Fri, Feb 24, 2012
Heavy-Lift Helicopter First Saw Action In Vietnam
After more than 40 years of service, the Marine Corps retired
the aging CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter during a “sundown
ceremony” Feb. 10 at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor
in Hawaii. “From Vietnam, to Iraq and now in Afghanistan, the
helicopter has provided sustaining and mission critical lift in
every clime and place over past 40 plus years,” said Marine
Corps Col. Robert Pridgen, program manager for the H-53 Heavy Lift
Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261). “But it is those
magnificent Marines and Sailors – the pilots and maintainers
of this helicopter – who went in harm’s way to support
those on the ground, who have written the storied history of this
exceptional aircraft in Marine Corps aviation.”
The Sea Stallion’s last mission is currently underway with
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 supporting Operation Enduring
Freedom in Afghanistan. The helicopter will be flown from Marine
Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay to its final destination at the
Pacific Aviation Museum, where it will be displayed.
Designed by the Marine Corps with partner Sikorsky in response
to a request for a new assault helicopter in 1947, the prototype of
the CH-53A Sea Stallion made its first flight Oct. 14, 1964. In
response to the Vietnam War, the CH-53D model allowed for increased
performance at higher altitudes and temperatures, which would prove
invaluable to the Marine Corps in Vietnam, Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Production of A and D model Sea Stallions ended in January 1972,
with 124 CH-53Ds built in all.
“Now that the Sea Stallion has retired, the Marine Corps has
begun the transition to CH-53E Super Stallions, which will soon be
joined by the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and H-1 Huey and
Cobra helicopters in Hawaii.” Pridgen said. “This
transition will ensure our fleet is equipped with an aviation
capability that is flexible and ready today to complete missions as
assigned.”
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