Canadian Warplanes 7: Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever helicopter

Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever

(Comox Air Force Museum Photo)

HMCS Assiniboine (DDH 234) (II), with a Piasecki HUP-3 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 51-16622) on the rear deck, Aug 1963.

The Piasecki HUP Retriever/H-25 Army Mule is a compact single radial engine, twin overlapping tandem rotor utility helicopter developed by the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation of Morton, Pennsylvania. Designed to a United States Navy specification, the helicopter was produced from 1949 to 1954, and was also used by the United States Army and foreign navies. The HUP/H-25 was the first helicopter to perform a loop and to be produced with an autopilot.

RCN use - In 1954, the Royal Canadian Navy received 3 former US Army H-25A aircraft, which were modified and redesignated on delivery to conform to US Navy HUP-3 standards. The aircraft were used aboard HMCS Labrador for SAR and varied utility duties, and were later used to support construction at Distant Early Warning Line radar sites. The helicopters were subsequently posted to NAF Patricia Bay and naval air station HMCS Shearwater. (Wikipedia)

Piasecki Model PD-18, RCN HUP-3 Retriever Helicopter (3), US (Serial Nos. 51-16621, 51-16622, and 51-16623)

(Comox Air Force Museum Photo)

HMCS Assiniboine (DDH 234) (II), with a Piasecki HUP-3 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 51-16622) on the rear deck, Aug 1963.

Ex USAF H-25, kept US serial number in RCN service. Arrived at RCNAS Shearwater, in US Army markings, on 18 May 1954. To VH 21 at Shearwater in 1954, coded "946". Renumbered "246" in 1955. Carried to the Arctic in August 1957 onboard USCG USS Eastwind, to replace 51-16623 after it went u/s near Frobisher Bay, transferring to HMCS Labrador on 5 August. Flown off to Shearwater on 11 October 1957. Still numbered "246" when transferred to VU 33 at NAF Patricia Bay, BC , arriving on 21 March 1960. Last of three HUPs assigned to this unit. Later marked "406", "922" and "622" while on west coast. First helicopter to land on HMCS Assiniboine, on 13 August 1963. Later sold into US, registered as N6699D. Used as an instructional airframe, before being purchased and restored by Boeing, and donated to the International Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare, UK. On display there in RCN markings.

(Comox Air Force Museum Photo)

HMCS Assiniboine (DDH 234) (II), with a Piasecki HUP-3 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 51-16622) on the rear deck,
Aug 1963.

(Comox Air Force Museum Photo)

Piasecki HUP-3, RCN (Serial No. 51-16622) landing on HMCS Assiniboine, Aug 1963.   This helicopter wore a number of different RCN ID numbers, including 946, 246, 406, 922 and 622.  It was later sold in the USA where it wore Reg. No. N6699D.  It was eventually donated to the International Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare, UK where it is on display there in RCN markings.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4821166)

Piasecki HUP-3 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 51-16623), painted as 247, ca 1950s.

Ex USAF H-25, kept US serial number in RCN service. Completed on 14 May 1954. Arrived at RCNAS Shearwater, in US Army markings, on 18 May 1954. To VH 21 at Shearwater on 8 June 1954, coded "947". Transported injured light house keeper from St. Paul Island in October 1954. Transferred pregant woman from Grand Manan to Saint John on 10 November 1954. Took part in search for missing Avenger 69303 in April 1955. Renumbered "247" in June 1955. With HU-21 Detachment (Det) 2 onboard HMCS Labrador for Arctic cruise, 28 May to 21 November 1955. Left Halifax on 1 June 1955, to support DEW Line construction in Hudson Bay and Foxe Basin. To Summerside, PEI with HU 21 Detachment 3, 11 December 1955 to March 1956, for local SAR coverage and training with VS 880. Returned briefly to Shearwater several times during this detachment. Back to Detachment 2 in January 1957, for work up on HMCS Labrador off Bermuda. Remained on board for survey work in Gulf of St. Lawerence, February to March 1957. Still onboard for European cruise in March and April 1957. Back on HMCS Labrador by 21 June 1957 for next Arctic mission. Rescued crews of HTLs 202 and 205 in July, following their crash on Peter Point. Flown off to Shearwater on 11 October 1957. To Boeing Canada at Arnprior for major overhaul, 28 April to 5 November 1958. Renumbered "923" when transferred to VU 33 at NAF Patricia Bay, BC in November 1958. Shipped to west coast via rail. Later marked "407" and "623" while still on west coast. Was coded "623" when it took part in Victoria Day fly past at victoria, BC on 19 and 21 May 1961. Last RCN fllight on 28 February 1964, at Patricia Bay. Marked "623" when withdrawn from use. Purchased from Crown Assets by Canadian War Museum on 24 February 1965. Restored by Boeing Canada at Arnprior May 1981 to November 1982. Now on display at Rockcliffe.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4821167)

Piasecki HUP-3 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 51-16623), painted as 247, ca 1950s.

(RCN Photo)

Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever Helicopter (Serial No. 51-116623), hovering over HMCS Labrador in the Arctic.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3208120)

Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever Helicopter (Serial No. 51-16623), hovering over HMCS Labrador in the Arctic.  Note the white emblem on the tail.  This helicopter started life in the USAF as H-25 (Serial No. 51-16623).  When it transferred to the RCN it kept its US serial number while in RCN service. In keeping with the RCN tradition of modified side identification numbers it went to VH 21, at Shearwater, on 8 June 1954, coded as "947".  It was renumbered to "247" in June 1955.  It served with HU-21 Detachment onboard HMCS Labrador for an Arctic cruise, 28 May to 21 November 1955.  It was renumbered "923" when it was transferred to VU 33 at Patricia Bay, BC in Nov 1958.  It was later marked as "407" and "623" while still on the west coast. It eventually came to the Canadian War Museum in 1965, and later to the Canada Air and Space Museum.  It is currently on display in the CASM Ottawa.

(Author Photo)

Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever Helicopter (Serial No. 51-16623).  Canada Air and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.

 (Author Photo)

Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever Helicopter, painted as RCN (Serial No. 51-16621), painted as 245, Shearwater Aviation Museum, Nova Scotia.

(RCAF Photo)

Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever Helicopter (Serial No. 51-16623) in RCN service.

(Shearwater Aviation Museum Photo)

Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever Helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 51-16621), painted as 245, ca 1950s.

Ex USAF H-25, kept US serial number in RCN service. Arrived at RCNAS Shearwater, in US Army markings, on 18 May 1954. To VH 21 at Shearwater in 1954, coded "945". Renumbered as "245" in 1955. Still numbered "245" when transferred to VU 33 at NAF Patricia Bay, BC in 1958. Transferred by rail, arrived 10 July 1958. Later marked "405", "921" and "621" while on west coast. By 1980 was at BCIT, a technical school at Vancouver International Airport, wearing fake registration C-BVSD. Donated to Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation, Vancouver, BC in 1982. Sold by this museum in November 2000 to Classic Rotors Museum in California, registered N7089F.Note: The aircraft on display at the Museum in Shearwater marked with this serial is an ex-US Army aircraft, serial unknown.

(Shearwater Aviation Museum Photo)

Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever Helicopter, painted as RCN (Serial No. 51-16621), painted as 245, ca 1950s.

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