Menu
Menu
HC-7 Squadron History
Building a legacy of bravery in Combat Search and Rescue
The Sea Devils were home based for a good portion of its time in southeast Asia at NAS Atsugi, Japan. HC-7 grew from a small detachment of seven helicopters to 14 detachments, flying 36 helicopters. The squadron was established September 1, 1967, with 16 officers and 75 enlisted only to eventually grow to over 100 officers and 500 enlisted supporting numerous requirements across the theater of operations from the sea and ashore.
HC-7 was a composite squadron consisting of variations of the H2, H3, H46, and the venerable H34D. These aircraft supported numerous missions across the detachments to include logistics, Vertical Replenishment, Seventh Fleet Flagship, Aerial Mine Countermeasure, Oceanographic, home station search and rescue (SAR) and combat search and rescue (CSAR).
With 16 separate detachments that were constantly on the move, the command’s nickname became “The Orphans of the Seventh Fleet”. HC-7 detachments cross-decked to a new ship, on average every 14 days. The Sea Devils continuously had a presence in the Gulf of Tonkin for 2,216 days. Detachment 110 alone was at the ready for 2046 days.
The Navy maintained vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin to retrieve downed aircrew from the sea and overland in North Vietnam and Laos. For North Vietnam rescues, HC-7 deployed one UH-2 Seasprite helicopter equipped with self-sealing fuel tanks, machine guns, and armor on board a ship at the north and south stations. Another four similarly armed and armored SH-3A Sea Kings (the primary rescue helicopter) were based on one of the Yankee Station carriers.
Awarded to Lieutenant (junior grade) Clyde Everett Lassen due to actions on 19 June 1968 over North Vietnam. LTJG Lassen was attached to Det 104 onboard the USS Preble (DLG-115):
Under constant enemy fire while making multiple attempts to rescue two downed aviators, LTJG Lassen and his crew exposed their location by using landing lights to complete the landing in a most inhospitable terrain. The aviators climbed aboard and while en-route to the coast the crew encountered and successfully evaded additional hostile antiaircraft fire and, with fuel for only 5 minutes of flight remaining, landed safely aboard USS JOUETT (DLG-29).
HC-7 crews rescued 150 personnel, 130 of which were within the Vietnam Combat zone. Two pilots were rescued twice. Five successful rescues took place deep within North Vietnam, many rescues occurred just off the coast within range of heavy enemy artillery.
In July 1971 HC-7 was awarded the Presidential Unit Commendation (PUC) for the period 01 September 1967 to 30 April 1969 for Extraordinary Heroism and outstanding performance. The HC-7 Sea Devils were disestablished June 30th of 1975.