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H-21 (Canadian: 20 )

Vertol HUP H-21 H-21A H-21B H-44A CH-127 H-42A

(Jerry Gunner Photo)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Piasecki Vertol H-21 Shawnee (Serial No. 56-2142).

The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee is an American helicopter, the fourth of a line of tandem rotor helicopters designed and built by Piasecki Helicopter (later Boeing Vertol). Commonly called "the flying banana", it was a multi-mission helicopter, utilizing wheels, skis, or floats.

The H-21 was originally developed by Piasecki as an Arctic rescue helicopter. The H-21 had winterization features permitting operation at temperatures as low as −65 °F (−54 °C), and could be routinely maintained in severe cold weather environments Wikipedia

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YouTube Piasecki Vertol Helicopter

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Piasecki Vertol Helicopter

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

General Helis Web Page

last update: 2021-10-30 20:54:27

H‑21 9591

s/n
 9591
m/d
 Model 44
c/n
 601

Known Squadron Assignments:

USAF serial 60-5445 reported by Baugher, not confirmed. With No. 103 (S&R) Unit on east coast in early 1960s. Slung out 9611 after a crash, date unknown. Both aircraft in red and blue finish by then. Re-designated CH-127 after Integration, February 1968. Category A crash at CFB Chatham, NB on 25 May 1968, while with the CFB Chatham Base Rescue Flight.
last update: 2024-July-20
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1960-March-24 Taken on Strength 2020-07-16
   1968-July-26 Struck off Strength 2020-07-16
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 2005 123

H‑21 9592

s/n
 9592
m/d
 Model 44
c/n
 602
c/r
 CF‑BXP

Known Squadron Assignments:

USAF serial 60-5446 reported by Baugher, not confirmed. With No. 103 (S&R) Unit on east coast in early 1960s. Lifted wreckage of Fleet 50 CF-BXP at Sandgirt Lake, Labrador in 1964, for National Aeronautical Collection. Re-designated as CH-127 after Integration. With CFB Chatham Base Rescue Flight. To CFD Mountain View, Ontario for storage on 22 November 1971. To civil register as CF-BSG. Under restoration at Greenwood Military Aviation Museum in 2014.
last update: 2024-July-20
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1960-March-24 Taken on Strength 2020-07-16
   1972-July-31 Struck off Strength SOS date changed from 12 Jan/72 to 31 Jul/72 per Griffin1968, confirmed by "H-44A - CH-127 - Kaehler List 01 Mar 2019" in CASPR. 2020-10-02
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 2005 123

H‑21 9594

s/n
 9594
m/d
 Model 44
c/n
 439
c/r
 CF‑JJV

Known Squadron Assignments:

USAF serial 60-5448 reported by Baugher, but seems unlikely given acceptance date. Never operated by RCAF. To civil register as CF-JJV on 21 April 1958, loaned to Dominion Helicopters for use on Mid-Canada Line construction. Returned to RCAF on 15 September 1965, then brought up to 44B standards on 17 September 1965. Stored as reserve for Rescue Flight helicopters. Re-designated CH-127 after Integration. In storage at CFD Mountain View, Ontario by 1969.
last update: 2024-July-20
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1958-March-05 Taken on Strength TOS date 31 Mar/58 shown in "H-44A - CH-127 - Kaehler List - 01 Mar/2019" in CASPR; marginal difference in dates, so deferring to Griffin2005 date 05 Mar/58; confirmed in History card. 2020-10-22
   1971-March-04 Struck off Strength 2020-07-16
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 359 | 1968 631 | 2005 123

H‑21 9595

s/n
 9595
m/d
 Model 44
c/n
 459
c/r
 CF‑JJW

Known Squadron Assignments:

USAF serial 60-5449 reported by Baugher, but seems unlikely given acceptance date. Never operated by RCAF. To civil register as CF-JJW on 21 April 1958, loaned to Dominion Helicopters for use on Mid-Canada Line construction. Returned to RCAF on 15 September 1965, then brought up to 44B standards on 17 September 1965. Stored as reserve for Rescue Flight helicopters. Re-designated CH-127 after Integration. In storage at CFD Mountain View, Ontario by 1969.
last update: 2024-July-20
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1958-March-05 Taken on Strength TOS 05 Mar 1958 per History Card. 2020-10-22
   1971-March-04 Struck off Strength 2020-07-16
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 359 | 1968 631 | 2005 123

H‑21 9596

s/n
 9596
m/d
 Model 44
c/n
 460
c/r
 CF‑JJX

Known Squadron Assignments:

Never operated by RCAF. To civil register as CF-JJX on 21 April 1958, loaned to Dominion Helicopters for use on Mid-Canada Line construction. Operating in Great Whale River area in 1964. Returned to RCAF on 15 September 1965, then brought up to 44B standards on 17 September 1965. Stored as reserve for Rescue Flight helicopters. Re-designated CH-127 after Integration. In storage at CFD Mountain View, Ontario by 1969.
last update: 2024-July-20
   1958-March-05 Taken on Strength TOS 05 Mar 1958 per Griffin2005 Numerical Registry. 2020-10-22
   1971-March-04 Struck off Strength 2020-07-16
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 359 | 1968 631 | 2005 123

H‑21 9610

s/n
 9610
m/d
 Model 42

Known Squadron Assignments:

Ferried to Piasecki's Canadian facility at Arnprior, Ontario on 27 August 1954, by joint RCAF / Piasecki crew that included Frank Piasecki. With No. 108 (CR) Com Flight at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec from fall of 1954, for pilot training before H-21B arrived at this Unit. Detached to Whitehorse to support DEW Line construction in May 1955. With No. 121 (CR) Flight at Sea Island in 1960s. Later at RCAF Station Greenwood. Forced landing off base while at Greenwood, slung out under 9591, on 28 June 1961. Pending disposal from 25 February 1966.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1954-September-03 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1966-October-07 Struck off Strength Struck of, to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360

H‑21 9611

s/n
 9611
m/d
 Model 42
c/r
 CF‑HCL

Known Squadron Assignments:

USAF serial 52-8488 issued for this helicopter, no record it was ever marked. With No. 108 (CR) Com Flight at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec from fall of 1954, for pilot training before H-21B arrived at this Unit. Arrived at RCAF Bagotville on 2 September 1954. Slung out wreck of Cessna 180 CF-HCL, 55 miles southwest of Chibougamau, Quebec spring of 1955. In natural metal finish at that time. With No. 121 (K) Unit at Sea Island by 1957, coded "QT*611". Rescued 22 seaman from SS Glafkos off Vancouver Island, 3 January 1962, flown by Flight Lieutenant Dan Campbell. Rescued survivor of USAF F-89 crash near Penticton, BC on 5 January 1962. Still based at RCAF Station Vancouver in 1963. Still with this unit when it moved to RCAF Station Comox, BC. Based at RCAF Winnipeg, dates not known. Pending disposal from 15 June 1967.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1954-October-15 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1967-August-21 Struck off Strength Struck of, to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360

H‑21 9612

s/n
 9612
m/d
 Model 42

Known Squadron Assignments:

With No. 108 (CR) Com Flight at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec from fall of 1954, for pilot training before H-21B arrived at this Unit. Crashed while practicing autorotations at Ste. Honore, Quebec on 1 May 1955, destroyed by post impact fire. No injuries. First H-21 lost in RCAF service.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1954-September-08 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1955-May-09 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360

H‑21 9613

s/n
 9613
m/d
 Model 42

Known Squadron Assignments: ;121

With No. 108 (CR) Com Flight at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec from fall of 1954, for pilot training before H-21B arrived at this Unit. To No. 121 (Composite) Flight at RCAF Station Sea Island, BC in December 1955. Crashed in BC interior on 21 April 1956, killing 2 RCAF crew and a Vertol tech rep.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1954-October-15 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1956-May-17 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
1955-April-21 KIFA RCAF Corporal Eric Joseph Ericson 2021-02-06
1955-April-21 KIFA RCAF Flying Officer Donald Edward West 2023-11-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360

H‑21 9614

s/n
 9614
m/d
 Model 42

Known Squadron Assignments: 103;121;

Delivered from Arnprior, Ontario to No. 103 Rescue Unit at RCAF Station Greenwood, NS on 13 January 1955. First H-21 to this unit. Seen at Trenton in 1959 still in 103 RU markings, coded "QZ*614". Based at RCAF Station Vancouver in 1963, with No. 121 (K) Unit. Dispatched to Inuvik, NWT on 19 June 1963 to assist in flood operations. Rescued survivors of a Husky crash in the Coquhalla Pass, BC on 15 May 1964. Still with this unit when it moved to RCAF Station Comox, BC. Pending disposal from 15 June 1967.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1954-September-08 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1967-August-21 Struck off Strength to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation 2022-03-28
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360

H‑21 9615

s/n
 9615
m/d
 Model 42

Known Squadron Assignments:

Delivered new to No. 108 (Comm) Flight at Bagotville in fall of 1954. Carried various VIPs at IATA conference in Quebec City in November 1954. Operating on floats by 2 May 1955. Operating from Trenton by No. 102 (C&R) Flight in September 1956, when it was loaned to No. 108 Flight for construction work in the north. Crashed on 6 March 1957 while with this unit.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1954-October-08 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1957-March-15 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360

H‑21 9636

s/n
 9636
m/d
 Model 42
c/n
 90
c/r
 CF‑JJY

Known Squadron Assignments: 108;440;

With No. 108 (Com) Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario by April 1956. Still with this Flight when it suffered engine failure in Arctic on 19 July 1957. Heavily damaged, transported out and rebuilt. To civil register as CF-JJY when loaned to Dominion Helicopters for radar base construction in northern Canada. Carried this registration when based at Knob Lake, Quebec in 1963. Back to RCAF on 2 September 1965. To Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, no change in serial number. With No. 440 (C&R) Squadron at CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba summer of 1969. Still with this Squadron when it moved to CFB Namao, Alberta. Withdrawn from use in June 1972, placed in storage. To civil registration as CF-IMZ when sold. Possible confusion about company number and/or civil registration. Company number 90, CF-IMZ, reported destroyed in a crash in 1964?
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1955-November-17 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1972-September-29 Struck off Strength Struck off, to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation for sale 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360 | 1968 631 | 2005 123 | 2005 208

H‑21 9637

s/n
 9637
m/d
 Model 42
c/r
 CF‑JJZ

Known Squadron Assignments:

Delivered to No. 108 (Com) Flight at Rockcliffe in December 1955. Still with this unit in March 1957, when it toured the Mid-Canada Line landing sites. To civil register as CF-JJZ when loaned to Dominion Helicopters for radar base construction in northern Canada. Crashed on landing and burned out at Site 321 in October 1957.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1955-November-17 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1957-November-14 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360 | 1968 631

H‑21 9638

s/n
 9638
m/d
 Model 42
c/n
 103
c/r
 CF‑JJT;CF‑GQT;C‑FGZM

Known Squadron Assignments: 108;440

Delivered to No. 108 (Comm) Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario November 1955. Used to support DEW Line construction in Arctic. To civil register as CF-JJT when lent to Dominion Helicopters for radar base construction in northern Canada. Carried this registration when based at Knob Lake, Quebec in 1963. Blew over at "Site 203" (near Hopedale, Quebec) in wind storm on 11 December 1963. Wind gusts of 90 knots recorded at Hopedale during this storm. Repaired on site and flown back to Knob Lake. To Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, no change in serial number. With No. 440 Squadron at CFB Namao after integration. To civil register as CF-GQT when sold. Exported to USA in 1976, retuned to Canada in 1990, registered as C-FGZM. Used by Sterling Lumber of Golden, BC for helilogging. Crashed in February 1991, reported stored shortly after that.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1955-November-17 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1972-September-29 Struck off Strength to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation for sale 2022-03-28
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360 | 1968 631 | 2005 123 | 2005 208 | 2005 223

H‑21 9639

s/n
 9639
m/d
 Model 42
c/n
 104
c/r
 CF‑GMO

Known Squadron Assignments: 108;424;

With No. 108 (Com) Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario by December 1955. Turned over on landing at Site 224 on 1 June 1956. Temporary repairs performed on site, ferried to Rockcliffe on 6 October 1956 for further repairs. Later towed over public roads to Arnprior for complete rebuild. To Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, no change in serial number. With No. 424 Squadron at CFB Chatham, NB after Integration. Seen at Hamilton Airport on 7 September 1969, in Canadian Forces markings. To civil register as CF-GMO when sold. Operated by Nahanni Helicopters. Sold to Transwest in 1972, repainted. Disappeared on flight between Nelson, BC and Watson Lake, Yukon on 1 June 1972. Note that this registration was re-used for an ex-US Army H-21 in 1973.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1955-November-17 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1956-June-27 Accident Category B 2022-03-28
   1972-September-29 Struck off Strength Struck off, to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation for sale 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360 | 1968 631 | 2005 123 | 2005 208

H‑21 9640

s/n
 9640
m/d
 Model 42
c/n
 117
c/r
 CF‑JJS

Known Squadron Assignments: 108;

With No. 108 (C0m) Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. Left Rockcliffe on 1 July 1956 for Churchill, Manitoba, equipped with long range tanks. Arrived at Churchill on 5 July 1956, spent summer in that area supporting radar station construction. Slung out crashed H-19 9626 from near Bird, Manitoba in mid July 1956. Damaged when it fell off jacks during routine maintenance at Rockcliffe in October 1957. Towed to Arnprior for repairs. To civil register as CF-JJS when lent to Dominion Helicopters for radar base construction in northern Canada. Carried this registration when based at Knob Lake, Quebec in 1963. To Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, no change in serial number. Based at CFB Bagotville, Quebec after Integration.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1955-November-17 Taken on Strength TOS date shown in "H-21 - CH-125 - Kaehler List 01 Mar/19" in CASPR; minor difference in date so deferred to Griffin2005 date 17 Nov/55; confirmed in Record Card. 2022-03-28
   1971-February-15 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360 | 1968 631 | 2005 123

H‑21 9641

s/n
 9641
m/d
 Model 42
c/n
 118
c/r
 CF‑JJQ; CF‑GQS

Known Squadron Assignments: 108;102;424

With No. 108 (Com) Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario when it was damaged in late October 1956, when ground worker threw rope into rotor blades. Suffered engine failure in Arctic on 14 December 1956. Minimal damage in resulting auto rotation, repaired on site and flown out. With No. 102 (K) Unit at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, dates not certain. To civil register as CF-JJQ, lent to Dominion Helicopters by November 1958. Also operated by Spartan Air Services during loan period. Back to RCAF on 2 September 1965. To Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, no change in serial number. With No. 424 Squadron at CFB Chatham, NB after Integration. At Maritime Aircraft Overhaul & Repair Aircraft in May 1973. On civil register as CF-GQS in 1976. (Aircraft with this serial stored at CFB Comox, BC in October 2005 is actually ex USAF H-21B, 53-4366, and was received in trade for a CF-104D (104645) from the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation.)
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1955-November-17 Taken on Strength TOS date shown in "H-21 - CH-125 - Kaehler List 01 Mar/19" in CASPR; minor difference in date so deferred to Griffin2005 date 17 Nov/55; confirmed in Record Card. 2022-03-28
   1956-December-21 Accident Category B 2022-03-28
   1973-May-03 Struck off Strength Struck off, to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation for sale 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360 | 1968 631 | 2005 123 | 2005 208

H‑21 9642

s/n
 9642
m/d
 Model 42
c/n
 123
c/r
 CF‑URE; CF‑JJP; CF‑GQR; N123HL

Known Squadron Assignments: 108;

With No. 108 (Com) Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. Working in area of Knob Lake, NWT in spring of 1957. Used to tow NRC glider CF-URE at Bagotville, Quebec in July 1959. To civil register as CF-JJP when lent to Spartan Air Services and later Dominion Helicopters for radar base construction in northern Canada. Arrived at Knob Lake with this registration in November 1957. Carried this registration when based at Knob Lake, Quebec in 1963. To Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, no change in serial number. Based at CFB Bagotville, Quebec after Integration. At Rockcliffe, in 1971, in Canadian Forces and Air Defence Command markings. To civil register as CF-GQR when sold. Later to US civil register as N123HL.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1956-May-30 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1973-May-03 Struck off Strength to Crown Assets Disposal Corporation for sale 2022-03-28
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360 | 1968 631 | 2005 123 | 2005 208

H‑21 9643

s/n
 9643
m/d
 Model 42
c/r
 CF‑JJU

Known Squadron Assignments: 108;

With No. 108 (Com) Flight at Rockcliffe when it was detached to Moosonee, Ontario on 23 April 1957, to support construction work in the area. Back to Rockcliffe in August 1957, for major inspection. Operating from Knob Lake, Quebec in June 1957. Detached to Sept Isle, Quebec in January 1957. Reached 1,000 flight hours on 28 February 1958. To civil register as CF-JJU when lent to Dominion Helicopters for radar base construction in northern Canada. Carried this registration when it was damaged in a forced landing in northern Quebec on 17 October 1963, as a result of blade fatigue. Aircraft broke in two on landing. Minor injuries to civilian crew, aircraft written off.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1956-May-30 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1965-April-26 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360 | 1968 631

H‑21 9644

s/n
 9644
m/d
 Model 42
c/n
 146
c/r
 CF‑JJO

Known Squadron Assignments:

With No. 108 (Com) Flight at Rockcliffe. Returned to Rockcliffe from detachment at Knob Lake, Quebec on 21 June 1957. Slung out crashed DOT Bell 47 from Gatineau River on 4 July 1957. To civil register as CF-JJO, handed over to Spartan Air Services at Knob Lake, Quebec on 6 November 1957. Crashed on 9 January 1958 while carrying civil registration, near Hopedale, Labrador. Lost control at 1,000 feet, landed upside down and partially burned. Crash resulted from failure of right hand lateral control cable. Wreckage was sold to Vertol Canada, as-is where-is, for $350.00. This civil registration was later used on a Vertol 42A of Skyrotors, apparently rebuilt using some parts from 9644 and other Vertol parts. Damaged at Fort Chimo, Quebec in 1975. Noted abandoned, partially disassembled, at Fort Chimo in 1978.
last update: 2024-September-22
RCAF Aircraft Record Card
   1956-May-30 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1958-December-30 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 360 | 1968 631

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