Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King 152711 Apollo 11 Recovery

These are 1/72 scale decals for the Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King, BuNo 152711, assigned to HS-4 (Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four) aboard the USS Hornet (CVS-12) — depicted exactly as it appeared on 24 July 1969, the day it recovered Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins from the Pacific Ocean following the splashdown of Apollo 11.

The SH-3D Sea King was the U.S. Navy's premier anti-submarine warfare helicopter of the era, but its combination of range, payload, and shipboard compatibility also made it the natural choice for NASA's astronaut recovery operations throughout the Apollo program. On the morning of July 24, 1969, with the world watching, HS-4's Sea Kings launched from the Hornet to locate and recover the Apollo 11 command module Columbia after its return from the first crewed lunar landing — the most significant moment in the history of human exploration. BuNo 152711, call sign "Swim 1," was the primary recovery helicopter, hovering overhead as Navy swimmers secured the capsule and the three astronauts were hoisted aboard.

HS-4, the "Black Knights," based at NAS North Island, California, served as the primary recovery squadron for multiple Apollo missions, earning a unique place in both naval aviation and space exploration history. The USS Hornet, a veteran Essex-class carrier, served as the primary recovery ship for both Apollo 11 and Apollo 12, with President Richard Nixon aboard to personally welcome the Apollo 11 crew back to Earth.

One of the most historically significant helicopter subjects in any scale — the aircraft that brought humanity's greatest explorers home. Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.