09/30/2009. Remarks by Ray Watkins: "In 1945 the US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics issued a specification for a utility helicopter to operate from escort carriers, battleships and cruisers in the search/rescue, plane guard and transport roles. Contracts were awarded to Piasecki (for their PV-14) and Sikorsky (for their S-53) for two evaluation aircraft designated as the XHJP-1 and XHJS-1 respectively.

The two XHJS-1s had BuNos. 30368 and 30370 (c/n 53.002) and the first of the four-seat aircraft was flown on September 22, 1947, powered by a 525 hp Continental R-975-34 piston engine. Piasecki won the contest and received a production order in 1948 for what had become the HUP-1 Retriever."