HSC-8

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight


caption= HSC-8 Emblem
dates= June 1, 1956 to present
country= United States
branch= USN
type= Navy Helicopter Squadron
role= Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW)
Combat Search & Rescue (CSAR)
Search & Rescue (SAR)
Special Operations (SpecOps)
Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP)
size=
command_structure= CVW-9
Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific
current_commander= Cmdr. Lawrence Vincent
executive_officer= Cmdr. Mike Ruth
command_master_chief= CMDCM (AW/SW) Eduardo S. Castro
garrison= NAS North Island
nickname= "Eightballers"
motto= 'Welcome to the show!'
colors= Green and Black
battles= Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Global War on Terror

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight (HSC-8) "Eightballers" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California. HSC-8 is attached to [http://www.lemoore.navy.mil/cvw-9/ Carrier Air Wing Nine] (CVW-9) and deploys aboard USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74. HSC-8 was redesignated from HS-8 on 28 Sept 2007.

Squadron Mission

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight's primary mission is to employ the versatility of the MH-60S helicopter to support the battle group commander's objectives, with emphasis on anti-surface warfare (ASUW), combat search and rescue (CSAR), support of special operations, and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). Secondary missions include anti-ship missile defense and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).

Squadron History

The original HS-8 was established at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Ream Field, Imperial Beach, California on June 1, 1956. The first helicopters employed by the command were the HSS-1 (H-34) Sea Bat. The squadron performed eight Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployments between 1957 and 1968 including combat tours in Vietnam. Notable achievements included the a 1,200 mile medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) made by helicopter, the longest in history. Other squadron achievements included participation in the Apollo VI space vehicle/crew recovery and performing more than 30 Combat Search and Rescue missions in North Vietnam.The squadron was decommissioned in November 1968 only to be recommissioned a year later on November 1, 1969. Although the Navy does not officially recognize lineage between the two squadrons [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq6-1.htm] , the newly established squadron resumed the insignia and traditions of the former squadron. With the new commissioning came new helicopters, namely the SH-3D. Notable achievements during the next decade included site surveys for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, a study of blue whale migration patterns, supporting President Nixon during his working vacation aboard the USS "New Orleans" and deploying in response to the Iranian hostage crisis. In 1976 the American Bicentennial Committee honored HS-8 as a bicentennial command. The squadrons 19th deployment came in response to Desert Shield/Desert Storm in December 1990. This deployment was the last for HS-8 in the SH-3.

On April 2, 1993 HS-8 completed transition from the SH-3H into the new SH-60F/HH-60H Seahawk helicopter. The 21st WESTPAC was concluded in May 1996 followed in September 1997 by an "Around the World Cruise" with the USS "Nimitz". Deployments after this were routine until September 11 2001.

From November 2001 to May 2002 HS-8 and Carrier Air Wing Nine deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom. There they played a vital role in the campaign that ended with the removal of the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

HS-8 made another WESTPAC deployment from January to September 2003 followed by their second "Around the World Cruise" from January to August of 2005 aboard the USS "Carl Vinson". The squadron earned the Carrier Air Wing Nine Golden Wrench Award for superior maintenance and mission completion percentages as well as the Battle E Device (Navy Battle Efficiency Award) for the 2005 World Cruise.

In early December 2005 an HS-8 helicopter and aircrew participated in filming a portion of the television show '24' where the helicopter was transporting the fictitious Russian president and his wife to the American presidents ranch. [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=21389 (Navy News Stand)]

On September 28, 2007 at Naval Air Station North Island, Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Eight was redesignated as Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight and received its first MH-60S with the armed helo kit [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=32183/ Navy News Stand]

Former Commanding Officers

*2002 - 2003 Cmdr. Nosenzo
*2003 - 2004 Cmdr. Thom Burke
*2004 - 2006 Cmdr. Marc Homan
*2006 - 2007 Cmdr. Joey Tynch
*2007 - 2008 Cmdr. Lawrence Vincent
*2008 - 2010 Cmdr. Mike Ruth

quadron Aircraft

H-34 Choctaw (redesignated SH-34 in 1962)
*HSS-1, 1956 - 1960
* SH-3A Sea King ,1962-1969 (night dipping capability)

H-3 Sea King
*SH-3D 1969 - 1993
*SH-3H, 1969 - 1993

SH-60 Seahawk
*SH-60F, 1993 - 2007
*HH-60H, 1993 - 2007
*MH-60S, 2007 - present (redesignated HSC-8 in 2007)

quadron Awards

*National Bicentennial Command
**1976
*Navy Unit Commendation
**1990
*Meritorious Unit Commendation
**1985
**1987
**1996
**2003
*Battle E Device (Navy Battle Efficiency Award)
**1980
**1983
**1986
**1995
**2005
*Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophy for Antisubmarine Warfare Excellence
**Eight Awards
**2006
*Admiral Jimmy Thach Award for Best Carrier Antisubmarine Warfare Squadron in the Navy
**Five Awards
**2006
*Top Torpedo Award for Antisubmarine Warfare Excellence
**1982
**1983
**1984
**1991
**1992
*Sikorsky Superior Maintenance Award
**1983
**1984
**1985
**2003
*Navy Golden Anchor Award
**1991
**1997
*Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award
**1983
**1985
**1986
**1990
**1994
**2002 "for 22 years and 72,000 flight hours without a Class 'A' mishap."

hips Deployed Aboard

*USS Princeton (CVS-37) 1958-1968
*USS Hornet (CVS-12) 1958-1968
*USS Bennington (CVS-20) 1960-1974
*USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14)
*USS New Orleans (LPH-11) 1970
*USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)
*USS Constellation (CV-64) 1985-1990
*USS Independence (CV-62) 1990-1995
*USS Nimitz (CVN-68) 1995-2000
*USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) 2003-2005
*USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 2000-2003, 2006-present

See also

* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Navy_aircraft_squadrons#Helicopter_Squadrons]
* CVW-9
* SH-60 Seahawk
* USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)

External links

* [http://www.hs8.navy.mil/ Official website]

References

* [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=32183/ HSC-8 Established]
* [http://www.hs8.navy.mil/ HSC-8 Homepage]