TODAY IN COAST GUARD AVIATION HISTORY - 24 MARCH 1958 (3 OF 3): a Sikorsky HO4S-3 helicopter #unknown assigned to Air Station St. Petersburg, FL and an unknown aircrew participated in a test and evaluation program to determine if U.S. Coast Guard helicopters could tow surface craft for rescue operations. It was called PROJECT TUGBIRD.
In the photo, an HO4S-3 helicopter tows the 75-ton buoy tender BIRCH during tests completed at the Air Station, St. Petersburg, FL, proving the potentials of Coast Guard helicopter use in towing fishing vessels, pleasure and other types of surface craft in air-sea rescue operations. Tests were made on craft 794 tons and under.
The Coast Guard utilized this technique during several high visibility SAR cases (Kodiak & San Francisco come to mind) in the 1950s and 1960s to save lives - including several Air Medal cases.
[Excerpt from the CGAA website titled "1951 – Coast Guard Acquires the HO4S Helicopter"]
Operation “Tug-Bird”
"During August 1957 CGHQ authorized the Air Sation St. Petersburg to conduct “Operation Tug-Bird” with a HO4S helicopter to determine the practicability of towing disabled vessels. The project helicopter successfully towed various craft ranging in size from the unit’s 18 footer to the 794 -ton buoy tender Juniper. At no times did the tows require more than 3000 pounds line pull under test conditions. Tow speeds averaged 12 knots. CGHQ directed that each air station should have at least one HO4S helicopter permanently equipped for towing.
This HO4S had a reinforced tail plate with a stainless steel line attached on the rear of the helicopter by U-bolt equipped with an explosive device. The helicopter could tow a disabled vessel away from the rocks to deep water and lay the tow line over the bow of a Coast Guard cutter or patrol boat. When the vessel’s crew had the line, the explosive bolt was fired and the line dropped on the forecastle.
The following is a narrative of a towing mission of San Francisco HO4S #1309: A towline was put aboard the 36 foot fishing vessel Pirate II that had lost an engine and was going on the rocks. The helicopter commenced towing in a position less than 50 yards from Seal Rocks. At first it appeared that little progress was being made. The wind at this time was 22 -28 knots and the tow was directly into seas of 10 to 15 feet. With towing tension surging as high as 3100 pounds the helicopter gradually succeeded in towing the Pirate II out of danger to a point one half mile off shore where the tow was turned over to a Coast Guard patrol boat CG-82328. The mission was a complete success.
Complete records as to how many times this procedure was utilized are not available but with the arrival of the HH-52A the procedures and skill level required had deteriorated and the practice was discontinued." ###
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