okikuma
Member
Operation Ivory Soap was a Top Secret program during WW2 to convert 6 Liberty Ships as floating Aircraft Repair Units, and 18 smaller ships as floating Aircraft Maintenance Units, mainly in support of B-29s on their Island Bases in the Pacific Theater of Operation. As with many new ideas in the Military, the mission often expands and takes on a new role, not originally intended.
The newest piece of technology and equipment that was loaded on the ships were Sikorsky R-4B Helicopters. The original role for these helicopters was to ferry aircraft parts to and from the ships and the airfields. The mission soon expanded into Combat Medivac of wounded soldiers during combat operations with the Japanese out in the "Bundoks" (a Tagalog word for "mountains") on the Island of Luzon, Philippines. For years, the official DoD statement was that no US Military helicopters were operated in combat, "while under fire" until the Korean War. As you will read, that statement is not factual.
Sit back and read the following accounts of Operation Ivory Soap.
Wayne
mobilebaymag.com
www.smithsonianmag.com
The newest piece of technology and equipment that was loaded on the ships were Sikorsky R-4B Helicopters. The original role for these helicopters was to ferry aircraft parts to and from the ships and the airfields. The mission soon expanded into Combat Medivac of wounded soldiers during combat operations with the Japanese out in the "Bundoks" (a Tagalog word for "mountains") on the Island of Luzon, Philippines. For years, the official DoD statement was that no US Military helicopters were operated in combat, "while under fire" until the Korean War. As you will read, that statement is not factual.
Sit back and read the following accounts of Operation Ivory Soap.
Wayne
Top Secret Project Ivory Soap -- Aircraft Repair Ships
Army Transportation Service aircraft repair program
www.usmm.org
Operation Ivory Soap
Learn about the secret World War II operation based at the Grand Hotel and the many aircraft — and lives — it saved in the Pacific.
mobilebaymag.com
Medevac From Luzon
A small band of helicopter pilots risked their lives to rescue wounded soldiers during World War II.
www.smithsonianmag.com
