The Kaman SH-2 Seasprite when it first arrived at the hangar.
Midway's Hangar
The Restoration Facility for the USS MIDWAY museum
(Currently known as The San Diego Aircraft Carrier
Museum, on the USS Midway CV-41)
Kaman SH-2F Seasprite
The H-2
Seasprite was designed to meet a 1956 Navy specification for a high-performance,
all-weather helicopter operating in a wide range of utility missions. The first flight was
made in July 1959, with deliveries beginning in December 1962. In October 1970 the US Navy
adopted a further modified Seasprite variant to provide an over-the-horizon search and
strike capability for anti-submarine destroyers. This version was known as the SH-2D,
using the LAMPS high power search radar system in a radome tub under the nose, as well as
a variety of anti-submarine and ship missile defense weapons. The SH-2F was an improved
version of the SH-2D. |
The Kaman SH-2 Seasprite when it first arrived at the
hangar.
In this early photo, the Seasprite's rotor blades have
begun to be moved, and the hangar was relatively empty.
Volunteers from the Navy Reserves have taken on this project, and progress
is now being made.
The doors have been removed and compartments opened so that the Seasprite can be
restored from the inside out.
This particular aircraft's history:
Date Of manufacture: unknown
Where manufactured: unknown
Assignment Locations:
| AUG 1964 | HU-4 Det 45 USS Wright (as UH-2B) |
| MAR 1965 | HU-2 Det 66 USS America (as UH-2B) |
| 17 FEB 1966 | WPNSYSTEST Pax River |
| 18 Sep 1967 | Kaman |
| 23 AUG 1968 | HC-2 Lakehurst |
| 31 OCT 1968 | HC-2 Det 16 Lakehurst |
| 05 NOV 1968 | HC-2 Lakehurst |
| 17 MAR 1969 | HC-2 Det 62 USS Independence (as UH 2B) |
| 28 MAR 1969 | HC-2 Lakehurst |
| 14 JUL 1969 | HC-2 Det 42 USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (as UH 2B) |
| AUG 1970 | HC-4 Lakehurst |
| 30 SEP 1971 | (upgraded to SH-2D) |
| 13 OCT 1971 | HC-4 LAMPS Lakehurst |
| 30 NOV 1971 | HC-4 LAMPS DET USS Belknap (as SH-2D) |
| 0l MAR 1972 | HSL-30 LMP Det Lakehurst |
| 11 JUN1973 | NARF NORVA |
| 23 JAN 1974 | DOTHAN |
| 09 SEP 1975 | HSL-30 NORVA |
| 15 MAR 1978 | NAS NORVA FS NORVA |
| 02 OCT 1980 | (upgraded to SH-2F) |
| 14 APR 1982 | HSL-31 NAS North Island |
| 09 DEC 1983 | HSL-37 Det 5 Barbers Point |
| 09 DEC 1983 | HSL 37 Det 5 USS Holt |
| 16 APR 1984 | HSL 35 LMP Det USS Kinkaid |
| 17 APR 1984 | HSL 37 Det 1 USS Hammond |
| 12 OCT 1989 | HSL-37 Barbers Point |
| 14 DEC 1989 | HSL-37 Det 10 Barbers Point |
| 18 JUN 1990 | HSL-37 Det 10 USS Badger |
| 07 OCT 1990 | HSL-37 Del 10 USS Ouellette |
| 13 DEC 1990 | HSL-37 Barbers Point |
| 06 APR 1993 | HSL-33 Barbers Point |
| 29 JUN 1993 | HSL-33 NAS North Island |
This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation.