It's February, 1952 and HMR-162, a marine helicopter squadron flying the Sikorsky HRS-1 (S-55) is engaged in an exercise from the USS Rendova. Based out of Marine Corps Air Facility, Santa Ana (later MCAS Tustin), today they are practicing the new combat tactic of vertical envelopement. Launching from the Rendova about ten miles out to sea, they approach their "landing site" at Camp Pendleton each carrying a compliment of about eight combat equipped Marines. "Embedded" with and aboard one of the HRS-1's is reporter Stanley Dunn from the Los Angeles Examiner, and a photographer.
HRS-1, call sign "How-Sugar Six" of HMR-162 has just landed and offloaded his Marines. As he becomes airborne again, some twenty feet or so up, the driveshaft breaks. Pilot Sam Richardson has nowhere to go but down - fast. Ground contact forces the rotor blades downward, one blade striking and severing the tail boom. Sam and the copilot get out just fine and no one on the ground is injured.
Tail-end charlie in the exercise is my Dad, Captain Roy Thorson flying How-Sugar Four (BuNo127820). As he lands to offload his Marines, the L.A. Examiner photographer takes this picture:
We don't get to see much of helicopter warbirds on this forum and the above is a long-winded way of introducing you to a new website I've poured some time into regarding the Marine, HRS helicopters:
http://www.hrs-helicopter.com
It's a growing database (I hope!) of all 245 HRS helicopters scheduled for delivery to the USMC. Check it out and let me know what you think. If you've got any additions or any suggestions - I'd be very appreciative.
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