Back Kaman HOK-1, HUK-1, H-43A "Huskie"
1953

Kaman HOK-1, HUK-1, H-43A "Huskie"

After demonstrating the ability/ design of the K-225 to the US Navy and Coast Guard (the Navy bought two and the Coast Guard one) and the benefit of the synchropter design, Kaman was awarded a contract in 1950 to design a completely new helicopter for the Navy. Designated the HOK-1 the helicopter was to be designed to strict military requirements. The initial contract was to produce four test aircraft to fill the US Marine Corps requirement for an Observation Helicopter. The first flight took place on 21 April 1953 and production continued until 1958.

P.Allen "The Helicopter", 1996

Comments1-20 21-40
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nevgloskiusmc@msn.com, 09.02.2023reply

Does anyone have any information on the HOK from the USS Boxer that crashed into the Atlantic in late 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

S /F,
Ed

Burke, e-mail, 02.06.2023 nevgloskiusmc@msn.com

I was on the Boxer after the Cuban crisis and returning to Camp Lejeune. I was in the hok behind the one that crashed. As I remember, the hok lifted off, went forward but was hit by a cross wind as it passed the ship's island. This caused it to roll over to the left, crash down on the port knife edge of the ship and the roll into the ocean. Because the two occupants had supposedly not secured their gear, the gear moved forward and pined them in the aircraft. It was a long time before they both emerged. They survived.

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Thomas Godfrey, e-mail, 02.02.2024 Burke

I was on the Boxer when the HOK blades hit the ship. One pilot exited quickly but the second was under water for some time before he popped up. This was on a Caribbean Cruise in early 1963 after the Cuban Crisis was over.

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Rick Centore, e-mail, 09.10.2020reply

I went to VMO-6 at MCALF Camp Pendleton after "A" school in April, 1965. We still had 5 or 6 HOKs in the squadron. Within a month or so they were gone, replaced by the UH-1E. For the past 11 years I have been a restoration volunteer at the New England Air Museum. In late 2018, there being no USMC aircraft on display, I took on the job of crew chief on the restoration of HOK-1 129801. This had been a flight test aircraft and never went out to the fleet. The covid really slowed us down but we are plugging away at it. Check out our progress on the NEAM.org website. Semper Fi!

Ed, e-mail, 09.02.2023 Rick Centore

Does anyone have any information on the HOK from the USS Boxer that crashed into the Atlantic in late 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

S /F,
Ed

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Steve, e-mail, 30.08.2022 Rick Centore

Rick, I was in VMO 5 at Pendleton after you, then VMO 2 in 68-69. When I returned from RVN, there were VMO 6 HOKs at a Rosenbalm Aviation in my hometown. No idea what happened to them, but I suspect they were converted to turbine.

Semper Fi

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Doc, e-mail, 09.06.2022 Rick Centore

I just stumbled across this comment you posted on Aviastar.org in which you mention that you were working on a HOK restoration. Well, it just so happens that there are several intact HOK-1 /HH-43 rotors that are still packed in large unopened metal containers here in CT. If you would like to learn more details about them, let me know. To be completely honest, I'm not 100% sure that they are HOK rotors, but I'm over 95% sure they are.

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Mike Heideman, e-mail, 21.10.2020 Rick Centore

Hi, Rick, Will have to stop and see your project the next time out. In the meantime, I was wondering if you met a pilot by the name of Arlie Demien while at Pendleton? He may have already left as he first check-in at Pendleton in summer of 1964. Anyway, he related to me an incident where he had an engine failure one night while flying the HOK-1. Made a successful force landing.

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Anonymous, 23.10.2020 Mike Heideman

By all means stop by Mike. We painted the fuselage last week. We'll have plenty of work for the winter months now. The name doesn't ring a bell. I'd like to talk to some HOK drivers. I'll have to post on the popasmoke website.

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Rick Centore, e-mail, 09.06.2022 Doc

Thanks for the info Doc. We did have a set of restorable blades for the HOK at the New England Air Museum. I'm happy to say that after 3 1 /2 years of work, much of it through the pandemic, we have competed the restoration and the HOK will be going on display. It will take its place in the museum's extensive Kaman collection.

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Les V. Taylor, e-mail, 21.07.2016reply

I was stationed at Marine Corps Air Facility late 1956 until Aug. 1958, in 3rd Marine Airwing- HMS-36. Was an administrative clerk, with our squadron office inside one of the 2 giant old blimp hangars, which then housed various helicopter's including several HOK'S. Sometimes on weekends, I would bum rides in an HOK in the little fold-down crew chief seat when the pilots got in their flight time. Those HOK's were marvelous to fly in! Great memories.

William joseph, e-mail, 18.07.2016reply

I was a metal smith on HOK and Cessna 350 at VMO 6 in 1962 then I think it was sometime in 1964 that we got our first Huie copters. What a change! Jet powered and a lot of promise It was first to be used as rescue and Mail drop missions. But that changed very quickly.

James Kaplan, e-mail, 26.02.2015reply

I was a Marine pilot flying the HOK in Okinawa in the mid 50's. Looking for an HOK to donate to the Palm Springs air museum. Are there any still available.

Donald R Maurer, e-mail, 24.01.2024 James Kaplan

The Kaman HOK-1in kit form is available from AMP, A foreign made, a little hard to assemble. Do a Bing search, I am sure you will find already assembled and painted. Let me know how you make out. Thanks for your Korea service. Welcome home Marine.

Semper Fidelis, Sand Flea, Vietnam vet

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Al Paul, e-mail, 13.08.2014reply

The Corps had HOK's is test and development at HMX-1 in 1955

Bob Mulryan, e-mail, 04.08.2020 Al Paul

I was stationed at HMX-1 from October 1955 through July 1956. During that time I was training as a Helicopter Mechanic for HOK-1 helicopters.
I recollect that Kaman personnel were there participating with my training. I was assigned MOS 6481.

Subsequently, I was transferred to HMR-161 and in September 1957 I qualified as HOK-1 Crew Chief (YR-23).

Just adding to the history.

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William Miller, e-mail, 05.11.2021 Bob Mulryan

Dear Sir;
the site I discovered of your Marine HOK-1 Helicopter
''clicked'' away before I could finish texting in the Late 1970's I served in HMM-161, H-46's Flight Line .
I plan to have the model made in HMR-161 Markings.
Semper Fi Sir.

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William Miller, e-mail, 05.11.2021 Bob Mulryan

Dear Sir;
Back in 2013 I was researching ''images'' on U.S. Marine crops HOK-1 Helicopters for the possibly of having a model made of this RARE and classic aircraft in Marine Corps Squadron Markings and one day I discovered your image. The terrain in the back ground look familiar and as I read the text below HMR-161 M.C.A.S. Kaneohe Bay I began to remember my DAD was assigned to VMA-212 Flight line I Believe late 1959 to early 1962 as a kid I remember seeing this Aircraft. 2013 I made copy of your image BUT it came out a little Faded so I put the project on hold I SAVED the image Now 2021 I hope to reopen the project. for the years that past I thought HOK-1's served in Marine Observation Squadrons But your image changed that [THANK YOU] for the Image OH
But your image

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Len Larson, e-mail, 10.05.2013reply

I was in VMO6 and VMO2 camp pendleton and Futema in Okinawa 1960 to 1962..... best squadrons to be in and with the HUK's n HOK's had their very own ooomph ooomph's Same with OE 1's and OE 2's semper fi.... any from the sqaudron... please email me... L Larson Cpl

Jim, e-mail, 09.08.2023 Len Larson

Did you know a Captain Francis Martin while in Futema Okinawa? He was a Pilot flying the HOK's .

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Len Larson, e-mail, 10.05.2013reply

I was in VMO6 and VMO2 camp pendleton and Futema in Okinawa 1960 to 1962..... best squadrons to be in and with the HUK's n HOK's had their very own ooomph ooomph's Same with OE 1's and OE 2's semper fi.... any from the sqaudron... please email me... L Larson Cpl

Leonard "Luke" Short, e-mail, 26.08.2010reply

I was the first pilot to transition from the HO5S-1 to the HOK at Camp Pendleton, CA in VMO-6. We too thought we had died and gone to heavan with this new and modern, powerful helicopter. The HO5 was so under powered and it was truly a joy to transition into the HOK. I spent many pleasant hours under the inter-smashing rotor system.

Larry Parker, e-mail, 14.10.2010reply

My first flying job was a H-43A on a fire contract, It was on and air force bombing range in north carolina. 1979-1980

Vince Curto, e-mail, 08.06.2013reply

I joined VMO-6 in Nov 1959. At that time we only had the OE-1's. The HOK'S were brought down from Santa Anna in 61. Not to sure of date. The first one brought down to demonstrate had an accident in front of the tower. Killed the crew chief. I was line chief at that time so was not to happy after that to get them into the squadren.I stayed with VMO-6 untill 64' then went over to VMO-2 at Futema .

Martin O'Donnell, e-mail, 30.05.2012reply

My first job after returning from Viet Nam in 1972 was working for Command Helicopters in Central Point Oregon. We had HUK /HOK helicopters used for various contracts through-out OR,WA,CA. I have a lot of memories about those times and feel lucky to have worked on and around those people and machines.

Rhys R. Talbot, e-mail, 21.08.2012reply

Was a crew chief on HOK's at VMO-6 & VMO-2 from 1961-63 at Campen, Fuetemna & sub unit 1 Atsugi.
Got a bit of flight time & loved how easy it was to fly.

Dale Merriss, e-mail, 29.01.2014reply

I flew HOKs from June 1960 to June 1963. Was in all three VOM Squadrons. Pendleton-VOM-6, Futema and Atsugi, VOM 1, New River VMO 2. One of the first to land OEs on a Carrie- Princeton and Boxer. I have many hours in the airfrake pictured above-WB-7

Norm Smith, e-mail, 17.03.2010reply

This must be a "Smith" convention - ha ha. I too am a retired Marine Corps pilot. I flew the HOK at MCAS Kaneohe in 56 /57 and at MCALF Camp Pendleton in VMO-6 in 61 /62. The HOK pictured above was at MCAS Tustin when the picture was taken, it is now at the museum at MCAS Mirimar. I actually flew this particular helicopter. I also flew the HTK for a civilian operator in 58 /59.

Al Smith, e-mail, 05.03.2010reply

I am an old Marine helocopter pilot and flew the HOK back in 63 /64. I was in VMO-1. I enjoyed the flying but we transitioned to HU1-E's and that was like going from a Modle A Ford to a Cadillac.

Carole Smith, e-mail, 08.01.2010reply

My father, Norman Peiffer, was one of Charlie Kaman's engineers to design parts that went into the HOK-1. The company was based near Windsor Locks, CT. We lived in PA, but in 1950 when work began on this aircraft my father, who was at the time an aeronautical engineer, was looking for more promising employment so we moved to CT. He took us to view the first flight of a later model. By 1959 we moved to AZ for my mother's health and dad worked for Airesearch designing valves and other components for NASA and the space program. But I am always looking for information about Kaman helicopters. They were tough little work-horses and have never received the recognition they deserved. Thanks for a place to air my views. Does anyone else out there have any more knowledge about them?

Shelby Ann Dains, e-mail, 23.06.2022 Carole Smith

Carole, I am an intern at the Carolinas Aviation Museum. We are doing research on Kaman and the HOK-1. Do you by chance have any photos, documents, artifacts, or information about your father that you would like to share with the museum? Please reach out at Collections@carolinasaviation.org.

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Shelby Ann Dains, e-mail, 23.06.2022 Carole Smith

Carole, I am an intern at the Carolinas Aviation Museum. We are doing research on Kaman and the HOK-1. Do you by chance have any photos, documents, artifacts, or information about your father that you would like to share with the museum? Please reach out at Collections@carolinasaviation.org.

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