When were helicopters first used?

Question

I'm watching where Eagles Dare, and my mate is disputing the fact that a helicopter could have been used in WW2. Come on, prove him wrong, When were they invented?

Answer 1

In the 1930's there were autogyros which were the predecessors of helicopters,

Answer 2

in 1936 the germans demonstrated a helicopter to hitler in the athletics stadium at the berlin olympics it was the Focke-Wulf Fw 61.
Hitler dismissed it as being a mere toy and of no practical use ( oh how he was wrong)
Igor sikorsky is said to be the true father of the modern Helicopter as he invented the contra rotating tail rotor system which stabilises the helicopter in flight. from which all modern ( including the chinook) helicopters evolved

In where Eagles dare I believe the helicopter used is a Bell Souix. this wasn't invented until the late 1940's and went into production in the 1950's.
SO!
you are both right.
Yes the helicopter was invented and flew as early as 1907 but the first production and usable helicopter wasn't until after the 2 World War.

Answer 3

The idea goes back to Da Vinci.

Igor Sikorsky made the first practical one around 1940. They flew as early as 1907, but very limited results.

Korean Conflict was the first war they were used in.

Answer 4

In the Korean war they were first used for medical evacuation. The in the Vietnam War the US used them to deliver troops to and retrieve troops from combat zones and it was during this war that the Helicopter Gunship was developed.

Answer 5

They were in WW2 just not actively used mainly because they were not practical then.
It wasnt until the Korean war that were used for medivac and troop movement

Answer 6

They were first mass produced in about 1943 and used by the US army and the British navy.

Answer 7

Yes heliocopters were used in WWII, the US Army began using them in 1942.

Answer 8

Here is an acurate history of the helicopter:
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Rotary/early_20th_century/HE2.htm