Anderson, Roy

Back in the day, Long Beach, CA had some favorite sons. In an article in the “Independent” on January 24, 1964, there was quite a “to-do” before Roy left on his tour of duty. One can picture the setting, sunset beach view, white tablecloths, sparkling glasses and attendees in their finest clothes. Here’s the scoop…

“All set for one of the grandest farewells of the season tonight are both active and reserve officers of the Air Force Sector, Long Beach Municipal Airport. The gentleman to be toasted (a most popular officer, he’s been, too) is Major Roy Anderson Jr., USAF, training officer at the base, who will be leaving for new duty in Viet Nam. Wife Jane, who win share tonight’s farewell spotlight with Roy at Allen Center, will remain a Californian. Capt Court Prowell Jr, (with wife, Merretta’s help, no doubt, in planning the niceties of the affair) is chairman. About 40 reserve and active officers and their wives have been bidden to the 7 pm cocktails and 8 pm. dinner party.

Among those who wouldn’t miss affair or sending Roy off in finest fashion for the world are Col. Claude and Lucille Norton, Lt Col. Joseph and Doric Herman and Major Ev and Harriet Hosking, to name (obviously) a very few.

According to Court, the lobster tail or prime rib dinners will be served to the tune of a sparkling champagne accompaniment. For the honoree’s sake, hope all is just as gay as party plans sound. Somehow or another, can’t imagine duty in Viet Nam being quite as dazzling, socially speaking, as Stateside.”
Clearly, no one knew what was ahead.

But even farther back in the day (1956), Major Roy Anderson was making some records by testing the limits of the H-37. In determining the maximum capabilities of the HR2S, the naval version of the H-37, two new weight lifting records and a new speed record were established at Bradley Field, Connecticut, between November 9 and 11, 1956. Piloted by Major Roy L. Anderson of the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center and Sikorsky test pilot Robert Duke, the HR2S lifted a payload of six metric tons (13,260 pounds) to an altitude of 7,000 feet and a payload of five metric tons (11,050 pounds) to maximum altitude of 12,100 feet. The former weight record was 8,820 pounds at an altitude of 6,560 feet set in 1955 by a Russian Yakowlev Yak-24 tandem helicopter. Only one day after establishing the new records, Major Anderson reached a maximum speed of 162.743 miles per hour (142 knots) with an empty HR2S and set a new world speed record for helicopters. This topped the old speed record of 156.005 miles per hour (136 knots) set in 1954 by a turbine-driven Sikorsky XH-39 experimental helicopter.

(Source: Al Barbour – CH-37C Deuce – A History/09-25-2002)