Chopper Maintenance on Iwo Jima

As best as this old memory can tell this took place probably in 1973. I was assigned to the 603rd MASS providing maintenance for the 4 HH-3Es belonging to the 33rd ARRS at Kadena Air Base Okinawa.

One of the birds was on a long distance over water mission to pickup some one off of a ship with medical problems. The pickup was accomplished and the chopper landed on Iwo Jima where a C-9 medical bird was waiting to expedite getting the patient to adequate medical facilities.

While at Iwo Jima the flight crew discovered a Main Rotor Head lower hinge pin seal leaking. In the past this would have required a Rotor Head change but the powers to be realized it wasn't cost effective when the hinge pin seal could easily be changed in the field and thereby reducing down time.

DWayne Huffman and I were tasked to be flown by C-130 to Iwo Jima and effect a repair and get the bird back home. We gathered everything we needed and loaded it aboard the C-130 and headed for Iwo Jima.

While enroute we hoped there would be some sort of lifting device to lift the blade up taking the strain off of the hinge pin. We were concerned we may have to man handle the blade off. If we did we figured the crew would have to help us.

Arriving at Iwo Jima, the FE, whom I seem to recall was Larry Collins had checked with a small Japanese Defense Force that was there and found they had an old truck mounted crane that we could use. They would also provide an operator.

DWayne and I got right to the task. We put the blade handler on the blade and lifted it up relieving the strain on the hinge pin. As luck would have it the seal popped right out with little effort. We installed the new one and was ready to service the hinge pin reservoir with oil.

We heard the C-130 crank up and take off. We knew they wouldn't leave the chopper crew and take off as several air refuelings would be needed to get back to Kadena. They took the chopper crew and left word they would return in a day or so.

We serviced the hinge pin and started a leak check.

Fortunately there was a Coast Guard LOng RAng Navigation (LORAN) station there and they were more than happy to provide quarters and food.

DWayne and I had the opportunity to walk around some of the more accessible areas of the island. It was real easy to see why the Marines had such a difficult time during the invasion of Iwo Jima which resulted in the worst battle of the Pacific during WWII.

We also had the chance to visit the top of Mt Surabachi where the infamous flag raising took place. The chopper crew had returned and took the bird up for a short flight to insure the hinge pin wasn't leaking. While we were at the top of Mt Surabachi the chopper came at us right out of the sun. You couldn't see him. The Japanese supposedly used this tactic quite frequently.

While we waited on the return of the flight crew DWayne and I enjoyed the Coast Guard hospitality. We were free to get something to eat no matter the time of day. They also had a small bar that was on the honor system. There was a couple of stools with a great view of the Pacific. DWayne and I spent a lot of time there watching the "submarine races". I think the beer was like a quarter a can and DWayne and I owed something like $25.00 when we left.

On the return trip on the C-130 I had the opportunity to get some pictures of the HH-3E being in-flight refueled. Unfortunately most of my pictures didn't turn out well.
(Jim Moore)