USS Iowa’s Sikorsky Helicopter
USS Iowa’s Sikorsky Helicopter Iowa’s Sikorsky Horse helicopter served on board from July 1952 during the Korean War. See below. The helicopter was nicknamed “Lady Luck” and was used to go behind enemy lines to rescue a downed USN aviator.
One Sikorsky Horse was assigned to each of the Iowa class battleships.
Note the helicopter rotors folded in their storage position and also IOWA painted on the fuselage below the UP designation.
The Piasecki HUP helicopters, (one of which is currently on Iowa’s stern), as a result were normally assigned to aircraft carriers and were used for plane guard duty and VIP taxi assignments.
The era of floatplanes launching from ships ended in 1949.
Note the Carley Float life rafts in the foreground, helicopter further aft, and the WWII crane still on board along with 40mm gun mounts.
“Lady Luck” is being pulled out to perhaps her take-off position on the fantail.
USS Iowa’s Sikorsky Helicopter by USS Iowa Curator David Way
In conclusion, USS Iowa (BB-61) is a retired battleship, the lead ship of her class, and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named after the state of Iowa. Owing to the cancellation of the Montana-class battleships, Iowa is the last lead ship of any class of United States battleships and was the only ship of her class to serve in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. Lastly, in 2011 Iowa was donated to the Los Angeles -based non-profit Pacific Battleship Center and was permanently moved to Berth 87 at the Port of Los Angeles in 2012, where she was opened to the public as the USS Iowa Museum . Moreover, ordered in July 1939, USS Iowa was laid down at New York Naval Shipyard in June 1940.
