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.