Tue, Mar 13, 2007
H-3 Heading For Foreign Resale
Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 85 held a
decommissioning ceremony for the Navy’s last H-3 Sea King
helicopter March 6. The helicopter departed California's Naval Air
Station North Island en route to Atlanta to be prepped for foreign
military sales.
For the past six months the Navy has phased out the H-3s and
replaced them with the MH-60 helicopters which have newer
technology, capabilities, and advanced ergonomics.
"Although this is a sad day for anyone who has had the pleasure
of flying or working on it," said Cmdr. James Cluxton, commanding
officer of HSC-85 who has flown the H-3 for the past seven years.
"The Sea King has far exceeded original expectations and has forged
a long, proud legacy."
During the past 37 years, HSC-85 used the H-3 for search and
rescue missions as well as to launch/recover mobile anti-submarine
warfare targets and torpedoes.
Dave Williams, the Navy’s last official H-3 technical
representative, said it was sad to see it go.
"I will miss its reliability and versatility," he said.
"It’s an all around good aircraft."
As the H-3 Sea King prepared to taxi down the runway for the
last time, Cluxton concluded his farewell.
"Today we say 'fair winds and following seas' to an old friend
as this aircraft moves on to another location and to another round
of dedicated service. There’s only one King -- long live the
King!"
(ANN salutes Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class
Stephanie Tigner, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific)
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