Helicopter Training Squadron 28 (HT-28) is a
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 ...
helicopter training squadron based at
Naval Air Station Whiting Field
Naval Air Station Whiting Field is a United States Navy base located near Milton, Florida, with some outlying fields near Navarre, Florida, in south and central Santa Rosa County, and is one of the Navy's two primary pilot training bases (the ...
in
Milton, Florida
Milton is a city and county seat of Santa Rosa County, Florida, Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States. It is located within the Pensacola metropolitan area. The city was first Incorporated in 1844, however certain areas such as East Milton, ...
. The squadron, known as the ''Hellions'', is one of three
Advanced Helicopter Training
Advanced Helicopter Training is a type of training and education course undertaken by qualified helicopter pilots to further enhance their knowledge and safety skills. Advanced helicopter training is offered by a number of commercial providers but ...
squadrons that produces aviators for the
Navy
A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...
,
Marine Corps
Marines (or naval infantry) are military personnel generally trained to operate on both land and sea, with a particular focus on amphibious warfare. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included raiding ashore (often in supp ...
and
Coast Guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a Maritime Security Regimes, maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with cust ...
. They fall under the command of
Training Air Wing Five
Training Air Wing Five (TW-5 or TRAWING 5) is a United States Navy aircraft training air wing based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, in Milton, FL. TW-5 is one of five training wings in the Naval Air Training Command, and consists of three Un ...
and fly both the
TH-57B Sea Ranger basic helicopter trainer and the
TH-57C Sea Ranger advanced helicopter trainer. The squadron's tactical
call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...
is "''Lucky''."
Mission
HT-28's primary mission is to transition student aviators through basic and advanced rotary wing pilot training. Along with its sister squadrons,
HT-8 and
HT-18
Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN (HT-18) is a United States Navy helicopter training squadron based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. The squadron's mission is helicopter pilot training for U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine Cor ...
, HT-28 provides advanced helicopter flight instruction to all Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard helicopter flight students as well as international students from several allied nations. Additionally, HT-28 conducts a shortened helicopter syllabus for prospective MV-22 Osprey pilots.
Basic training introduces and develops student skills in helicopter flight maneuvers as well as training in visual navigation and tactics. Advanced training completes an intensive curriculum of basic and radio instruments, advanced tactics, and shipboard landings. The completion of this exacting training syllabus culminates in a highly trained and proficient all-weather aviator. Students who successfully complete the program earn the right to wear the coveted
Wings of Gold
A naval aviator is a commissioned officer or warrant officer qualified as a crewed aircraft pilot in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps. United States Coast Guard crewed aircraft pilots are officially designated as "Coast Guard ...
.
Insignia
The squadron insignia for HT-28 is a tri-colored circular field featuring a dragon and torch. The tri-color field is a reference to
HT-8 and
HT-18
Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN (HT-18) is a United States Navy helicopter training squadron based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. The squadron's mission is helicopter pilot training for U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine Cor ...
patches; an acknowledgment that HT-28 was initially established by officers from those squadrons. The deep blue section represents the US Navy and its operations over the world’s oceans. The olive green section represents the US Marine Corps and its projection of power ashore. The red section symbolizes these services’ heritage of valor and sacrifice in peace and war. The black Chinese
Loong
The Chinese dragon or loong is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology, Chinese folklore, and Chinese culture generally. Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms, such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like ...
dragon symbolizes both wisdom and ferocity in battle. It is coiled around a lighted torch, which signifies knowledge passed from one generation of aviators to the next. The dragon’s helical coils, which echo da Vinci’s famous design, are another nod to the legacy of rotary wing flight. The name "Hellions" is an allusion to the word "helicopter." Its connotation (an unruly child) is meant as an amusing reference to the pilots-in-training as they are refined into military aviators. Historically, only one other squadron has held the name "Hellions":
VMF-218
Marine Fighting Squadron 218 (VMF-218) was a reserve fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps that was originally activated during World War II. Known as the "Hellions", they flew throughout the South Pacific but saw the majority of ...
, a long-disestablished Marine Fighter squadron. The Chinese dragon motif from VMF-218’s original squadron patch is carried over in the HT-28 patch partly as a nod to the legacy of the name.
History
HT-28 was established by the
Chief of Naval Operations
The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an Admiral (United States), admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the United States Secretary ...
with an OPNAV Note 5450 dated 1 November 2006. The order reads, in part:
"Currently there are two advanced helicopter training squadrons located at Naval Air Station, Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. In order to meet projected increase in the advanced rotary Integrated Production Plan, expand oversight and ensure quality of training and safety of flight are not compromised, a third advanced rotary squadron is required."
The Establishment Ceremony was held aboard NAS Whiting Field on 25 May 2007. The squadron was initially staffed by transferring one third of the instructors from HT-8 and one third of the instructors from HT-18 to the newly established HT-28 creating three equally sized squadrons.
Squadron command
HT-28 squadron commanding officers alternate between Navy Commanders and Marine Lieutenant Colonels. When a Navy Commander is in command, a Marine Lieutenant Colonel is the squadron's Executive Officer, and vice versa. When the squadron changes command, the executive officers assume command from his predecessor.
See also
*
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 United States Navy aircraft squadrons
This is a list of active United States Navy aircraft squadrons. ''Deactivated'' or ''disestablished'' squadrons are listed in the list of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons.
The U.S. Navy uses the term "squadron" only to describe uni ...
References
External links
Official website of HT-28
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ht-28
Military units and formations in California
Helicopter training squadrons of the United States Navy