With HELENA on this cruise ha been Unit Seven of Helicopter Utility Squadron One. Throught the cruise, the pilot and crew have been kept unusually busy. They provided personnel and cargo transfers between ship and shore activities for both Seventh Fleet and HELENA.
The helicopter, a most complicated instrument, requires many hours of diligent, technical work to keep in peak operating condition. These efforts made possible a new record number of flight hours for a helicopter flown from a cruiser in a single month . . . . 61.9 flight hours in the month of September.
Rescue operations played an important part of this cruise for these men of HU-1. During the rescue of the SS HOI WONG, the HELENA helo crew set a record for HUP-type helicopters for the most people hoisted aboard . . . . nine for one trip.
In emergency or normal operations, the skilled helo men must be ready in a matter of several minutes to send their "pride" whirling its way on another mission.
From the 1958 Helena cruise book
HELO . . . . .
top men doing a vital job
in a new facet of naval
operations
From the 1958 Helena cruise book
From the 1952 Helena Crew's book
From the 1959 Helena cruise book
From the 1952 Helena Crew's book History makers - the first night landing on a cruiser.
From the 1959 Helena cruise book
From the 1952 Helena Crew's book Celebrating 100 landings aboard in one month.
