In 1957 and later, the Navy ordered totally nine helicopters of the type Vertol 44A. These first Swedish military helicopters got the designation HKP 1. The deliveries took place between 1958-1960. The first two aircraft were shipped from USA to Bremen, Germany in February 1958, where they were assembled. The helicopters were based at Berga Navy Base near Stockholm and at Säve Air Force Base near Gothenburg. Because of the shape of the fuselage, the HKP 1 was usually called ”the Banana”.  

A few years later, five second-hand civil helicopters of the similar type Vertol 44B type were purchased from New York Airways. Two of them were modified by Ostermans Aero to HKP 1 standard and were used by the Air Force. The only visible difference between the 44B’s and the original 44A’s was the window arrangement. The three remaining machines were used to provide the flying HKP 1’s with spare parts.  

The Vertol 44 were in the beginning designed and manufactured by Piasecki Helicopter Corporation, which changed its name to the more well-known Vertol in 1956.  

The HKP 1 was used for a lot of different tasks. It could carry eleven fully equipped soldiers (mainly coastal commandos) or twelve stretchers. For anti-submarine warfare (ASW) it was equipped with hydrophone/sonar and depth charges. I could also be used for minesweeping. And course, it was used for sea rescue.  

The HKP 1 was powered by one Wright Cyclone radial engine, delivering 1.425 hp.  

Photo at top: The first  delivered HKP 1, #01001, now on display at Flygvapenmuseum.

Photo below: # 01005 at Säve, Gothenburg, March 1969.   

© Lars Henriksson