First aerial rescue using a rescue hoist (Sikorsky YR-5A)
Thursday, November 29, 1945
- Penfield Reef, United States of America 
This is a Significant Operational milestone.
Description:
The 2 crew of a stricken oil barge were rescued by a Sikorsky YR-5A using it's experimental hoist. The pilot was Sikorsky Chief test Pilot, D. D. "Jimmy" Viner assisted by Capt. Jackson E. Beighle, Army Air Force, who operated the hoist. Beighle was the Army representative at the Sikorsky factory.
Source: "A Rescue First at Penfield Reef", Bob Wood, VERTIFLITE Summer 2005, Page 34
