HUP (Total: 3, Canadian: 3, Group 0)
Piasecki HUP
(Comox Air Force Museum Photo) (Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
HMCS Assiniboine (DDH 234) (II), with a Piasecki HUP-3 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 51-16622) on the rear deck, Aug 1963.
HMCS Assiniboine (DDH 234) (II), with a Piasecki HUP-3 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 51-16622) on the rear deck, Aug 1963.
The Piasecki HUP Retriever/H-25 Army Mule is a compact single radial engine, twin overlapping tandem rotor utility helicopter developed by the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation of Morton, Pennsylvania. Designed to a United States Navy specification, the helicopter was produced from 1949 to 1954, and was also used by the United States Army and foreign navies. The HUP/H-25 was the first helicopter to perform a loop and to be produced with an autopilot.
RCN use - In 1954, the Royal Canadian Navy received 3 former US Army H-25A aircraft, which were modified and redesignated on delivery to conform to US Navy HUP-3 standards. The aircraft were used aboard HMCS Labrador for SAR and varied utility duties, and were later used to support construction at Distant Early Warning Line radar sites. The helicopters were subsequently posted to NAF Patricia Bay and naval air station HMCS Shearwater. Wikipedia
HUP 3 Helicopter
Wikipedia HUP 3 Helicopter 
Harold A Skaarup Web Page HUP 5116621, HUP-3/H-25A Army Mul
s/n 5116621
as/n 945/245/405/921/621
m/d PD-18
51 16621
Ex USAF H-25, kept US serial number in RCN service. Arrived at RCNAS Shearwater, in US Army markings, on 18 May 1954. To VH 21 at Shearwater in 1954, coded "945". Renumbered as "245" in 1955. Still numbered "245" when transferred to VU 33 at NAF Patricia Bay, BC in 1958. Transferred by rail, arrived 10 July 1958. Later marked "405", "921" and "621" while on west coast. By 1980 was at BCIT, a technical school at Vancouver International Airport, wearing fake registration C-BVSD. Donated to Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation, Vancouver, BC in 1982. Sold by this museum in November 2000 to Classic Rotors Museum in California, registered N7089F.
Note: The aircraft on display at the Museum in Shearwater marked with this serial is an ex-US Army aircraft, serial unknown.
From s/n 405: VU 33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 921: VU 33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 621: Renumbered from 945 when transferred to VU33 on west coast.
last update: 2025-February-05
1954-May-11 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1964-January-18 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 597
Note: The aircraft on display at the Museum in Shearwater marked with this serial is an ex-US Army aircraft, serial unknown.
From s/n 405: VU 33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 921: VU 33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 621: Renumbered from 945 when transferred to VU33 on west coast.
last update: 2025-February-05
1964-January-18 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
HUP 5116622, HUP-3/H-25A Army Mule
s/n 5116622
as/n 946/406/922/622
m/d PD-18
51 16622
Ex USAF H-25, kept US serial number in RCN service. Arrived at RCNAS Shearwater, in US Army markings, on 18 May 1954. To VH 21 at Shearwater in 1954, coded "946". Renumbered "246" in 1955. Carried to the Arctic in August 1957 onboard USCG USS Eastwind, to replace 51-16623 after it went u/s near Frobisher Bay, transferring to HMCS Labrador on 5 August. Flown off to Shearwater on 11 October 1957. Still numbered "246" when transferred to VU 33 at NAF Patricia Bay, BC , arriving on 21 March 1960. Last of three HUPs assigned to this unit. Later marked "406", "922" and "622" while on west coast. First helicopter to land on HMCS Assiniboine, on 13 August 1963. Later sold into US, registered as N6699D. Used as an instructional airframe, before being purchased and restored by Boeing, and donated to the International Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare, UK. On display there in RCN markings.
From s/n 946: Ex US Army 51-16622. To VH 21 1954.
From s/n 406: VU 33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 922: VU33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 622: Renumbered from 946 when transferred to VU33 on west coast.
From s/n 246: Renumbered in 1955 from 946. Onboard HMCS Labrador for part of 1957 Arctic cruise.
last update: 2025-February-05
1954-May-11 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1963-December-04 Struck off Strength Struck off, to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation for sale. 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 597
From s/n 946: Ex US Army 51-16622. To VH 21 1954.
From s/n 406: VU 33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 922: VU33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 622: Renumbered from 946 when transferred to VU33 on west coast.
From s/n 246: Renumbered in 1955 from 946. Onboard HMCS Labrador for part of 1957 Arctic cruise.
last update: 2025-February-05
1963-December-04 Struck off Strength Struck off, to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation for sale. 2019-08-20
HUP 5116623, HUP-3/H-25A Army Mule
s/n 5116623
as/n 947/247/923/407/623
m/d PD-18
51 16623
Ex USAF H-25, kept US serial number in RCN service. Completed on 14 May 1954. Arrived at RCNAS Shearwater, in US Army markings, on 18 May 1954. To VH 21 at Shearwater on 8 June 1954, coded "947". Transported injured light house keeper from St. Paul Island in October 1954. Transferred pregant woman from Grand Manan to Saint John on 10 November 1954. Took part in search for missing Avenger 69303 in April 1955. Renumbered "247" in June 1955. With HU-21 Detachment (Det) 2 onboard HMCS Labrador for Arctic cruise, 28 May to 21 November 1955. Left Halifax on 1 June 1955, to support DEW Line construction in Hudson Bay and Foxe Basin. To Summerside, PEI with HU 21 Detachment 3, 11 December 1955 to March 1956, for local SAR coverage and training with VS 880. Returned briefly to Shearwater several times during this detachment. Back to Detachment 2 in January 1957, for work up on HMCS Labrador off Bermuda. Remained on board for survey work in Gulf of St. Lawerence, February to March 1957. Still onboard for European cruise in March and April 1957. Back on HMCS Labrador by 21 June 1957 for next Arctic mission. Rescued crews of HTLs 202 and 205 in July, following their crash on Peter Point. Flown off to Shearwater on 11 October 1957. To Boeing Canada at Arnprior for major overhaul, 28 April to 5 November 1958. Renumbered "923" when transferred to VU 33 at NAF Patricia Bay, BC in November 1958. Shipped to west coast via rail. Later marked "407" and "623" while still on west coast. Was coded "623" when it took part in Victoria Day fly past at victoria, BC on 19 and 21 May 1961. Last RCN fllight on 28 February 1964, at Patricia Bay. Marked "623" when withdrawn from use. Purchased from Crown Assets by Canadian War Museum on 24 February 1965. Restored by Boeing Canada at Arnprior May 1981 to November 1982. Now on display at Rockcliffe.
From s/n 947: Ex US Army 51-16623. To VH 21 1954. With HU-21 Detachment (Det) 2 onboard HMCS Labrador for Arctic cruise of 1955. Renumbered 247 in June 1955.
From s/n 247: Renumbered in 1955 from 947.
From s/n 923: VU33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 407: VU 33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 623: Renumbered from 947 when transferred to VU33 on west coast.
last update: 2025-February-05
1954-May-11 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1964-January-18 Struck off Strength Struck off, to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation for sale. 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 597
From s/n 947: Ex US Army 51-16623. To VH 21 1954. With HU-21 Detachment (Det) 2 onboard HMCS Labrador for Arctic cruise of 1955. Renumbered 247 in June 1955.
From s/n 247: Renumbered in 1955 from 947.
From s/n 923: VU33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 407: VU 33, NAF Patricia Bay, BC.
From s/n 623: Renumbered from 947 when transferred to VU33 on west coast.
last update: 2025-February-05
1964-January-18 Struck off Strength Struck off, to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation for sale. 2019-08-20