Today in WW II: 9 Jul 1940 Battle of Calabria [Battle of Punta Stilo, the toe of Italy] fought between the Italian Royal Navy and the British/Australian Royal Navies, 30 miles [48km] east of Punta Stilo.  More ↓
9 Jul 1943 US-British invasion of Sicily begins [night of 9-10 Jul].
9 Jul 1944 British and Canadian forces capture Caen from the Germans, a critical post-D-Day objective in Normandy, France.
9 Jul 1944 US forces reach the northern end of Saipan, finding thousands of Japanese civilian men, women, and children who commit suicide by leaping off the cliffs rather than be captured.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave

The CH-37 Series Mojave medium cargo helicopter was initially procured in 1956 from Sikorsky (Model S-56) The CH-37A or CH-37B, with a crew of three, was a large medium lift transport helicopter with clam shell doors in the nose that provided access to a cargo compartment. The cargo hold could accommodate two jeeps, a light truck, or a 105mm howitzer (see photo loading M37 truck below). When configured for personnel, the Mojave could carry 26 troops or 24 litters in the MedEvac role.

The CH-37 had a single five-bladed main rotor and a metal four-bladed tail rotor. The CH-37A was powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-50 1900 hp pistons engines while the CH-37B was powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-54 2100 hp piston engines.

The Mojave was used by Army and Marine Corps in Korea and Vietnam for aircraft recovery, cargo, and artillery transport as well as MedEvac. The CH-37 was replaced by the CH-47 Chinook.

Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave Specifications and Performance

Rotor diameter 72 ft. 1 in.
Length 88 ft.
Height 22 ft.
Weight 21,000 max.
Armament None
Engine Varies by model
Maximum speed 131 mph
Range 247 mi.
Service ceiling 8,000 ft,

Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave loading an M-37 3/4 ton cargo truck
Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave loading an M-37 3/4 ton cargo truck.

Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave attempting to lift a downed CH-21 Shawnee from a rice paddy
Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave attempting to lift a downed CH-21 Shawnee from a rice paddy.

Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave helicopter
Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave helicopter.