12 minute read
The Firehawks Say Farewell
By CDR Robert “Ricky Bobby” Coffman, USN
On Friday, 30 June 2023, the Firehawks of HSC-85 conducted their last flight and celebrated their contributions as a warfighting unit prior to their deactivation on 30 September 2023. The squadron’s deactivation is historic, as it not only marks the end to the longest continuously serving Navy Reserve Squadron, but also the end of 57 years of the Navy’s continuous dedicated rotary-wing support to Naval Special Warfare and Combat Search and Rescue. The deactivation of HSC-85 in 2023 follows the 2016 disestablishment of its sister squadron, the Red Wolves of HSC-84, and the disestablishment of the other Reserve HSC augment units; Tactical Support Units on each coast, and the HSC Squadron Augmentation Unit at HSC-3 in 2021. In October, the HSC-3 Fleet Support Detachment servicing the Southern California Tactical Training Range (formerly SCORE) will carry the torch as the last Reserve HSC formation.
As we close out this chapter of the last operational Reserve Combat Support Squadron, it is prudent to recall its history, highlight key contributions to the Navy rotary-wing community, and recognize the capability and capacity HSC85 and its forbears have provided to Commanders across the Joint Force over the many years of operations.
Community History
HSC-85’s lineage encompasses a number of previous aviation units, both active and reserve, including the U.S. Navy’s first operational helicopter squadron, the Fleet Angels of Helicopter Utility Squadron ONE (HU-1), which was established in April 1948. These predecessors performed missions including anti-submarine warfare, logistics, combat search and rescue, close air support and special operations support.
HU-1 was re-designated as Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 1 (HC-1) in 1966 and deployed in detachments to support combat operations in Vietnam. The squadron continued to grow and expand its missions, leading to its reorganization into four new squadrons. Of those new units, the Sea Devils of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 7 (HC7) were assigned the “Combat Search and Rescue” mission and the Seawolves of Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) 3
(HA(L)-3) were assigned the “Special Operations Support” mission. Additionally, the utility of helicopters continued to grow throughout U.S. Navy operations, and “Anti-Submarine Warfare” helicopter units were also established to protect surface action groups from submarine threats and provide search and rescue capabilities and “Logistics Support” to the Surface Fleet.
After hostilities ended in Vietnam, the Navy recognized a need to form reserve aviation squadrons in order to retain the expertise and hard-earned lessons of combat-experienced aviators and maintenance personnel leaving active service, but willing to remain in the Navy Reserve as citizen Sailors. In June 1975, Helicopter Wing Reserve (HELWINGRES) was established at NAS North Island and included the HA(L)4 Red Wolves and HA(L)-5 Bluehawks performing special operations support and the HC-9 Protectors performing combat search and rescue.
Anti-Submarine Warfare, Fleet and Logistics Support
As demand for rotary-wing support to the Fleet also grew, the Golden Gaters of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 85 (HS-85) were established in July 1970. Operating out of NAS Alameda, HS-85 flew the Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King and later the SH-3D and SH-3H, providing logistics support to the Pacific Fleet and serving as a repository of anti-submarine experience and talent for aircrews and maintainers in the Navy Reserve. In 1993, HS-85 moved from NAS Alameda to NAS North Island in San Diego, CA.
In October 1994, HS85 was re-designated as HC-85 while retaining the Golden Gaters name. HC85 operated the UH-3H Sea King and remained a provider of search and rescue and logistics support to the Pacific Fleet, as well as supporting target launch and torpedo recovery on the Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE) Complex at San Clemente Island.
In February 2006, the squadron was again redesignated, this time as Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC-85) High Rollers. Trading in its UH-3H Sea Kings for Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawks, HSC-85 deployed to Kuwait as part of the 2515th Navy Air Ambulance Detachment (NAAD), provided critical firefighting support in San Diego in 2007, and continued its Pacific Fleet and SCORE support until 2011 when the squadron was re-tasked to dedicated special operations support.
Combat Search and Rescue Support
On September 1, 1967, the HC-7 Sea Devils were established out of two separate HC-1 search and rescue detachments, one homeported at NAAF Ream Field in Imperial Beach, CA and one homeported at NAF Atsugi, Japan. HC-7 flew the Kaman HH-2C Sea Sprite and Sikorsky HH-3A Sea King – dubbed “Big Mothers” – and deployed as detachments supporting combat search and rescue operations throughout the Pacific Fleet and Southeast Asia areas of operations. Following an incredible record of over 150 personnel rescued (including fighter aces, LT William Driscoll and LT Randy Cunningham), 5 Navy Crosses, 3 Silver Stars, 8 Distinguished Flying Crosses and Medal of Honor awarded to LT Clyde Lassen, HC-7 and all associated detachments were disestablished on June 30, 1975.
In order to preserve the combat experience of HC-7 aircrews and personnel, the U.S. Navy Reserve immediately established the HC-9 Protectors on August 1, 1975 as part of HELWINGRES. HC-9 continued to fly the HH-3A Sea King, providing combat search and rescue tactical training, as well as operational support when called upon, to carrier strike groups. HC-9 was disestablished in 1988 as HELWINGRES combined combat search and rescue and special operations support into two remaining reserve squadrons, Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons (Special) 4 and 5 (HCS-4 and HCS-5).
Special Operations Support
In 1966, U.S. Forces in Vietnam initiated Operation GAME WARDEN, which consisted of Navy SEALs patrolling the rivers of the Mekong Delta in an attempt to limit Viet Cong traffic. They were supported from the air during enemy contact by U.S. Army Bell UH-1 Iroquois Gunships. The distance from the Army gunship bases was often too great for timely support, and HC-1 was soon called upon due to their closer proximity to the waterways of the Delta. Stationed aboard Tank Landing Ships (LST), HC-1 operated in twohelicopter detachments of UH-1 Hueys. As HC-1 grew and became too unwieldy to be effective as a single squadron, the detachments of Operation SEALORDS were consolidated into a single squadron, the HA(L)-3 Seawolves, in April 1967. The squadron of former HC-1 and new personnel eventually comprised nine detachments along the Delta with a maintenance headquarters at Binh Thuy, Vietnam.
The Seawolves’ support to Navy SEALs and Patrol Boat Riverine (PBR) Crews during 78,000 combat missions between April 1967 and March 1972 is legendary. As the most decorated squadron in Naval Aviation history, their operations in Vietnam resulted in 24,000 individual decorations, including 5 Navy Crosses, 31 Silver Stars, 219 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16,000 Air Medals and six Presidential Unit Citations. Forty-four Seawolves were killed-in-action or remain missing. As the U.S. withdrew from Vietnam, HA(L)3 was disestablished in March 1972, giving the unit the distinction of being the only Naval Aviation squadron to be established and disestablished outside of the United States.
Again, in order to preserve combat experience in helicopter operations, HELWINGRES established two squadrons to continue the special operations support mission, the Red Wolves of HA(L)-4 and the Bluehawks of HA(L)-5. HA(L)-5, established in March, 1977 and based at NAS Point Mugu, and HA(L)-4, established one year later and based at NS Norfolk, both operated the HH1K Huey, supported Naval Special Warfare through special operations training and deployed operational support when called upon.
On October 1, 1988, HA(L)-5 was redesignated HCS-5, became known as the Firehawks, and eventually moved to NAS North Island. HA(L)-4 was re-designated HCS-4 and kept the Red Wolves name. Both squadrons transitioned to the Sikorsky HH-60H—known unofficially as the Rescue Hawk and specifically designed for the Navy Reserve squadrons’ requirements—and continued their mission of special operations support and integrating the combat search and rescue mission when HC-9 was disestablished.
The Firehawks of HCS-5 and Red Wolves of HCS-4 continued to provide worldwide support to Combatant Commander requirements, to include combat search and rescue operations during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, special operations support during UPHOLD DEMOCRACY, and performing both missions during support to Joint Special Operations Air Detachment, Arabian Peninsula (JSOAD-AP) during IRAQI FREEDOM. As a testament to their dedication and support to the Joint Force, both HCS-5 and HCS-4 flew a combined total of 13,481 combat hours during IRAQI FREEDOM, earned 1,437 Strike/Flight Air Medals, 120 single action Air Medals with valor, 15 Bronze Stars, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and supported the capture of 732 High Value Targets. While still performing combat operations, HCS-5 was disestablished on December 31, 2006, leaving HCS-4, re-designated HSC-84, as the sole Navy squadron dedicated to special operations support until its deactivation in 2016.
Contemporary Operations
In 2010, HSC-85 was re-tasked to dedicated special operations support at the request of U.S. Special Operations Command as a result of the continued critical combat support provided by HSC-84 to JSOAD-AP in Iraq and the everincreasing demand for capable SOF-support rotary-wing crews. HSC-85 assumed the Firehawks name and insignia from HCS-5 and transitioned from the MH-60S to the HH-60H. The HSC-85 Firehawks began supporting special operations in 2011, and first deployed to the U.S. IndoPacific (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility in 2013 in support of Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC) operational requirements. Later that year, the squadron established a continuously forward-deployed detachment in INDOPACOM, supporting numerous operations and exercises with Joint, partner, and allied forces all throughout the region, while also supporting every component of U.S. special operations training across the United States.
In 2015, budget constraints directed the deactivation of HSC-84 and HSC-85, even as both were deployed at the time in support of theater command’s contingency and operational requirements. While HSC-85 was ultimately retained to support NSW and INDOPACOM requirements, HSC-84 was disestablished in 2016, with the U.S. Navy pledging to retain special operations and combat search and rescue mission experience in newly formed Tactical Support Units on both the east (TSULANT) and west (TSUPAC) coasts. These support units were later deactivated due to budget constraints in 2021.
The Firehawks returned to INDOPACOM in 2017, but later that year the squadron was ordered to provide critical combat search and rescue support to U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM). As the rotary-wing component of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), HSC-85 aircrews flew hundreds of combat missions in support of U.S. and Partner special operations forces in and around the Horn of Africa and saved numerous partner force lives while performing combat casualty evacuations in support of combined operations. After completing their mission and being relieved by joint forces, HSC-85’s detachment returned directly to INDOPACOM in 2018.
In December 2018, HSC-85’s overseas detachment redeployed from INDOPACOM to NAS North Island and transitioned from the HH-60H to the Block III MH-60S. The squadron deployed its first MH-60S detachment to INDOPACOM in June 2019, along with MH-60S aircraft uniquely equipped with the GAU-17 minigun and other Navy Reserve-funded modifications to improve safety and lethality. These modifications included: DAIRCM for increased survivability; Cabin J-Voice transmit and receive for increased aircrew situational awareness; and a FRIES quickrelease system enabling aircrew to release fastropes from their gunner seat while also being able to man their crew-served weapons.
Between 2019 and 2022, the squadron maintained a continuous detachment in INDOPACOM, supporting multiple Joint Chiefs of Staff exercises throughout the region, while also representing the only dedicated rotary-wing asset for special operations forwarddeployed in the theater. Due to the size of the INDOPACOM area of responsibility, the Firehawks frequently utilized both Strategic Airlift (STRATLIFT) and self-deployment to move throughout the theater for exercise and operational support, routinely basing and operating in remote and austere locations. Through these experiences, the Firehawks developed critical lessons learned for Navy and Joint rotary-wing communities that are especially relevant to growing community requirements. They conducted critical deterrence operations against our strategic competitor in the region, conducted multiple selfsupported long-range intra-theater movements throughout INDOPACOM, and provided rapid support for the President of the United States when visiting the theater.
After a decade of near-continuous deployment to INDOPACOM, financial constraints again precipitated the deactivation of HSC-85. Initially, analysis from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD SOLIC) gave the squadron a reprieve by reporting that “no other service has a General Purpose Force unit capable of performing [missions] at the level of HSC85” and directed funding. Ultimately, budget demands still required unit deactivation and the Firehawks re-deployed from INDOPACOM to NAS North Island in September 2022. As the last operational Reserve Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron, the deactivation of HSC-85 marks the culmination of the community's 57 years of dedicated rotary-wing support to Naval Special Warfare and Combat Search and Rescue.
The Firehawks take immense pride in the fact that since 1970, the squadron has provided Combatant Commanders, the Joint Force, the Navy, and the Navy Reserve with cost effective, combat-credible aircraft, aircrew, and maintainers ready to provide surge capacity and strategic depth, at home or abroad, across the full spectrum of operations. HSC-85 has validated the model that Navy Reserve squadrons can accomplish the most intensive missions efficiently and that Navy Rotary Wing Aviation can execute the most demanding combat operations effectively.
The experience and ethos of the Firehawks will be spread across the Fleet and the HSC Community as their exceptional Active and Reserve Sailors join new units. They will take with them humility knowing that they stood on the shoulders of giants in the Navy Rotary Wing Community, and zeal to share their knowledge and experience to sustain helicopter combat support for years to come.
The experience and ethos of the Firehawks will be spread across the Fleet and the HSC Community as their exceptional Active and Reserve Sailors join new units. They will take with them humility knowing that they stood on the shoulders of giants in the Navy Rotary Wing Community, and zeal to share their knowledge and experience to sustain helicopter combat support for years to come.
