Military

Helicopter Tactical Wing, Pacific [COMHELTACWINGPAC]

On April 15, 2005, during a ceremony at NAS North Island, Helicopter Tactical Wing, Pacific Fleet [HELTACWINGPAC] and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Wing, Pacific Fleet [HSWINGPAC] were officially merged into Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, Pacific Fleet [HELSEACOMBATWINGPAC]. This merger was a result of the Navy moving toward a reduction in aircraft types.

Commander Helicopter Tactical Wing, US Pacific Fleet, based at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, CA, provides the capability of vertical replenishments and is capable of transporting supplies, troops and heavy equipment to ships underway. The CH-46 Sea Knight provides the fleet with vertical replenishment and is another example of a durable and versatile aircraft that is still providing valuable service three decades after it was first flown.

Helicopter Tactical Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet was established on July 21, 1993 as the Type Wing Commander for five Pacific Fleet support squadrons. In this role, COMHELTACWINGPAC provides direct operational, training, maintenance and administrative support to commands assigned.

COMHELTACWINGPAC's mission is as a subordinate element of Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, for oversight and support of Helicopter Combat Support, and Antarctic development squadrons. The complexity and diversity of this Wing is reflected in its squadrons. They comprise over 70 aircraft, or five different types, with diverse missions, manning and logistic requirements.

In July 1995, COMHELTACWINGPAC gained administrative control of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 5 (HC-5), a forward deployed squadron homeported at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam. With their 14 H-46D "Sea Knights" HC-5 also provides combat logistic services aboard ships of the Combat Logistics Force and search and rescue services aboard amphibious ships embarking a Marine Air Combat Element.

Further diversifying HELTACWINGPAC's capability is Antarctic Development Squadron 6 which provides direct support to the National Science Foundation. VXE-6 is homeported at NAS Point Mugu and flies the UH-1N Iroquois helicopter and ski-equipped LC-130 F/G Hercules. The unit conducts training at NAS Point Mugu during the summer months and deploys to Antarctica each winter (Australia Summer).