickasaw helicopters for both military and civilian roles.
The UH-19B was phased out during the mid-1960s by the U.S. military; however, it continued to see limited duty by other countries.
Today, the UH-19B can be seen at many aviation museums across the country or in air shows where they are flown by aviation enthusiasts.
