HS-4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four (HS-4) is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy established in 1952.
HS-4 was commissioned on 30 June 52 at U.S. Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, Imperial Beach, California. Since commissioning, the squadron has flown several different types of helicopters, including: HO-3S, HUP-2, H-19, SH-34J and SH-3 series. The current airframe is the Sikorsky SH-60F SeaHawk.
HS-4 was the First Anti-submarine Warfare(ASW) helicopter squadron to deploy aboard an aircraft carrier—USS Rendova (CVE-114). In 1961, it became the first ASW squadron in Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific(COMNAVAIRPAC) to achieve around-the-clock ASW capability, earning HS-4 the title "Black Knights".
HS-4 was initiated into combat during its 1966 Western pacific(WESTPAC) cruise to Southeast Asia. While operating in the Gulf of Tonkin, HS-4 pilots and aircrew rescued 24 downed airmen under hostile fire, a record for an ASW squadron in a single deployment.
In 1968, HS-4 was aboard USS Yorktown (CVS-10), part of the Task Force sent to the Sea of Japan at the beginning of the USS Pueblo incident. During late 1968 through the spring of 1970, HS-4 pioneered techniques for the Apollo's 8 and 10-13 series recoveries, for which it earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation(MUC). Concurrently with the Apollo missions, HS-4 was instrumental in developing new ASW techniques and maintaining operational readiness, receiving a second MUC while operating aboard USS Hornet(CVS-12).
The "Knights" were aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) during a WESTPAC cruise where they helped prove the CV concept, which integrated helicopter and fixed-wing ASW aircraft with the fighter and attack communities.
HS-4 has amassed numerous awards since its inception: seven-time winner of the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award, Arleigh Burke Fleet trophy in 1978, five-time winner of the Battle 'E'(Battle Efficiency), three-time winner of the Captain Arnold J. Tobell trophy for ASW excellence and the Sikorsky 'Excellence in Maintenance' Award for 1979, 1982 and 1983. In 1983, HS-4 was aboard the third of the Nimitz class supercarriers—USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)—dubbed the "Eagle of the Sea," attached to Carrier air wing Fifteen (CVW-15), for its inaugural around-the-world cruise, bringing the ship to its new homeport at NAS Alameda in San Francisco.
The Black Knights are homeported at Naval Air Station(NAS) North Island, San Diego, California.
