HC-1 "Pacific Fleet Angels"
With all the news about the USS Abraham Lincoln I've been thinking a bit about my own time deployed on the USS Bon Homme Richard during the Vietnam War. I was assigned to the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron One (HC-1) Detachment 3. My job was maintenance of avionics and navigation systems on our Kaman Seasprite helicopters. Fun fact, the Kaman company also made Ovation guitars.
Our mission was to remain in the air during flight operation as a plane guard in case a plane went down during take off our landing. We also provided a transport service for personnel. Mandatory rescue training exercises were required and I was lucky enough to get a few photos of that.
Training Exercise
Crewman is lowered into water and secures the downed pilot.
Deployment Length
We left San Diego on April 20, 1970 and returned November 12, 1970. I was able to celebrate Christmas at home. Unlike the crews under the mis-management of the current administration we had regular ports of call for ship maintenance and recuperation.
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