First flown in 1948, the Hiller UH-12 was used extensively by the US military in a variety of roles such as training, utility, observation, and especially in medical evacuation of casualties during the Korean War. The UH-12 was given the designation OH-23 Raven in the US Army and HTE-1 and HTE-2 in the US Navy. The Royal Navy bought over 20 US Navy HTE-2s and used them as primary trainers under the designation Hiller HT Mk 1. These were later joined by another 21 UH-12E variants which were given the designation Hiller HT Mk 2.
The Hiller UH-12 and Biggles[]
Biggles used a helicopter in Biggles Scores a Bull. Although the type is not mentioned and no description is given in the text, the cover illustrator of the first edition drew a Hiller UH-12. This type is entirely plausible as the Royal Navy used the Hiller in the 1950s and the Air Police could have borrowed one or received it as a cast off. The navy used a version with a wheeled undercarriage, just as is drawn. A Hiller could also have been used in The Boy Who Watched the Planes Go By, although something larger would likely have been chosen for the overwater flight in Biggles Takes It Rough.
The cover illustrator of Biggles Scores a Bull chose to draw a UH-12 as the helicopter which Biggles used. This is entirely plausible as two variants of this type were used by the Royal Navy. He has even drawn a a wheeled undercarriage rather than skids, similar to the types used by the RN. However RN Hillers had 4 rather than 3 wheels (two at the nose and two in the rear).
In derivative works[]
In De onbekende piloot, the comic strip adaptation by Studio Vandersteen of The Case of the Unknown Aircraft, Biggles is flown up to the crash site by Major Browstaw in a UH-12. In the original story, he, Ginger and Bertie parachuted on to the crash site from a Proctor flown by Algy.
Vandersteen choose a UH-12 for Major Browstaw to ferry Biggles to the top of the mountain. Again, a plausible choice, especially when they departed from Lossiemouth. But note this Hiller has 3 wheels rather than the 4 wheels common to the RN types.
In the TV Express comic story The Rocket Saboteurs, Biggles and Bertie were in a car chasing an enemy saboteur who had just escaped from the rocket base at Bagger Boomer. Two enemy agents attacked Biggles' car from a UH-12 but Bertie shot at it and managed to hit it in the rotor, forcing it to land.
Specifications[]
Details are for the HTE-2 variant used by the Royal Navy
- Crew: two
- Rotor diameter: 35ft
- Length: 38ft 8ins
- Weight: 2,500lbs
- Engine: 1 x Franklin O-335-6 piston engine, 210 hp
- Max speed - 84mph
Range - 135 miles
External links[]
- wikipedia: Hiller OH-23 Raven
- Hiller HTE2 (XB480) at the Fleet Air Arm museum Dead link. Try this Archive URL.