Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 1 (HC-1) was a
helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which Lift (force), lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning Helicopter rotor, rotors. This allows the helicopter to VTOL, take off and land vertically, to hover (helicopter), hover, and ...
squadron of the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
operating several helicopter types in support of
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level component command of the United States Navy, located in the Pacific Ocean. It provides naval forces to the Indo-Pacific Command. Fleet headquarters is at Joint Base Pearl Harborâ ...
ships and other units. The squadron was established on 1 April 1948 and disestablished on 29 April 1994. It was nicknamed "Pacific Fleet Angels" or just "Angels".
History
Early experience with helicopters by the Navy was developed by Helicopter Development Squadron THREE (VX-3) which operated out of
Naval Air Station Lakehurst
Lakehurst Maxfield Field, formerly known as Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst (NAES Lakehurst), is the naval component of Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst (JB MDL), a United States Air Force-managed joint base. The airfield is approximat ...
, New Jersey. This led to the creation of the service's first two designated helicopter squadrons, Helicopter Utility Squadron (HU-1) and
HU-2 on 1 April 1948.
[ ]
As the Navy changed the scope of roles for its utility helicopter squadrons, it also re-designated them Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons. HU-1 was duly re-designated HC-1 on 1 July 1965.
Performing SAR and flying SH3G and CH53E helos, HC-1 operated out of Naval Air Station North Island - NASNI - in Coronado, CA.
Fleet Angels. So Others May Live.
A detachment of HC-1 participated in
Operation Desert Storm
Operation or Operations may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity
* Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory
* ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
aboard and during its return played a key role assisting civilians in aftermath of the
1991 Bangladesh cyclone
The 1991 Bangladesh Cyclone has been noted as one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in recorded history. It was also one of the most powerful cyclones in the Indian Ocean. Forming out of a large area of convection over the Bay of Bengal on Apr ...
.
The squadron was disestablished on 29 April 1994.
Equipment
The squadron has operated several types during its history:
*
Sikorsky HO3S
*
Sikorsky HO4S
The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw (company model number S-55) is a multi-purpose piston-engined helicopter that was used by the United States Army and United States Air Force. It was also license-built by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Whirlwind ...
*
Piasecki HUP Retriever
The Piasecki HUP Retriever or H-25 Army Mule, later UH-25, is a compact single radial engine, twin overlapping Tandem rotors, tandem rotor utility helicopter developed by the Piasecki Helicopter, Piasecki Helicopter Corporation of Morton, Pennsyl ...
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Sikorsky UH-34D/E Seahorse
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Kaman UH-2A/B/C Seasprite
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Boeing-Vertol UH-46 Sea Knight
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Sikorsky SH-3G/UH-3H Sea King
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Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy lift helicopter operated by the United States military. As the Sikorsky S-80, it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor ...
See also
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History of the United States Navy
The history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that became notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy" ...
*
List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
Most of the United States Navy aircraft Squadron (aviation), squadrons established since the Navy designated its first aircraft squadrons in 1919 no longer exist, having been "disestablished". Another 40 or so have been "deactivated", currently e ...
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:HC-001
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