• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Wolfpack Celebrates 20 Years of Excellence

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061103-01
Release Date: 11/3/2006 9:55:00 AM

By Lt. Stephanie Byford, Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 45 Public Affairs

NAS NORTH ISLAND, Calif. (NNS) -- Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 45 “Wolfpack” celebrated their 20th anniversary here Oct. 2-4.

To commemorate the anniversary, HSL-45 sponsored several events, beginning with a golf tournament at Adm. Baker Golf Course and followed by a reception aboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier museum. An open house and cake-cutting ceremony was held Oct. 3, and the festivities ended with a 5K run and commemorative table dedication at the Naval Air Station North Island I-bar.

Eight of the previous sixteen squadron commanding officers attended the festivities.

"It was a great week celebrating the rich traditions of the Wolfpack. Having so many of the previous commanding officers attend the festivities was a real honor for the squadron,” said HSL-45 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Dave Edgecomb.

During the past two decades, HSL-45 has flown more than 130,000 flight hours and is approaching 108,000 mishap free flight hours (no personnel injured or aircraft requiring repairs exceeding $20,000). The Wolfpack deployed more than 70 detachments aboard various U.S. Navy frigates, destroyers and cruisers supporting operations such as Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Through the Wolfpack’s dedication to service, the squadron earned nine Meritorious Unit Commendations, 12 Navy Unit Commendations, five Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals and held the Navy Battle ‘E’ award for five consecutive years.

Past and present members of HSL-45 witnessed many changes in the missions of the SH-60B helicopter. During the Cold War era, the SH-60B was widely used for anti-submarine warfare and crews trained extensively to perform such missions. In the new millennium, with the global war on terrorism, HSL-45 has expanded its focus to anti-surface warfare, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) missions, and counter narcotic operations. HSL-45 has also supported humanitarian operations, sending crews to the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and the surrounding area.