*****REMEMBERING KOREA *****

HO3S-1

The primary Navy helicopter in the Korean War

At the onset of the Korean War in June of 1950, Navy Helicopter Squadron One ( HU-1 ) was based at Miramar California and had only a few Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopters to serve the entire Pacific Fleet. At that time the HO3S-1 was the only helicopter available with a hoist for rescuing downed pilots and other unfortunate military members that ended up in the water, or stranded in enemy territory. New to the Fleet, this machine was quickly identified by observers as an egg beater (large rotor blades to mix the air), a dragonfly (because of it's shape), a whirlybird (because it occasionaly lost direction), and finally a chopper ( because of the menacing sound of rotor blades that could do damage far beyond slicing through the air). In spite of those unflattering descriptions, those of us that flew in the machine had faith that we could perform our primary mission of rescuing others in the sea, or in hostile territory.

From a sparse beginning with only a few helicopters, 10 helicopter Units were deployed to the Korean War effort by the end of 1950. The number of available helicopters almost doubled in December 1950 when 8 were air-lifted from the sister squadron HU-2 based on the East coast. On arrrival at NAS North Island, San Diego the helicopters, and their crews were loaded on the carrier USS Valley Forge for transportation to the Far East. By the end of 1952 the squadron had 22 Units deployed on aircraft carriers, battle ships, cruisers, LST's (landing ship tanks) and small Korean Islands. Navy historical records show that 317 military men were rescued over this period, and the squadron lost 20 helicopters due to enemy gunfire and other crashes. Four pilots and their crewmen were captured and became POW's.

Pilots captured

LTJG John Thornton, near Wonson on 31 March 1951

LTJG John K. Koelsch, mountain area, on 3 July 1951

Duane Thorin AMC(AP), mtn. area, on 8 February 1952

LT Edward C. Moore, mountain area, on 8 February 1952

( John Koelsch died as a POW on 16 Oct. 1951 and was
awarded the Congressional Metal of Honor posthumously).

As tragic and deadly that War is, somehow those in the military can find some humor in their operations. ie; The mysterious "Kilroy Was Here" that found the name posted on everything, in all theaters of World War 2, and Willy and Joe the Army ground grunts drawn by cartoonist Bill Mauldin. Military humor didn't elude HU-1 when the Korean War started. Then LTJG Earl Bergsma ( Navy helicopter pilot # 240 ) and his crew were assigned to the Coast Guard Ice Breaker USS Burton Island for summer duty in Alaskan waters. Their helicopters side number was UP-20, and colloquially dubbed "Uncle Peter Two Holer -- The Flying Outhouse". When the crew returned to their home base at ALF Ream Field, California, Petty Officer Philban in the operations office drew a cartoon based on a description of their exploits. The original cartoon adorned the back bar of the Officers Club, and black & white copies were also posted in the squadron area for all to acknowledge and remember. The original UP-20 with a pilot and a back seat for 3, was replaced with a pilot training version equipped with flight controls in the rear seat. Then LT William Dixon, Operations Officer, ( Navy helicopter pilot # 78 ), trained and qualified pilots new to the squadron for sea duty. The tag, "Uncle Peter Two Holer" stuck with Dixon, and on his reassignment in 1952, PO Philbin gave him an original cartoon.
Some 51 years later, Retired CAPT Bill Dixon has the cartoon on display in his summer home in North Carolina. Retired LCDR Earl Bergsma lives in central California, and is the author of many articles about helicopters in the Korean War and his book, "Chopper Pilots is the Craziest Peoples".
Of the 100 HO3S helicopters purchased by the Navy from 1947 to 1954, none appear to have survived for display in museums. There are 2 Coast Guard and 1 Marine versions on display at Pensacola FL, Tucson AZ, and Charlotte NC.
Those that piloted,or flew as crewmen in the HO3S will forever remember it as a wonderous machine, and some times as a "Flying Outhouse".

Doug Froling, Seattle. (AE2, crewman & hoist operator with HU-1, 1951 - 1954)