Lloyd C. Blanchard

United States of America

 

Lloyd C. (Opie) Blanchard was an engineering test pilot for Sikorsky Aircraft.

Blanchard, a native of Boston, served with the US Air force from 1943 to 1954 and was discharged with the rank of captain.  He flew transports in the Pacific theater during World War II, helicopters with the Air Rescue Service in Korea, and was awarded the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster.

He joined Sikorsky in 1954 as a field service representative and served both in the US and Japan.  He became a test pilot in 1958 doing engineering work flying helicopters in power line construction projects in Puerto Rico.

Blanchard died February 3, 1966 in the crash of a CH-53A helicopter in Shelton, Connecticut.

Obituary (pg-30) : VERTIFLITE February 1966