Helicopter War: Medevacs & Heavy Lifters

The US Army pioneered the medevac technique in Burma toward the end of World War II, using Sikorsky R-4 helicopters. Since that time, helicopters have played a critical role in evacuating wounded soldiers from front line areas and bringing them to medical care.

With increased emphasis on air mobility during the Vietnam War, transport helicopters were used to quickly place artillery in what would otherwise be virtually impossible to reach terrain. Since then, the military has come to rely upon these “heavy lifters” for troop and artillery emplacement, battlefield resupply, as well as casualty evacuation and recovery efforts, revolutionizing the mobility and use of infantry on the modern battlefield.

This is the story of the helicopter’s development & evolving role both as medevac transport as well as a heavy lifter for the military.

Episode 1: Dustoff: Medevac Helicopters

The Bell-47 served the US military in a variety of roles for three decades. During the Korean War, the Bell–47 was used extensively as a medevac to transport wounded soldiers as depicted in the popular television series M*A*S*H.

Episode 2: Heavy Lifters: Transport Helicopters

The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is a transport helicopter used by the US Marine Corps to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment.

Built by Sikorsky for the US Marine Corps, the CH-53E & its less-common variant the MH-53E, are the largest and heaviest helicopters in the US military.

Bonus: Vietnam Air Rescue

Stunning footage of a Vietnam War era rescue of a downed American pilot.

FEATURING:

• Bell-47 Sioux
• Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey”
• Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight
• Piasecki H-21 Shawnee
• Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
• Sikorsky HH-53 Super Jolly
• Green Giant
• Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon
• Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk