The Sikorsky R-4 saw limited action during the war, but for a few soldiers, its missions were of critical importance--it gets credit for the first helicopter rescue by U.S. Army Air Forces. At left in the back row here is Lt. Carter Harmon, the pilot for the combat rescue effort, which took place in April 1944 in the Burmese highlands. The minimal power of the R-4 engine meant that only one person could be evacuated at a time (three were airlifted in that first rescue).
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