Military

Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron SIX [HELASRON HS-6]
"Indians"

HS-6 is a member of Carrier Airwing ELEVEN (CVW-11) assigned to USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). The INDIANS fly two variations of the H-60 "Seahawk" helicopter, designated the HH-60H and SH-60F. The HH-60H's primary mission is combat search and rescue (CSAR), naval special warfare support (NSW) and anti-surface warfare (ASUW). The SH-60F's primary mission is anti-submarine warfare (ASW) defense of the inner zone, which includes detection, classification and destruction of hostile submarines. Secondary missions are combat search and rescue (CSAR) and naval special warfare (NSW). Additional missions performed by both helicopters are logistic support, vertical replenishment (VERTREP), anti-surface warfare (ASUW) and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Six was commissioned on June 1, 1956, aboard USS PRINCETON (CVS-37) midway between the islands of Formosa and Okinawa. They are now home based at NAS North Island, CA. Initially, the squadron flew the HO4S, but two years later transitioned to the SH-34 and gained a new mission; antisubmarine warfare. In 1962 the squadron again changed aircraft when Sikorsky's SH-3 Sea King entered the fleet. The Sea King, incorporating upgrades over the years, would take HS-6 into the 1990s.

Along the way, the squadron built a history and reputation worthy of the name, "World Famous Indians". HS-6 participated in the recovery of Mercury Program Astronauts Wally Schirra in 1962, and Gordon Cooper in 1963. In 1966, in support of American strikes into Vietnam, the "Indians" rescued 16 downed aviators. In 1974, the squadron began to deploy on board aircraft carriers, with its first CV cruise on the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64). HS-6 joined the Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11)/USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) team in 1981. The "Indians" were on board when ENTERPRISE became the first nuclear carrier to go through the Suez Canal in response to the Libyan crisis in 1986.

In 1990, the squadron transitioned to Sikorsky's SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk helicopters. The SH-60F provides substantially improved antisubmarine detection and tracking capabilities, while the HH-60H is the most advanced, and first carrier based Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) platform. Armed with these two new and highly capable weapons the HS-6 "Indians" remain part of CVW-11, and since the transition to the H-60 have deployed on USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72), USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) and USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70) to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean as well as the Arabian Gulf.

HS-6 flew in support of OPERATION DESERT FOX and OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH while deployed on WESTPAC 99 to the Arabian Gulf.