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HCS-5 story
A History of Operational Excellence
Acquisition of the new multi-role HH-60H Seahawk enabled the merger of SOF support and CSAR missions into a single platform. The arrival of the new platform meant that three squadrons would be reduced to two and with that, both of the HA(L) squadrons and the lone CSAR squadron (HC-9) would become HCS-4 and HCS-5.
In November 1989, HCS-5 received the first of eight HH-60H Seahawk helicopters at NAWS Point Mugu. Assigned a complement of 230 TAR and SELRES personnel, HCS-5 served on 72-hour recall to deploy as either a complete squadron or four independent, two aircraft detachments. Each detachment was autonomous and capable of operating independently in remote environments.
On December 9, 1990, HCS-5 and sister squadron, HCS-4, deployed to Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. The detachment flew day and night sorties to ArAr Airfield on the border of Iraq to stand CSAR strip alert watches there until combat operations ended in March 1991.
- 1994 & 1997: Exercise Cobra Gold, Thailand. Improving coordination with Thai and US forces.
- 1996 & 1998: Exercise RIMPAC supporting world’s largest maritime exercise.
- 1998 Exercise UNITAS support in LA Serena, Chile, supporting the Buzos Tacticos (Chilean Tactical Divers)
- Participation in USAF Red Flag exercise at Nelllis AFB and CSAR exercise Woodland Cougar at Fairchild AFB, WA.
- Regional engagements with Army, Navy SOF, and Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) at Fort Ligget, Point Mugu, San Clemente Island, and Niland ranges all in CA.
Following in the footsteps of HC-9, HCS-5 continued to provide Combat Search and Rescue training to Fleet squadrons and Joint forces. Several times a year, HCS-5 would deploy one aircraft and a contingent of personnel to Fallon, Nevada to augment Helicopter Anti-Submarine (HS) squadrons performing CSAR and SOF training ahead of Carrier Air Group deployments. Additionally, HCS-5 would send upwards of six aircraft to Nellis Air Force Base to serve as the Rescue Element for Fighter Weapons School CSAR training with A-10 Warthog aircraft.
Between 1995 and 1999, the HH-60H received several mission-centric upgrades. These timely modifications included the addition of an integrated Forward Looking Infrared system (FLIR), the Hellfire missile system, an Aircraft Survivability Equipment sensor suite, a GAU-17 minigun, and M240 machine guns.
In June 2001, HCS-5 changed homeports from Point Mugu, California to San Diego, California. This located the squadron closer to the San Diego based SEAL Teams, the H-60 parts supply chain, and the Commander of the Navy Helicopter Wing Reserve (CHWR).
After the September 11 attacks, every HCS training detachment took on a sobering feel of a dress rehearsal for real-world operations. The day after 9/11, HCS-5 launched four aircraft to NAS Fallon, Nevada for a planned two week Unit Level Training (ULT) training detachment, honing CSAR and weaponry skills.
In February 2003, HCS-5 was on detachment in Fallon, Nevada when they received the notification to deploy to the Middle East in support of a new offensive in Iraq. Less than three weeks later, HCS-5 had four aircraft prepared and 50 personnel ready to deploy. On 22 March 2003, the Firehawks arrived at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait to support the newly formed Joint Special Operations Air Detachment, Arabian Peninsula (JSOAD-AP) alongside the US Air Force’s 20th and 21st Special Operations Squadrons flying the Sikorsky MH-53J/M Pave Low helicopter as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As combat operations changed in Iraq, command leadership was successful with effort to push the detachment forward to Baghdad to co-locate with special operation forces conducting missions across the region. In June 2003, the entire detachment moved forward to the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), occupying a combat damaged Hardened Aircraft Structure (HAS). This move enabled the detachment to provide maximum effort in conducting counter-insurgency missions with SOF ground forces to include Direct Action (DA) missions.
After 12 months of combat operations, the Firehawks passed control of the detachment to HCS-4. The turnover enabled the Firehawks to re-deploy aircraft and personnel home for a period of reset and re-constitution. The Firehawks left one aircraft and numerous personnel to augment HCS-4 detachment. Firehawks spent the next 12-months at home training for an eventual return to Iraq.
In June 2005, HCS-5 assumed responsibility for the Assault detachment for one final time. During this final deployment, the detachment participated in some of the most intense and concentrated direct-action missions experienced to date. Working with multi-national Special Operations teams, over 88 direct action missions resulted in the capture or killing of close to 400 insurgent personnel.
After three years of sustained operations in the CENTCOM AOR, Commander Naval Air Forces initiated efforts to shutter both Helicopter Combat Support Special squadrons. In compliance with the Navy’s new ‘Helicopter Master Plan’, dedicated SOF and CSAR squadrons would disestablish, leaving the mission to newly formed Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) squadrons. HCS-5 turned the detachment over yet again to HCS-4 and redeployed home 3 July 2006. Over the next five months, HCS-5 would endure the painstaking task of disestablishment, and transferring aircraft, personnel, and equipment to other fleet squadrons. The Firehawks officially disestablished 31 December 2006.