One of the first helicopters developed by Bell, the H-13 is a derivative of the Bell Model 30, which was developed as early as 1943. It first flew in 1945 and was delivered to US forces deployed to Korea in January 1951. The veteran who piloted this H-13, Second Lieutenant Byron Howlett, Jr., was stationed with the 46th Surgical Hospital MASH, near "the Punch Bowl." He flew through monsoons and freezing weather to deliver patients to hospitals.

This particular 1:48 scale helicopter is similar to the one used in the hit TV series, M*A*S*H, and comes equipped with stretchers mounted over the chopper's sleds. Like the other vehicles in the "Forgotten Heroes" Collection, this vehicle has been 'muddied' to give it a more weathered appearance. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Rotorspan: 9-inches
Length: 3-inches

Historical Account: "MASH" - Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH) were U.S. Army field hospital units conceptualized in 1946 as replacements for the obsolete World War II-era Auxiliary Surgical Group hospital units. MASH units were in operation from the Korean War to the Gulf War before being phased out in the early 2000s, in favor of combat support hospitals.

Each MASH unit had 60 beds, as well as surgical, nursing, and other enlisted and officer staff available at all times.MASH units filled a vital role in military medicine by providing support to army units upwards of 10,000 to 20,000 soldiers. These units had a low mortality rate compared to others, as the transportation time to hospitals was shorter, resulting in fewer patients dying within the "Golden Hour", the first hour after an injury is first sustained, which is referred to in trauma as the "most important hour". The U.S. Army deactivated the last MASH unit on February 16th, 2006.