RCN HO4S
Canadian Military Aircraft
Serial Numbers
Royal Canadian Navy
HO4S detailed list
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Designer
Manufacturer
basic
designation
variant or
model
name
company
designation
company
number
55144
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-2
Horse
S-55
55144
Allocated to No. 1
Naval Helicopter Flight, later redesignated Helicopter Utility Squadron Twenty-One
(HU-21).
“This aircraft
crashed on McNab’s Island, Halifax Harbour when the engine failed following a
practice autorotation. One wheel hit soft sand and the helicopter rolled
over. The aircraft was badly damaged and was subsequently used for ground
instructional purposes at its parent station, HMCS SHEARWATER. Pilot of the
aircraft at the time of the accident was Lieutenant Donald Neilly.” from
Canadian Aviation Museum document by Robert Murray LCdr RCN (Ret’d).
first date:
29 April 1955
last date:
25 June 1957
Delivered
Struck off following accident, see comments
55305
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-2/-3
Horse
S-55
55305
Allocated to No. 1
Naval Helicopter Flight, later redesignated Helicopter Utility Squadron
Twenty-One (HU-21). Converted to HO4S-3 by Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Canada
Ltd., Longueuil, March 1955 to December 1956. Sold 4 years afeter being
struck off.
first date:
5 December 1952
last date:
8 May 1970
Delivered
Struck off.
55320
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-2/-3
Horse
S-55
55320
Allocated to No. 1
Naval Helicopter Flight, later redesignated Helicopter Utility Squadron
Twenty-One (HU-21). Converted to HO4S-3 by Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Canada
Ltd., Longueuil, March 1955 to December 1956. Later to HS 50.
first date:
19 December 1952
last date:
2 August 1961
Delivered
Ditched off South Carolina coast, crew
rescued.
55867
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55867
First new HO4S-3
acquired by RCN.
first date:
16 May 1955
last date:
17 June 1964
Delivered
Struck off strength. Later scrapped.
55875
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55875
Stored at CFB Borden,
Ontario after being struck off. Later shipped to CFB Penhold, Alberta,
reassembled and placed on static display.
first date:
16 May 1955
last date:
16 May 1968
Taken on strength
Struck off. See comments.
55876
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55876
Taken on strength 10
June 1955.
first date:
7/8 June 1955
last date:
15 November 1968
Delivered to HMCS Shearwater via Salem,
Massachusetts; Brunswick, Maine, overnight; and Saint John, New Brunswick.
Struck off. Later dismantled and scrapped.
55877
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55877
Taken on strength 10
June 1955. Named “Shearwater Angel”. Credited with rescuing 32
people, three dogs, and a cat from various marine disasters. Also used for
many VIP missions. Known rescue operations, mostly with HU 21, include SS
Kismet II, off Cape Breton, 26 November 1955. Both pilots received George
Cross for this operation. Three rescues performed while plane guard on HMCS
Magnificent, 1956. Ferried emergency supplies to Springhill, NS, 23 October
to 1 November 1958, following mine disaster. Also recovered crashed crew
while plane guard on HMCS Bonaventure, 1960 and 1963. With HS 50 from late
1961 to January 1963, then back to HU 21. Carried TV tapes of Winston
Churchill’s funeral from Shearwater to CBC studio in Halifax, 30 January
1965. Last aircraft to fly off HMCS Bonaventure, on 12 December 1969.
Donated to National Museum of Science and Technology in 1970. Ferried to
Rockcliffe from Shearwater on 21/22 May 1970. Had 4760.1 flight hours when
donated, almost all with HU 21.
first date:
7/8 June 1955
last date:
16 May 1970
Delivered to HMCS Shearwater via Salem,
Massachusetts; Brunswick, Maine, overnight; and Saint John, New Brunswick.
Struck off, see comments.
55878
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55878
first date:
25 August 1955
last date:
15 November 1968
Taken on strength
Struck off, later scrapped.
55885
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55885
With HU 21. Ferried
emergency supplies to Springhill, NS, 23 October to 1 November 1958,
following mine disaster. On 8 May 1970 this helicopter was shipped to
Canadian Forces Base Borden to replace 55875 which had been shipped to
Canadian Forces Base Penhold.
first date:
31 August 1955
last date:
15 August 1965
Taken on strength
Struck off strength, stored.
55886
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55886
With HU 21. Sent to
Newfoundland to fight forest fires, summer and fall of 1961. Crashed into
trees near Aspen Cove while ferrying fire fighters. The aircrew included
Lt.Gordon Gray and L/S James Law. Both aircrew and passengers escaped
uninjured.
first date:
25 August 1955
last date:
22 September 1961
Taken on strength.
Crashed near Aspen Cove, Newfoundland, no
injuries. See comments.
55887
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55887
first date:
26 July 1955
last date:
4 November 1958
Taken on strength
Crashed and burned on McNab’s island located
in Halifax harbour, no injuries.
55891
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55891
Stored at CFB
Shearwater, awaiting restoration before being displayed in Naval Aviation
Museum.
first date:
26 July 1955
last date:
8 August 1964
Taken on strength.
Struck off, stored.
55892
Sikorsky
HO4S
HO4S-3
Horse
S-55
55892
Ditched at sea during
an exercise off the coast of Key West Florida on 14 March 1957. The pilots
Lts. Ron McLymont and Harry Dubinsky were rescued by the USS CROMWELL DE
1014. No injuries.
first date:
21 August 1955
last date:
3 May 1957
Taken on strength
Struck off after ditched at sea, see comments.
This data has come
from a variety of sources, and may contain all sorts of errors. In the
future, I will add a complete list of references. For now, some recent
Internet references can be found at the links below. I would
welcome any corrections or additions you may have. Contact me using the
link below.
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© 2004 by R. W. R. Walker All rights
reserved under the copyright laws.
This is an amateur site – please don’t rely on any of this data for
anything important!
Created 27 December 2004. Updated 27 December 2004.