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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Sikorsky S-61 / H-3 / Sea King
    Latest Model:SH-3H Sea King
    Last Military Serial:148999 USN
    Construction Number:61-073
    Compressed ID:Sikorsky SH-3H sn 148999 USN cn 61-...
    Latest Owner or Location:USS Hornet Museum, Alameda, California

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    Dates

    Event

    1961

    Constructed as a HSS-2.

    28 September 1961

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 148999.
    Accepted on charge at Stratford, CT.

    18 November 1961

    Transferred to HS-3, Norfolk.

    30 November 1962

    Redesignated as SH-3A.

    15 September 1963

    Transferred to HS-11, abd USS Champlain.

    By 7 June 1965

    Transferred to HS-11, abd USS Wasp.

    7 June 1965

    Recovered astronauts Edward White and James McDivitt from Gemini IV capsule after successful splashdown in Atlantic Ocean.

    7 June 1965


    Photographer: NASA
    Notes: Astronaut Edward White is being hoisted into the recovery helicopter BuNo 148999.

    7 June 1965


    Photographer: NASA
    Notes: Astronauts Edward White and James McDivitt are greeted on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp as they leave the rescue helicopter SH-3A BuNo 148999.

    28 May 1966

    Transferred to HS-11 DET 2, Quonset Point.

    6 June 1966

    Transferred to HS-11 abd USS Wasp.

    20 June 1966

    Overhauled at Jacksonville.

    25 November 1966

    Transferred to NAS South Weymouth.

    22 February 1970

    Transferred to NARTD Quonset Point.

    6 August 1970

    Transferred to HS-74, Quonset Point.

    28 October 1973

    Transferred to HS-75, Lakehurst.

    15 August 1975

    Overhauled at NARF Pensacola.

    3 November 1975

    Transferred to Sikorsky, Stratford.

    4 November 1976

    Converted to a SH-3H.

    5 November 1976

    Transferred to HS-9, Jacksonville.

    Transferred to HS-4, NAS North Island, CA.

    1994

    Markings Applied: 66, HS-4
    Used in the motion picture Apollo 13, painted to resemble SH-3D BuNo 152711 which was recovery helo for Apollo 8,10,11,12 and 13.

    9 December 1994

    Transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) with inventory number 9H0088.

    8 January 2003

    Struck off Strength/Charge from the United States Navy.

    2005

    To USS Hornet Museum, Alameda, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    10 September 2010


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    10 September 2010


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    19 September 2011


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    29 September 2019


    Photographer: John Bennett
    Notes: Taken at Alameda, CA, U.S.A.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     The AMARC Experience
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Mike Henniger
    Sid Nanson
    Marcin Rogowski
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