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The US Army Air Forces 6th Aircraft Repair Unit, Floating, based on the US Army aircraft repair ship USS Brig. Gen. Alfred J. Lyon, utilized Sikorsky R-4 and R-6 helicopters during the end of World War II. The 6th ARU(F) was one of six ARU(F) helicopter units which operated in the Pacific Theatre under the code name "Ivory Soap." The 6th ARU(F) was based in the Philippines circa early 1945, with the USS Brig. Gen. Alfred J. Lyon docked at Yokohama, Japan, later that year, following the Japanese surrender.

 Identifier

NASM.2000.0053

Date

1941-1945

Provenance

William E. Blockley, Transfer, 2000, 2000-0053, NASM

Extent

0.1 Cubic feet ((2 folders))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of forty-three 8 x 10 inch black and white copy photographs, predominantly of 6th ARU(F) personnel, facilities (including the ship) and aircraft in the Philippines and Japan from 1945 through very early 1946; notable is a view of the 6th ARU(F) Sikorsky R-6 Quick Match with personal art. Also included are close-up views of nose art on several aircraft from other USAAF units, including Consolidated B-24 Liberators Joy Rider, Glamouras', Tarfu, Long Island Belle and Umbriago; Consolidated F-7 Photo Fanny; Lockheed P-38 Well, Bust Ma' Britches!; and an unnamed Northop P-61 Black Widow. Several images are of 7th Air Service Area Command (7th ASAC) facilites at Haneda Air Base, Japan. Three images show captured Japanese aircraft (a Kawanishi H6K5 Mavis, an Aichi E16A1 Paul, and a Mitsubishi G4M3 Betty) awaiting preparation for shipment by the 7the ASAC. Accompanying textual material includes photocopies of documents, including a short history of the formation of the U. S. Army Air Forces Helicopter School (1944-1945) with a personnel list, an accident survey report regarding the loss of Sikorsky R-4B s/n 43-46584, a vessel status card for the USS Brig. Gen. Alfred J. Lyon, and several circa 1990s newspaper clippings relating to the history of the 5th ARU(F) based onboard the USS Brig. Gen. Clinton W. Russell. Also included are photocopies of the photographs with added notes from 6th ARU(F) veterans.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Topics

Sikorsky (USA) R-4 (H-4) Family

Sikorsky (USA) R-6 (H-6) Family

Airplanes, Military -- Decoration

North American B-25 Mitchell Family

Aeronautics

Aeronautics, Military

World War, 1939-1945

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Publications

Photographs