HSC-6

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (HSC-6), also known as Indians is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy established in 1956. The squadron was commissioned as Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6 (HS-6) and completed transition to Helicopter Sea Combat on 8 July 2011. Based at Naval Air Station North Island, HSC-6 is part of Carrier Air Wing 11 and deploys aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

History

Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6 (HS-6) was established on 1 June 1956 aboard USS Princeton (CVS-37) midway between the islands of Formosa and Okinawa. Initially, the squadron flew the Sikorsky HO4S, but two years later transitioned to the Sikorsky HSS-1N Seabat and gained a new mission, anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

In April 1960, the squadron joined Carrier Anti-Submarine Group 53 aboard USS Kearsarge (CVS-33). In March 1962 the squadron again changed aircraft when the Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King entered the fleet. The Sea King, incorporating upgrades over the years, would take HS-6 into the 1990s. HS-6 recovered Mercury Program astronauts Wally Schirra in 1962 and Gordon Cooper in 1963. In 1966, during U.S. strikes into Vietnam, the Indians rescued 16 downed aviators, for which the squadron received the Navy Unit Commendation. A 7th Fleet Commendation followed in 1969 for services provided following the collision at sea between USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) and HMAS Melbourne (R21). In 1971, the Indians recovered the crew of Apollo 14 returning from the moon. Later that year, the squadron deployed to the east coast to join Carrier Air Wing 7 aboard USS Independence (CVA-62) to conduct an evaluation of the emerging CV concept.