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HC-9 Squadron History
Establishing the Gold Standard in Combat Search and Rescue
HC-9 was established August 1st, 1975 at NAS North Island, CA. In the post-Vietnam era, the Navy focused largely on developing an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability to counter the Soviet threat. Acknowledging the need to maintain the CSAR mission, this niche capability was pushed to the reserves following a re-alignment of the helicopter reserve aviation force.
With the focus on global maritime operations, the Navy reduced training and resources for fleet helicopter crews regarding CSAR. Fleet aircrew and aircraft were woefully ill-equipped to conduct rescue operations in a contested environment. HC-9 would provide operational and training support to the Carrier Air Wing’s certification to deploy. In addition, they would offer helicopter pilots some exposure to CSAR doctrine and tactics.
Flying the HH-3A Sea King, the Protectors provided Carrier Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadrons (HS) with the only CSAR flight training available to Navy pilots at NAS Fallon, NV. HC-9 provided detachments multiple times a year to Fallon to support Air Wings and unit level training.
HC-9 was capable of deploying to station around the globe within 15-days of notification. In 1986, a two-aircraft detachment was deployed in support of Operation Prairie Fire in the Gulf of Sidra, Libya. Three Carrier Strike Groups in the Mediterranean Sea needed CSAR support due to possible overland operations while enforcing freedom of navigation.
HC-9 eventually established a rescue school in 1986 that formed the foundation of what is today, the Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Program under the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) at NAS Fallon. HC-9 offered the syllabus twice a year to requesting squadrons and prepared air crews to conduct daytime overland CSAR with a minimal threat of small arms fire.
HC-9 deployed to Camp Lejeune, NC in support of Operation Solid Shield in 1987. This exercise simulated an American response that would support Honduras against a Nicaraguan/Cuban alliance. The exercise reached from North Carolina to Vieques, PR and across to Panama demonstrating movement of forces and integration with regional allies.
Major restructuring and reorganization of the Naval Reserve helicopter community resulted in newer, more capable aircraft to support CSAR and SOF missions. The now re-designated Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadrons (HCS) would be responsible for both these missions moving forward. No longer in need of a dedicated CSAR squadron, HC-9 remained active during HCS-4 and 5’s stand-up and was disestablished 31 July, 1990.