Tag Archives: skycrane

Vietnam era SkyCrane recovers WW2 era Flying Boat

Alaska Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

In Gregorian year 1987, an Alaskan Army National Guard Sikorsky CH-54B Tahre (aka Skycrane) was used to recover a World War Two era (built in 1943) OA-10 PBY Catalina, which had been abandoned on Dago Lake in 1947, and sold as scrap for a whopping $58!

AANG photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

The Canadian Vickers built Catalina was abandoned due to engine problems. While rotting near Dago Lake it got the nickname Queen of Dago Lake, while Dago Lake got the nickname PBY Lake.  In the 1980s, the members of the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum decided to fund a recovery operation with the help of the Army National Guard. The original hope was to restore the flying boat to operational condition.

Sling load gear was flown-in by UH-1 Iroquois (Huey). AANG photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

Two moves by helicopter were made in 1984 and 1987.

AANG photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

The first try failed after a strap broke, forcing the Catalina to be abandoned again, this time on Lake Clark Pass.

AANG photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

The photos in this article are from the 1987 move.

Crane operator viewpoint, note the stabilizing drogue chute streaming from the tail of the Catalina. AANG photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

Skycrane named Penelope flies off with the OA-10. AANG photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

AANG photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

Flying high! AANG photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

Penelope delivers the goods. AANG photo by Sergeant Kevin L. Bishop.

Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum video from 2020, revealing that the Catalina is still languishing. About seven minutes into the video you can see it is actually being used as an awning for benches for tourists:

Click here to listen to Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum audio narrative of the sage of Queen of Dago Lake.

Read more about Queen of Dago Lake: PBY Recovery

How a World War II seaplane earned the title ‘Queen of Dago Lake’

East Idaho Wildfires, 2012: MAINTENANCE DAY FOR SKYCRANE FIRE FIGHTER @ POCATELLO AIRPORT

Vehicle I-D:

USAF photo.

SIKORSKY DRAGONFLY

August 2020: AFTER 75 YEARS THE WAR IS STILL OVER!

East Idaho Wildfires 2012: Maintenance day for Skycrane fire fighter @ Pocatello Airport

Photos by AAron B. Hutchins. Pics get bigger when you click on them:

EAST IDAHO WILDFIRES 2012: CURRENT FIRES FOR 12 JULY

BUSY 30 MINUTES AT POCATELLO AIRPORT, AS FIRE FIGHTING AIRCRAFT FLY INTO ACTION

SIKORSKY SKYCRANE LEAVES POCATELLO AIRPORT FOR COX’S WELL FIRE

East Idaho Wildfire 2012: Busy 30 minutes at Pocatello Airport, as fire fighting aircraft fly into action

The following pics (which you can make bigger by clicking on them) were taken by AAron B. Hutchins, within a thirty minutes period, at the Pocatello Regional Airport (USFS Air Tanker Base), on 12JUL2012, between 11:30 hours and 12:00 hours.

Remember, these pics were taken within a 30 minute period.

EAST IDAHO WILDFIRES 2012: MORE NEW FIRES ON 11 JULY, FIRE NEAR NUKE REACTOR, CRATERS OF THE MOON

Crews preping S-64 Skycrane to join in battle against Cox’s Well Fire. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, 10JUL2012.

SIKORSKY SKYCRANE LEAVES POCATELLO AIRPORT FOR COX’S WELL FIRE

East Idaho Wildfires 2012: More new fires on 11 July, fire near nuke reactor, Craters of the Moon

11 July 2012, yesterday’s Cox’s Well Fire, near Springfield (east of Craters of the Moon National Monument), is supposedly 100% contained, although the EIIFC website is still showing 70% containment. Lightning is blamed.

But now several other fires have sprung up, because of lightning. Reports said there was a fire southwest of Atomic City, and a fire near the EBR-1 nuclear reactor.

EBR-1, ancient nuclear reactor in the middle of nowhere eastern Idaho. Near Midway Fire, which started on 10 July.

New fires reported on 11 July, by the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center (EIIFC), are;

Old Grade Fire: Near Arco, they expect to have it controlled by 20:00 hours.

Butte City #2 Fire: 186 acres, no estimate on containment.

Cedar Butte WSA Fire: 1,200 acres, no estimate on containment.

Knox Canyon Fire: 600 acres, no further info.

Smoke from Knox Canyon Fire. Pic taken about 8 miles south of Arimo, on the north side of the Malad Pass, facing west.

Rooster Rock Fire: Southwest of Pocatello, 2,500 acres, extra fire fighting help has been called in.

Power County Assist #2 Fire: Power County Fire Department on scene.

Massacre Fire: Southwest of American Falls, 475 acres, 3 buildings destroyed, now contained.

Air Tractor fire fighter takes off from Pocatello Airport, as Skycrane undergoes maintenance after a busy day, 11 July 2012.

There are still fires burning from days ago;

Midway Fire: Southeast of Experimental Breeder Reactor-1 (EBR-1). 5,000 acres, no estimation on containment.  Began 10 July.

Box Canyon Fire: 380 acres, 50% containment, northwest of EBR-1. Started 09 July.

 

 

 

East Idaho Wildfires 2012: Sikorsky Skycrane leaves Pocatello Airport for Cox’s Well Fire

Click on pics (by AAron B. Hutchins) to make them bigger: