UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET AIR FORCE
HELICOPTER SQUADRON ONE (HU-1)
HISTORY OF HU-1

The helicopter was conceived in the minds of Devinvi, deCierva, Focke and Sikorsky; it was constructed in various shapes and designs in many countries; and it passed through seemingly unorthodox stages of development before it achieved maturity and proved its worth during the Korean conflict. Of its worth there can be little doubt, for no other aircraft so pointedly demonstrated such tremendous, far-reaching capabilities as did the helicopter during the first two years of the Korean action.

Commensurate with the development of the helicopter, the U.S. Navy's helicopter Squadron One has known both the pains and fame of growing up rapidly. On April 1, 1948, Helicopter Squardon One was commissioned as the first operational Navy helicopter squardon. Although the commissioning took place at Lakehurst, New Jersey, the squardon first took on a physical shape at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Miramar, California. It was a meager beginning. The nation was faced with drastic curtailment of military expendituries. Only a handful of helicopters with promises of few more, comprised the aircraft of the squardon. A half dozen or so men now known as pioneers in the helicopter field, flew these helicopters to the delight and amazement of both press and public. The Navy had already realized the operational value of the helicopter, however, and soon began HU-1 for the purpose it was created - - utility service in support of ships.

Now, five years after commissioning, HU-1 is the largest, most active five-year-old in the Navy. As the only Navy helicopter squardon presently operating in Korea, HU-1 employs groups men and helicopters known as units to accomplish the task of providing every major ship in the Far East with helicopter services. A unit usually consists of two pilots and approxmately six men. these men fulfill the maintenance and crewmen requirments. The units have been and will continue to be the back-bone of HU-1's Far East effort. Besides being based on our own major ships, units have been detached on Korean Islands, British carriers, diminutive LSTs and icebreakers.

During the five years of continual growth, HU-1 has been called upon to perform the following services:

(a) Rescue
(b) Transfer of personnel, material and mail at sea
(c) Photography flights
(d) Serve as eyes to aim our big guns at the enemy
(e) Mine reconnaissance
(f) Aerial mapping
(g) Planting seed for California Agriculture Department
(h) Radar calibration
(I) Weather Scouting
(j) Evacuation of wounded
(k) Demonstration
(l) Ice reconnaissance
(m) Wild Life surveys
(n) Mineral surveys
(o) Botannical survey
(p) Exploration
(q) Flights in connection with guided missiles
(r) Radio and homing calibration
(s) Transfer of important personages to historical meetings
(t) Immigration control

The most outstanding, and by far the most gratifying, work HU-1 accomplished has been the resuces of downed airman and trapped infantryman. At the turn of the year more than 450 men had been rescued via HU-1 helicopters. this figure represents actual rescues and not the normal rearward evacuation of wounded or mere transportation of personnel. Many of these rescues were conducted while the enemy fired at point blank range. The courage of both pilots and crewmen under these conditions can best be realized by noting the decorations constantly being bestowed. Four men from HU-1 wear the secong highest award in the nation - the Navy Cross. The Silver Star, is pending for another, the Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to twelve men, while more than seventy-five men are recipients of the Air Medal. three personnel of HU-1 wear the award of the purple heart as a result of wounds received from the enemy while engaged in rescue operations.

The particular type of helicopter to which the majority of praise is due, is the HO3S-1, a four seater, single engine type machine, made by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. HU-1 also uses helicopters made by Piasecki, Bell, and Kaman for training purposes. New types are continually being tested before assignment to HU-1 as operational aircraft.

Helicopter Squadron One has grown considerably during the past five years. It has coordinated the men and machines into smoothly functioning units that are spread over the vast reaches of the Pacific. It has maintained it's own training for both pilots and crewmen, and has provided a nucleus of key personnel to form subsequent squadrons. It has spawned ideas and techniques that have closely approached perfection of the many usefull functions to which a helicopter can be subjected.

But these techniques and ideas are valueless without the men behind the machines, the men who maintain and service the helicopter. These men have proved themselves equal to this magnificant task by cheerfully and whole- heartedly working far into the night to accomplish the work that keeps the helicopter in the air. Helicopter Squadron One is justifiably proud of it's number

ONE - first, if not only in the date of commissioning, but in usefullness to the great Pacific fleet it serves.

The preceding document was made available to HU-1 squadron personnel in 1953. My copy was attached to a letter commemorating the squadrons 5th year on April 1, 1953, and was sent to my folks by my Commanding Officer, H.M. Kosciusko, CDR, USN.

At the on set of the Korean War in 1950 HU-1 provided helicopters and air- crews to large and small aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, LST's, and British aircraft carriers. While the main mission was the recovery of downed airmen, these units also performed target spotting for naval gunfire on shore installations, and harbor mine locations.

The HO3S helicopter was the only operational "chopper" available to the Navy for service in Korea that was equipped with a hoist for "sea/air" rescue missions.

The squadron was redesignated as HC-1 on July 1, 1965.

Doug Froling Seattle,WA.

HU-1 Commanding Officers

M. A. Peters April 1948
E. B. Noble Sept. 1949
D. S. Billet Dec. 1950
H. M. Kosciusko Feb. 1952
E. F. Hayes June 1953
V. U. Muirhead Mar. 1955
R. S. Kilcourse Aug. 1956
A. C. Snider Dec. 1957
J. F. Wunderlich Dec. 1958
W. F. Culley Dec. 1959
W. D. Tracey Nov. 1960
J. D. Kuser Oct. 1961
W. C. Casey June 1962
R. C. Olive June 1963
W. D. Fisher April 1964
D. A. Wente Feb. 1965