Sikorsky S-56 H-37
in
US Army Aviation

The H-37 was a powerful twin engine with 5 main rotor blades capable of carrying 26 at a speed of 150 mph (240 km/h). This was a large hellicopter, the size of a DC-3 aircraft. Known as the Mojave, the US Army used them in the late 50s because of their carrying capacity of troops and easy load through the two front clam shell doors. The engines were two Pratt and whitney double Wasp 2800 piston engines. They were used by the US Army and Marines pretty much exclusive and they had the ability to load or unload while hoovering which made them very universal. At the time of delivery the H-37 was the larger hellicpter in the western world. Steve Barusso 101st Airbourne div.

My commanding officer Major Fredrick Dawson, 90th Transportation Company, 8th Bn. set many records in these H-37, among them was the amount of fully equipped troops(48) plus extras and lifting off highest mountain heaviest load(another H-37). I served as his company clerk for two and a half years at Illeshiem Army Airfield, Illeshiem, Germany. June 1962 thru December 1964. Walter Kern (Zych)

My father was a CH-37 pilot at Illsheim, Germany from 1962-1964. CW3 Clarence (Cal) Gatewood. I remember the airfiled and base. Does anyone know my father? He passedaway in 2005. Donald Gatewood, Virginia Beach.