One Seriously Ugly Helicopter

Last week I published a story about Igor Sikorsky, and the development of vertical flight. The first practical military helicopter he developed and manufactured was the Sikorsky H-5 Dragonfly, a U.S. Army Air Force search-and-rescue and medevac helicopter. Many of the pilots that flew this helicopter, like Will Dabbs, MD, described the Sikorsky H-5 as "One Seriously Ugly Helicopter."

From its beginings, the H-5 had a serious problem which challenged all of the pilots who flew it. All aircraft, including helicopters, live or die by their centers of gravity. In the case of the H-5 variants, the center of gravity limits were very tight. Crew members rode side-by-side, which meant that flying the helicopter was a nerve-wracking experience. Many of the uses of this helicopter involved a single pilot flying alone out to pick somebody up. 

That actually was a very big deal. To solve the center of gravity problem the military came up with an unusual solution: the helicopter would carry two canvas bags, one containing iron bars weighing 25 pounds, the other bag containing iron bars weighing 50 pounds. When flying solo the pilot secured the bags beside himself, when carrying passengers the weight bags were placed back in the baggage compartment. If, somehow, the bags were lost or jettisoned, the pilots were trained to find a suitable rock. The helicopter could be flown by a single pilot without the weights, but airspeed was restricted to 29 mph to ensure controllability.

The Helicopter

After its development, several variations of the helicopter were manufactured including the R-5, S-51, and the HO3S, were provided to the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. From the 1920s on, seaplanes were carried on U.S. Navy cruisers and battleships, but by 1949 the Sikorsky HO3S had taken over; the seaplanes were gone.

Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopter, the U.S. Navy version of the H-5, lands on the forward 16″ gun turret of the USS Missouri (BB-63), an Iowa-class battleship during a midshipmen’s cruise. Image: U.S. Navy

The Korean War was the first military conflict to see widespread use of helicopters for retrieving injured soldiers and downed pilots. The helicopters were equipped with a rescue hoist that allowed the pilot to retrieve injured soldiers or pilots from rugged terrain or the water. Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopters were given the name "Whirlwind," however, in Naval circles it was called "Buzz Saw." These life-saving missions cemented the helicopter's reputation as a reliable and indispensable asset during military conflicts.

Let me introduce you to Lt jg John Kelvin Koelsch, U.S. Navy Helicopter Pilot.

John Kelvin Koelsch was born in the family home at 2 Draycott Place, Chelsea, England, a suburb in the southwestern part of London, on December 22, 1923. His father was an American banker named Henry August Koelsch, and he was married to Beulah Anne Hubbard Koelsch. John K. Koelsch was their third son. On April 26, 1924, the family returned to the United States aboard the White Star liner R.M.S. Adriatic, arriving at the Port of New York on May 5, 1924. They lived in Briarcliff Manor, Westchester County, New York.

A Military Career

Koelsch enrolled at Princeton University in September of 1941, just prior to the start of the United States entry into World War II. As like many young men his age in college, on September 14, 1942, Koelsch enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve as an aviation cadet. He then began training as a pilot, and on October 16, 1944, Koelsch qualified as a Naval Aviator, received a commission as an Ensign, and after receiving training as a torpedo bomber pilot in the waning days of World War II. On August 1, 1946 he received a promotion to Lieutenant junior grade. He then returned to Princeton to complete his education by 1949.

At the time he wanted to pursue a career as lawyer, but when North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, he transferred to the regular Navy. The Navy then trained Koelsch in the brand new Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopter, and in 1949 he was transferred to Naval Utility Squadron UH-1 at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey. He had completed a combat tour aboard the USS Philippine Sea (CV-37), but rather than return stateside he requested a transfer to Helicopter Utitility Squadron Two (UH-2). He told his shipmates that he felt that rescuing downed pilots was his mission in life.

Lt Koelsch’s Sikorsky HO3-S-1 helicopter, Bu. No. 122715, aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)

Koelsch joined UH-2 squadron, which operated from Q-009, a former landing ship tank, LST-488, which had been converted to a helicopter support ship. One of his fellow officers said "He was always ready for any rescue mission, no matter how dangerous, and he let this be known." Koelsch said "If anything happened, he wanted to be a part of it."

During his time in helicopters, Koelsch designed a device to expedite recovering downed airman from freezing weather conditions. He called it his "horse collar" floating sling hoist. It was similar to a life vest that pilots flying over water would wear. On June 22, 1951, he and his Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd class George Neal, finally had a chance to use it while rescuing Ensign Marvin Nelson Jr. Ensign Nelson was forced to bail out of his Vought F4U-4B fighter when North Korean antiaircraft fire hit his aircraft.

Lt. Koelsch, flying a U.S. Navy Sikorsky HO3S-1, rescues Ensign Nelson Jr. from Wonson Harbor, June 22, 1951.

The Rescue

On July 3, 1951, Capt. James Wilkins, a Marine Corps pilot flying a Vought F4U-4B Corsair, along with three other Corsairs, went missing while on a four-plane reconnaissance mission. Wilkins' Corsair was hit by North Korean antiaircraft fire, forcing him to bail out over the coast. Capt. Wilkins was stationed aboard the USS Sicily (CVE-118) with Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312).

A photograph of the USS Sicily (CVE-118) at sea.

Capt. Wilkins bailed out around 35 miles southeast of Wonson, North Korea, where he parachuted onto a mountainside in the Anbyon Valley. North Korean soldiers had seen him from a nearby heavily traveled supply route, and the enemy soldiers shot at him as Wilkins, severly burned and with an injured leg, was crawling up the mountainside. 

It was late in the afternoon, and darkness would soon be falling over the area which was already covered with overcast conditions, but Koelsch and Neal set out, without hesitation, in their helicopter, hell-bent to find and rescue Wilkins. In spite of poor visibility and the mountainous terrain, Koelsch and Neal found Wilkins, severly burned and with a twisted knee, near Youndong, North Korea.

The terrain was too mountainous for a landing.  Wilkins heard the helicopter approaching and moved back down the mountain toward his parachute. He spotted the helicopter flying at an altitude of about 50 feet below a layer of clouds. The helicopter was receiving heavy ground from the North Korean soldiers along the road. The Sikorsky was hit making Koelsch turn away, but he quickly returned. Koelsch located Wilkins again, brought the HO3S-1 to a hover, while Neal, using Koelsch's "horse collar,"  hoisted Wilkins up into the helicopter.

Unfortunately the ground fire continued and the helicopter was finally shot down as it crashed into the mountainside and rolled over. Miraculously, Koelsch and Neal were unhurt, and Wilkins suffered no new injuries. Grabbing Wilkins, Koelsch and Neal carried him and moved off, away from the enemy forces, heading towards the coast. The three of them were able to evade the enemy for nine days before they were captured.

After they were captured  Koelsch communicated with, and convinced, one of their captors to separate Wilkins from the trio because of his injuries and get him medical treatment.  John K. Koelsch refused to cooperate with the enemy, and therefore they held him in isolation and subjected him to torture. In a short period of time Koelsch became very ill. On October 16, 1951, Koelsch succumbed to dysentery and malnutrition, and died.

But, Capt. Wilkins and AM3 Neal both survived the war and eventually returned to the United States. AM3 George Milton Neal was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in rescuing Wilkins. They were both awarded the Prisoner of War Medal after they were released.

Upon their return to the States Wilkins and Neal proffered testimony, along with a number of other American prisoners, to Koelsch's consideration of and helpfulness toward his fellow prisoners of war. On August 3, 1955, Koelsch's mother received her son's posthumous Medal of Honor - the first ever awarded to a helicopter pilot.

Medal of Honor Citation for Lt. (j.g.) John K. Koelsch, U.S.Navy. (National Archives)

Following the Korean Armistice Agreement, Lt. Koelsch's remains were returned to the United States and he was interred at Arlington National Cemetary on October 14, 1955. Wilkins later said that his resuce was "the greatest display of guts I've ever seen."

To further honor Lt. Koelsch, the U.S. Navy christened the destroyer escort Koelsch in his honor.

USS Koelsch (FF-1049), a Garcia-class frigate, 21 May 1979. (U.S. Navy)

I hope you enjoyed this trip through some of the history of aviation. If you enjoyed this trip, and if you are new to this blog, sign up to receive your own weekly blog post here: Subscribe here!

Until next time, keep your eyes safe and focused on what's ahead of you, Hersch!