Helicopters in WWII

[Eric19]

didn't the germans build the first heli with one engine and 2 spinning rotors I thought it was called something like the Dragonfly or something I can't remember but I saw it on wings of the Luftwaffe on the Military channel

[Zacherof]

Fi's aren't perked and we don't see them everywhere 

Just supps and smoke, maybe a 303 in the front (or back) to annoy tanks 

Tinkles

<<S>>

If Fbcrabby is online you can bet you might see a mission of storches 

[dirtdart]

If you had the ability to pick up another player (same with storch), that could be interesting and fun.

I can here the #1 - #10 fighter guys pleading on channel "pleeeeasse com pick me up so my K/D is not effected" (would have to rescore what a bail is worth).

[Arlo]

I might find it amusing the one time I make such a pickup and auger on purpose on the way back to base.

[dirtdart]

I might find it amusing the one time I make such a pickup and auger on purpose on the way back to base.

Ha ha .... that would be epic. The rant alone would probably be youtube worthy.

[Mister Fork]

I'm with Arlo on this - there is operational but experimental, and operational and use in combat.  Helicopters were experimental mostly until Korea.  They saw minimal late war use but not actual operational use in large numbers where you had a SQUADRON of helicopters.

And then comes - what would you actually do with such small short range aircraft?  Mail drops? A box of 5 tank shells? Pick up a downed pilot?

No offense, it would be similar to adding rescue or messenger German Shepherd's. Kinda cool that they were used, but not a practical add for Aces High.

Just saying...

[Ack-Ack]

They saw minimal late war use but not actual operational use in large numbers where you had a SQUADRON of helicopters.


Just saying...

The USAAF had an operational helicopter squadron during WW2.

ack-ack

[Mister Fork]

The USAAF had an operational helicopter squadron during WW2.

ack-ack

Yeah, saw the Wiki article and I'm having a hard time trying to source which USAAF squadron and with how many helicopters and what model.  I do know the Sikorsky R-4 was using in 1944 on a operational S&R role (Dorr, Robert. History in Blue, Air Force Times, 22 March 2004. )...but that was a single chopper and I can't seem to source the squadron that used them on a operational level like a P-51D.  I also have a bunch more R-4's used  on 6 re-supply ships with two each (12 in total) and were used to ferry aircraft parts.(Williams, Dr. James W. A History Of Army Aviation: From Its Beginnings To The War On Terror. Bloomington, IN: Iuniverse, 2005) - Wki has that one too. And I'm sure Wiki has more examples of their use in ferrying small items around or doing the odd rescue, but nothing like a squadron of 50 R-4's with lots of examples of their operational due day to day.  But I've asked for citation references on Wikipedia to verify the actual squadrons used and dates.

So, it's not a bad idea, just not a practical one.

[Ack-Ack]

Yeah, saw the Wiki article and I'm having a hard time trying to source which USAAF squadron and with how many helicopters and what model.  I do know the Sikorsky R-4 was using in 1944 on a operational S&R role (Dorr, Robert. History in Blue, Air Force Times, 22 March 2004. )...but that was a single chopper and I can't seem to source the squadron that used them on a operational level like a P-51D.  I also have a bunch more R-4's used  on 6 re-supply ships with two each (12 in total) and were used to ferry aircraft parts.(Williams, Dr. James W. A History Of Army Aviation: From Its Beginnings To The War On Terror. Bloomington, IN: Iuniverse, 2005) - Wki has that one too. And I'm sure Wiki has more examples of their use in ferrying small items around or doing the odd rescue, but nothing like a squadron of 50 R-4's with lots of examples of their operational due day to day.  But I've asked for citation references on Wikipedia to verify the actual squadrons used and dates.

So, it's not a bad idea, just not a practical one.

100 R-4s were produced (20 went to the USN, 45 to the UK and the remainder to the USAAF)
193 R-6s were produced (36 to the USN, 27 to the UK and remainder to the USAAF)

8 USAAF units flew the R-4 and R-6 during the war, the 10th Air Jungle Rescue Detachment (part of the 1st Air Commandos), 1st through 6th Aircraft Repair Units (Floating) and the 8th Emergency Rescue Squadron (attached to the 14th AF).  

Brief overview of the use of helicopters in China.
The Hoverfly in CBI

The 1st through 6th Aircraft Repair Units (Floating) operated in repair fleets like this one during Project Ivory Soap.
Top Secret Project Ivory Soap

ack-ack

[Arlo]

100 R-4s were produced (20 went to the USN, 45 to the UK and the remainder to the USAAF)
193 R-6s were produced (36 to the USN, 27 to the UK and remainder to the USAAF)

8 USAAF units flew the R-4 and R-6 during the war, the 10th Air Jungle Rescue Detachment (part of the 1st Air Commandos), 1st through 6th Aircraft Repair Units (Floating) and the 8th Emergency Rescue Squadron (attached to the 14th AF).  

Brief overview of the use of helicopters in China.
The Hoverfly in CBI

The 1st through 6th Aircraft Repair Units (Floating) operated in repair fleets like this one during Project Ivory Soap.
Top Secret Project Ivory Soap

ack-ack

Great source discussion but does this mean you see a practical role that warrants the time devoted to modeling them or modeling them before something else .... like multiple chutes from bailing bombers?   

[Ack-Ack]

Great source discussion but does this mean you see a practical role that warrants the time devoted to modeling them or modeling them before something else .... like multiple chutes from bailing bombers?   

I think it would be a waste to model them in game, just like I think it would be a waste to add multiple bailing parachutes to bailing bombers and adding gliders to the game. 

ack-ack

[Arlo]

I think it would be a waste to model them in game, just like I think it would be a waste to add multiple bailing parachutes to bailing bombers and adding gliders to the game. 

ack-ack

Ok, just asking. 

[guncrasher]

If Fbcrabby is online you can bet you might see a mission of storches 

he already did.  we tried to sink a cv  .

semp

[Mano]

If Fbcrabby is online you can bet you might see a mission of storches 

Now that made me chuckle. With all those storchs taking off I can hear Flight of the Valkyries in the background.

 

[MrKrabs]

Haha, it's because of doing stupid stuff like that is why the Rv-8 was permanently taken out of the main arena...