HS-9

Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 9 (HS-9) was an Antisubmarine Warfare Squadron helicopter squadron of the United States Navy that was originally commissioned in 1956 at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island with five HSS-1 “Seabat” helicopters. The squadron was deactivated in 1968. A new HS-9 was commissioned in 1976, deploying eight, Sikorsky SH-3H “Sea Kings”. It was again decommissioned in 1993.

HS-9 saw combat in the Middle East during the 1990-1991 Gulf War and deployed around the globe, including the Arctic Circle and Cape Horn. The squadron also appeared on the silver screen in the movie The Final Countdown.

The “Sea Griffins” adopted a uniform patch design that included a Griffin standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier breaking a submarine into two pieces.

History

On 1 June 1956, the Navy's first all weather helicopter squadron was established at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island as Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron NINE (HS-9). The squadron began with five HSS-1 "Seabat" helicopters flown and supported by 20 officers and 100 enlisted men (tail code "HE"). HS-9 was first assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Leyte (CVS-32) and made two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean in 1957 and 1958. After retirement of the Leyte, HS-9 was assigned to the USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) and operated in the Atlantic Ocean in 1959.