Artifact of the Month
13th Transportation Helicopter Company Pocket Patch.
H-19 Chickasaw helicopter.
Two soldiers next to H-19 Chickasaw helicopter.
Two soldiers next to H-19 Chickasaw helicopter.
Two Army units flying the new H-19 Chickasaw helicopter went to Korea during the Korean War. The 6th Helicopter Company arrived in November 1952 and the 13th arrived in May 1953. The two companies joined together to form the 1st Transportation Army Aviation Battalion (Provisional). Separately and together they would participate in several missions providing support for the 3rd and 25th Infantry Divisions. They also participated in Operations Big and Little Switch when, by flying 1173 flights, they helped with the release of 6300 prisoners of war. The 13th Transportation helicopter Company, known as “the Lucky 13th”, used the proverbial unlucky black cat superimposed on the lucky four leaf clover as their unofficial unit symbol.