History

The prototype of the UH-34 was designated the HSS-1. The HSS-1 was first ordered in June of 1952, with the initial flight coming in March 1954. Unlike the non-naval versions of this helicopter, the Navy's HSS-1 was designed with a tail boom that folded 180 degrees to rest against the port side. Its main rotors folded two to each side of the fuselage, via virtue of special knuckles built into the rotor head. The latter two features considerably eased storage aboard ship. The HSS-1 was equipped for Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW), having the AN/AQS-4 sonar unit and associated equipment installed. A well was provided in the cabin floor for the dunking sonar head. The HSS-1 could carry two acoustic homing torpedoes, or two depth charges on external racks. The HSS-1N version incorporated auto stabilization, hover coupling, and Doppler navigation equipment. HS-4 used the HSS-1N to pioneer night helicopter ASW tactics.

Deliveries of the HSS-1 to fleet squadrons began with those to Helicopter Squadron Three (HS-3) in August 1955. A total of 379 "Sea Bats" were delivered to the Navy, being used primarily for ASW and Rescue work. Navy "Sea Bats" served as astronaut and capsule recovery vehicles for the early "Project Mercury" space missions, as well as flying support of Project "Deep Freeze" missions in Antarctica. HS-1 operated "Sea Bats" near Cuba during the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. The last Navy "Sea Bat" was delivered in April 1966.

The Marine Corps took delivery of a further 548 UH-34's. The Marines nicknamed their UH-34's the "Sea Horse." These were extensively used in combat during the early days of the Vietnam War, carrying up to eighteen combat equipped troops. Then, as today, US Marine helicopters transported the president.

Willow Grove's "Sea Bat," UH-34J, Bureau number 145694 was delivered from the Sikorsky factory, as a SH-34J, in October 1958. It saw service with Helicopter Squadrons HS-4, HS-6, and HU-1, before being stripped of its ASW gear and being redesignated as a UH-34J. #145694 was then assigned to NAS New York in 1963 and was flown by reservists from several units there. #145694 later became part of station Sea Air Rescue (SAR) flights at NAS North Island, California, NAS Keflavik, Iceland, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, and finally NAS Oceana, Virginia, before being retired from service in April 1971.

UH-34J #145694 was donated to the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association in April 1988 by Carson's Helicopter Service of Perkasie, PA. When received, this aircraft was a hulk. Structurally, it was in good condition, despite being almost completely stripped of removable parts. The aircraft had no landing gear, and had sat in what became six inches of mud for several years. Insects and wild animals called it home, and thick vegetation had grown up through the engine compartment into the cockpit. Seven years of restoration was finally completed during April 1995. Markings applied were previously carried by "Sea Bats" flown by Navy and Marine reservists at NAS Willow Grove, circa 1962.

Aircraft Specific Links:

• Sikorsky H-34: An Illustrated History, by Lennart Lundh

• Sikorsky H-34 history