Dates

Event

Constructed as a HH-3F.

Circa 1970

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Coast Guard with s/n 1480.

Transferred to CGAS Traverse City, MI.

From October 1975 to October 1977

Transferred to CGAS Cape Cod, MA.

14 December 1978

Damaged.
Emergency landing in the Gulf of Mexico due to a generator fire. Safely landed and evacuated. She later rolled over due to sea state. ARSC repaired the aircraft.

By October 1980

Transferred to CGAS Sitka, AK.

4 October 1980

Aircraft was engaged in the rescue of personnel from the M/V PRINSENDAM which was afire and disabled in the Gulf of Alaska 160 miles northwest of Sitka. Commander Gary Thomas Morgan flew the helicopter, with extra firefighting equipment on board to the scene despite darkness, rain showers, and strong turbulent winds. Reaching the burning ship, Commander Morgan positioned the helicopter over the small stern area of the heavily pitching and rolling PRINSENDAM as desperately needed firefighting equipment and the Air Station Damage Control Officer were lowered. Commander Morgan then maneuvered the helicopter about the ship while the Co-Pilot illuminated for the Damage Control Officer as he attempted to find his way through debris, around a dangerously hanging lifeboat, past the burning lounge area and to the bridge where he conferred with the Captain as to the extent of the damage. After the helicopter was refueled in Yakutat it was flown back to the scene. The T/V WILLIAMSBURG had arrived and was attempting to retrieve the survivors. Due to the tankers high sides and the widely scattered life boats, the retrieval of survivors was extremely difficult. Despite the fatigue of the aircrew, Commander Morgan directed hoist operations and the transfer of survivors to WILLIAMSBURG. Commander Morgan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his innovative actions, expert aeronautical skill and valor throughout this mission aided in the successful rescue of 58 persons. His courage, sound judgment and unwavering devotion to duty.

25 December 1980

Was first aircraft on scene during a rescue mission for the grounding of the 730 ft ore carrier M/V Lee Wang Zin, 50 miles south of Ketchican, AK. All 33 crew members were lost.

By August 1986

Transferred to CGAS San Francisco, CA.

By April 1991

Transferred to CGAS Clearwater, FL.

By 1992

Transferred to CGAS San Francisco, CA.

1992

Enroute to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ aircraft had a failed torque meter filter bowl and force to land near Ft. Bragg, CA on Mendocino Shore. Due to remote location repairs were not feasible so aircraft was disassembled and trucked out.

29 March 1993

Transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) with inventory number 440032.

June 2006

On behalf of the owner stored with/at Kenosha Military Museum, Pleasant Prairie, Milwaukee, WI.
View the Location Dossier

5 July 2006

Photographer: John Bennett
Notes: Taken at Kenosha Military Museum, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

By October 2007

To Russell Military Museum, Russell, IL.
View the Location Dossier

16 August 2008

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

After August 2008

Russell didnt like the USCG colors, so they painted it to resemble USAF Jolly Green Giant.

2009

To Rescue Logistics, Inc.

Rescue Logistics has the aircraft in non-flying condition for movie productions. Appeared OD green with orange trim in *The Thing* (2011) and completely reworked to appear as MH-3 in *Pacific Rim* aka *Still Seas* (2013).