Helicopter Squadron to Commemorate Naval Aviation Centennial at Sea

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josh Cassatt, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The celebration of 100 years of naval aviation is set to kick off aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island in San Diego, Feb. 10.

The "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 – due to deployment commitments - will be honoring the milestone at sea while aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

"It's unfortunate that we're not going to be in San Diego for the celebration, but America needs us out there on the front," said Command Master Chief Al Lamb, HS-4 senior enlisted leader. "We're excited about 100 years of naval aviation, but we're also excited about this deployment and protecting the men and women abroad, and supporting our ground troops."

The Centennial of Naval Aviation, commemorating 100 years of progress and achievement in naval aviation, is a year-long tribute to the scope of all naval aviation activities, including aircraft, people, ships, innovations and significant events.

The year 2011 not only marks naval aviation's 100th anniversary, it also will be the last year HS-4 will exist as an anti-submarine warfare squadron. The squadron will be disestablished following deployment and will become Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4.

"HS-4 has been around for 59 years, and it is fitting that we will celebrate a milestone ourselves during this centennial," said Cmdr. Robert Aguilar, HS-4 commanding officer. "We are going to spend the next 12 months reliving our history as a squadron as we celebrate 100 years of Naval aviation."

For the Sailors assigned to HS-4, the celebration will be observed through the rigorous operations of a helicopter squadron aboard an aircraft carrier at sea.

"We have an extremely high operation tempo," said Lamb. "We fly every day, and our pilots and maintenance personnel are some of the best in the fleet. As a command master chief, I couldn't be more proud of our Sailors. They are the most committed Sailors I've ever seen in my 25 years in the Navy."

HS-4 is a squadron with a rich tradition. It was commissioned June 30, 1952 in Imperial Beach, Calif., and became the first anti-submarine warfare squadron to deploy aboard an aircraft carrier; the USS Rendova (CVE 14).

HS-4 is also famous for pioneering techniques used in the Apollo capsule recoveries, and was the squadron responsible for recovering the astronauts from Apollo 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13.

"HS-4 has a proud tradition in naval aviation," said Lamb. "We will continue to build on that tradition and lead from the front."

NAS North Island is known as the "Birthplace of Naval Aviation." On Feb. 17, 1911, inventor and aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss taxied his seaplane to the battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB 38), anchored in San Diego Bay.

From that historic day, naval aviation has continued to thrive and expand, and it is in that spirit of innovation that the Centennial of Naval Aviation will be honored throughout 2011.

The year-long celebration will kick off aboard NAS North Island with four days of festivities Feb. 10-13, including carrier and ship tours, static display aircraft, a classic car show and a parade of flight featuring more than 75 aircraft.

"The history of naval aviation has been a dynamic part of American history," said Aguilar. "There is a small group of men and women who have been a part of that history who provide a great service to their country."

Navy's Centennial of Naval Aviation Aircraft Heritage Paint Schemes

From our friend Mike down in the FLA:

A former Navy pilot friend of mine happened to send a power point listing of Navy aircraft that will be (or have been) painted in Heritage paint schemes in honor of the Navy's Centennial of Naval Aviation.

The aircraft will be repainted as the selected aircraft is scheduled for maintenance. Schedule for completion is March 2011. Might be worth watching for these during the upcoming airshow season. Found photos of most of the completed aircraft here: http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/5390052732

Here are the BuNo's and squadrons for the aircraft from above:
163656 T-45C TAW-2 Kingsville NAS
160984 T-44A VT-31 Corpus Christi NAS
165523 T-39N CTW-6 Pensacola NAS
161841 T-34C TAW-4 Corpus Christi NAS
164172 T-34C TAW-5 Whiting Field NAS
164169 T-34C TAW-5 Whiting Field NAS
166064 T-6B TAW-5 Whiting Field NAS
160581 S-3B VX-30 Point Mugu NAS (PMTR)
166323 MH-60S HSC-3 North Island NAS
166524 MH-60R HSM-41 North Island NAS
163787 HH-60H HSC-84 Norfolk NS
162866 F/A-18A VFA-204 New Orleans NAS
166899 EA-18G VAQ-129 Whidbey Island NAS
161197 TC-12B VT-35 Corpus Christi NAS

Not shown:
162064 TH-57 TAW-5 Whiting Field NAS - Earliest standard naval insignia on aircraft was this anchor, seen as early as 1914

Awaiting painting:
158206 P-3C PATWING 10 Whidbey Island - Black/White (waiting, Jax NAS)
160770 P-3C PATWING 2 Hawaii - Seaplane Gray/White (in paint at Jax NAS)
161591 P-3C PATWING 11 Jax NAS - "Strawberry 5" (waiting, Nippi)
165966 T-6A CTW-6 P-Cola - Gloss Sea Blue (waiting, Jax NAS)
160609 EA-6B VAQ-129 Whidbey Island - Coral Sea scheme (in paint Whidbey Island)
164673 F/A-18C VFC-12 Norfolk - Gloss Sea Blue WWII (waiting, North Island NAS)
163733 F/A-18C VFA-122 Lemoore - Blue/Blue/White WWII (in paint, Jax NAS)
TBD F/A-18A VX-31 China Lake - Heritage China Lake Test Scheme (in paint, Fallon)
158270 UH-1N HMLAT-303 Camp Pendleton - Major Pless MoH aircraft (in paint, Camp Pendleton)