During the United States’ Operation Highjump (aka Project Highjump), in 1946-47, a Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopter (called Dragonfly by the British) crashed into the Antarctic Ocean (aka Southern Ocean).
The silent color film, by U.S. Army Private E. Zinberg, dated 19JAN1947, shows the Dragonfly approaching USS Pine Island (AV-12), the film cuts out for a second then shows the Sikorsky diving into the water. The pilot, and the observer, are rescued:
There is an attempt to salvage the helicopter, but the order is given to let the Dragonfly go:
This crash happened about a week after the rescue of the crew, and passenger, of a U.S. Navy PBM-5 Mariner, code named George 1, which had been missing since 30DEC1946. The search was frantic, not just because nobody knew what happened, but the commanding officer of the USS Pine Island was onboard the missing seaplane. The crew and VIP (very important person) passenger that survived (three crewmembers died) the crash of George 1, were rescued on 12JAN1947.
According to Peter J. Anderson, who worked for the Office of Polar Programs-National Science Foundation, a total of seven helicopters were used during Operation Highjump. On 19JAN1947, H03S-1 helicopter (Bureau Number [BuNo] 57996) was sent to find pack-ice that could launch aircraft for a photographic mission, ordered by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. The HO3S-1 returned early due to icing of the rotary wings. Ironically, just feet from the deck of USS Pine Island, the icing suddenly became worse causing to HO3S-1 to drop straight into the ocean. Just three days later, a second HO3S-1 was lost. BuNo 579997 was launched from the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea, it was hit by a downdraft and shoved into the ocean, the crew was rescued.
The two HO3S-1 helicopters were two of the four aircraft lost during Operation Highjump.
Cold War Helicopters:
USAF photo.
SIKORSKY DRAGONFLY (WS-51 or R-5 or H-5/SH-5 or HO3S-1)
