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Group Port Angeles

The mission of Coast Guard Group / Air Station Port Angeles is to efficiently and effectively employ people and resources to promote maritime safety, enforce federal laws, regulations and treaties, protect the environment, defend the United States.

In FY 2000 Group Port Angeles:

• Logged 1,827 hours of flight time and spent 5,933 hours underway while prosecuting 328 search and rescue cases, conducting 555 law enforcement and safety boardings, and carrying out the full range of Coast Guard missions. During the 328 search and rescue cases, 20 lives were saved and another 260 people were assisted. Over $582,500 in property was saved and another $5,494,000 in property was assisted.
• Deployed helicopters and crews 48 days aboard flight deck-equipped cutters patrolling the Pacific Ocean;
• Broadcast 5,211 safety and weather messages to mariners in local waters and on the high seas;
• Managed 5,280 medical and dental appointments for active duty members and dependents, and for approximately 5,000 military retirees residing in the local area;
• Filled 15,032 prescriptions;
• Referred 1,800 patients to local health care providers;
• Processed 4,158 administrative documents in support of 338 Active Duty Coast Guard members, their dependents, and military retirees residing on the Olympic Peninsula, with over 99% accuracy;
• Issued 804 Active Duty, Dependent, Reserve and Retired ID Cards;
• Administered a corporate travel program accounting for $54,358 in commercial travel, and a travelers check account valued at $41,850;
• Processed 2,850 purchases and 110 travel reimbursements;
• Maintained a 99.79% aircraft availability to meet ready aircraft requirements.

The Coast Guard's presence in Port Angeles began 136 years ago on August 1, 1862 with the arrival of the SHUBRICK, the first Revenue Cutter to be homeported on the Olympic Peninsula. Ediz Hook, a level sand spit extending from the mainland north and east into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, was declared a Federal Lighthouse Reservation by President Lincoln in 1863. The first lighthouse was commissioned on 1 April 1865. The Air Station was commissioned on 1 June 1935, becoming the first permanent Coast Guard Air Station on the Pacific Coast. Its location was chosen for it's strategic position for coastal defense of the Northwest. The first aircraft, a Douglas RD-4 amphibian, arrived 11 June 1935 and flew the first "mercy hop" on August 1935. The 75-foot patrol boats were also stationed at the new unit.

During WWII, the Air Station expanded to include a gunnery school training aerial gunners and local defense forces. A short runway was added to train Navy pilots for carrier landings. It also hosted independent units such as Naval Intelligence and was Headquarters of the Air Sea Rescue System for the Northwest Sea Frontier Area. By the end of 1944, the Air Station had 29 aircraft assigned.

In September 1944 the station officially became Coast Guard Group Port Angeles, with several sub-units. Today, Group Port Angeles is comprised of the Air Station, Station Quillayute, Station Neah Bay, USCGC CUTTYHUNK, and USCGC OSPREY.

In 1946, the first helicopter, a Sikorsky HO35-1G arrived. This was replaced in 1951 with the Sikorsky HO4S helicopter (the "Eggbeater"). The last fixed wing aircraft, the Grumman HU-16E Albatross (the "Goat") was retired in 1973. Since then the Air Station has been home to helicopters only, starting with the HH-52A Seaguard, first acquired in 1965. The HH-52A was replaced in 1988with the new American Eurocopter HH-65A Dolphin twin turbine helicopter. During a typical year, Group Port Angeles units carry out over 400 search and rescue missions, saving 35 lives and assisting 500 persons. Each year, property valued at over $2 million is saved. Coast Guard Group and Air Station Port Angeles continues its untiring vigil, true to the Coast Guards motto " Semper Paratus" ( Always Ready ).