The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw was an American military utility helicopter belonging to the S-55 family. It provided a larger transport cabin than earlier Sikorsky helicopters and became an important rescue and evacuation aircraft during the Korean War.[1]Sikorsky S-55Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives · sikorskyarchives.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]Sikorsky UH-19B ChickasawNational Museum of the United States Air Force · nationalmuseum.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
A new cabin arrangement
Sikorsky placed the piston engine below and ahead of the cockpit, leaving the main cabin beneath the rotor. This arrangement, combined with offset rotor hinges, allowed a wider range of loading positions. Passengers and cargo could occupy a useful central compartment without the same restrictions imposed by earlier layouts. The first aircraft flew on 10 November 1949.[1]Sikorsky S-55Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives · sikorskyarchives.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Military versions
The United States Air Force ordered evaluation aircraft before acquiring production H-19As and more powerful H-19Bs. Other American services operated related S-55 versions under their own designations. In 1962 the Air Force’s utility designation became UH-19, while rescue machines ultimately received the HH-19 prefix. These naming changes can make records of the same aircraft family appear to describe separate types.[1]Sikorsky S-55Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives · sikorskyarchives.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]Sikorsky UH-19B ChickasawNational Museum of the United States Air Force · nationalmuseum.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Rescue operations
Air Force rescue H-19s carried a hoist above the cabin door, enabling recovery without landing. An external sling also supported cargo loads. During the Korean War the type became the service’s principal rescue and medical-evacuation helicopter, supplementing smaller machines with greater cabin capacity. Its rescue role was therefore closely connected to the transport layout of the original design.[2]Sikorsky UH-19B ChickasawNational Museum of the United States Air Force · nationalmuseum.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Overseas production and long flights
The S-55 design was licensed to manufacturers including Westland in Britain, SNCASE in France and Mitsubishi in Japan. Westland developed it as the Whirlwind. In 1952 two Air Force H-19s crossed the Atlantic in stages from Massachusetts to Scotland, demonstrating a deployment capability very different from their usual short-range rescue work.[1]Sikorsky S-55Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives · sikorskyarchives.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]Sikorsky UH-19B ChickasawNational Museum of the United States Air Force · nationalmuseum.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details