RETIRED COAST GUARD HH-52 LOCATED AND DONATED TO NAS WILDWOOD MUSEUM

 On Friday, 7 September 2001, a CH-47 from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard delivered an ex-Coast Guard HH-52 Sea Guard from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, to NAS Wildwood Museum located in Cape May, NJ.  This transfer was brought about through the efforts of to CAPT Tom King (at the time, Commanding Officer of CGAS Atlantic City, now Chief of Coast Guard Aviation Forces), LCDR Bruce Decker (CGAS Atlantic City) and others who worked closely with Dr. Joseph Salvatore of the NAS Wildwood Museum.  CAPT King was the SRR platform manager in the late 1980s and transferred four of the last Coast Guard HH-52s to Aberdeen Proving Grounds after they were replaced by the new HH-65A Dolphin.  Dr. Salvatore contacted Aberdeen who agreed to donate one of its four HH-52 aircraft to NAS Wildwood and arranged this dramatic sling load delivery of the aircraft as part of a National Guard training exercise.  The aircraft was gently lowered to the Cape May County Airport where NAS Wildwood Museum is located and the cables were disconnected.  The CH-47 then landed and off-loaded the Sea Guard’s rotor blades for later reinstallation.  The intent is to fully restore this proud aircraft, but much work will be needed before then.  The Museum and this aircraft, along with many others donated to the museum, are located at Hangar #1 at the Cape May County Airport and is open to the public 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Tuesdays through Sundays.  Additional information can be obtained by calling (609) 886-8787.  Below are more pictures of the HH-52 CGNR 1462 and her distinguished service in the United States Coast Guard.

http://www.usnasw.org  :  NAS Wildwood Museum website

HH-52A  CGNR 1462  Serial # 6214

September 7, 2001: Aircraft donated to NAS Wildwood, NJ Museum