1st Helicopter Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 1st Helicopter Squadron is a United States Air Force
unit based at Andrews Air Force Base
, Maryland
assigned to the 316th Wing
that supports Washington D.C. capital area airlift for the Executive Branch, high-ranking dignitaries, high ranking military leaders and other VIPs. The squadron is tasked to support key government officials as well as search and rescue missions. Currently the squadron operates UH-1N Huey helicopters acquired in the early 1970s. Air Force Global Strike Command also operates the UH-1N and has proposed the Common Vertical Lift Support Platform (CVLSP) program to seek a replacement to their UH-1Ns..
for the Executive Department, high-ranking dignitaries, and distinguished visitors; support for emergency evacuation of key government officials; search and rescue
; and emergency medical evacuation.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit based at Andrews Air Force Base
Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
assigned to the 316th Wing
316th Wing
The 316th Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was the host wing at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland...
that supports Washington D.C. capital area airlift for the Executive Branch, high-ranking dignitaries, high ranking military leaders and other VIPs. The squadron is tasked to support key government officials as well as search and rescue missions. Currently the squadron operates UH-1N Huey helicopters acquired in the early 1970s. Air Force Global Strike Command also operates the UH-1N and has proposed the Common Vertical Lift Support Platform (CVLSP) program to seek a replacement to their UH-1Ns..
History
The 1st flew combat missions in the China Burma India Theater from, 14 February-9 May 1945 as a fighter unit. Since 1969 it has provided local airliftAirlift
Airlift is the act of transporting people or cargo from point to point using aircraft.Airlift may also refer to:*Airlift , a suction device for moving sand and silt underwater-See also:...
for the Executive Department, high-ranking dignitaries, and distinguished visitors; support for emergency evacuation of key government officials; search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
; and emergency medical evacuation.
Lineage
- 1st Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron (1944)
- 1st Fighter Squadron, Commando (1944–1969)
- 1st Helicopter Squadron (1969–Present)
Assignments
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(1944) - 2d ir Commando Group (1944–1945)
- 1st Composite Wing (1969–1976)
- 89th Airlift Wing89th Airlift WingThe 89th Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force is based at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility and has an operational force of over 1,000 personnel...
(1976–2006) - 316th Wing316th WingThe 316th Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was the host wing at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland...
(2006–Present)
Stations
- Lakeland Army Air FieldLakeland Linder Regional AirportLakeland Linder Regional Airport is a public airport located four miles southwest of the central business district of Lakeland, a city in Polk County, Florida, United States...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(1944) - Cross City, Florida (1944)
- Alachua Army Air Field, Florida (1944)
- Drew Field, Florida (1944)
- Kalaikunda, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(1944–1945) - Cox's Bazaar, India (1945)
- Camp KilmerCamp KilmerCamp Kilmer, New Jersey is a former United States Army camp that was activated in June 1942 as a staging area and part of an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation. The camp was organized as part of the Army Service Forces Transportation Corps. Troops were quartered at Camp Kilmer in...
, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
(1945) - Andrews Air Force BaseAndrews Air Force BaseJoint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
, MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
(1969–Present)
Weapon Systems Operated
- P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(1944–1945) - F-6 Mustang (1944)
- CH-21 ShawneeCH-21 ShawneeThe Piasecki H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee is an American helicopter, the fourth of a line of tandem rotor helicopters designed and built by Piasecki Helicopter . Commonly called the "flying banana", it was a multi-mission helicopter, utilizing wheels, skis, or floats.The H-21 was originally developed by...
(1969–1970) - TH-1 (1969–1970)
- UH-1 IroquoisUH-1 IroquoisThe Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
(1969–Present) - CH-3 Jolly Green Giant (1970–1988)