The Growth Years

1956 – Promulgation of the National SAR Manual In 1956, with the publishing of the first National Search and Rescue Plan, the US Coast Guard was designated the federal Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinator responsible for search and rescue in the maritime regions, and, likewise, the US Air Force was designated the federal SAR Coordinator  responsible for … Read more

1955 – Coast Guard Air Detachment New Orleans Established In July of 1955 a two aircraft Coast Guard air detachment was permanently establish at the Naval Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana. The detachment consisted of four pilots and seven enlisted personnel flying two Sikorsky HO3S-1G helicopters.  The air station was located on the northern edge … Read more

1954 – Coast Guard Acquires Martin P5M Seaplanes The prototype P5M Marlin was based on the PBM-5 Mariner. The P5M had the same wing but an extensively modified fuselage with a hull that extended the full length of the aircraft. It featured a tall single vertical stabilizer instead of the twin tail fins of the … Read more

1952 – Coast Guard Air Detachment Bermuda Established The assets of the former Naval Air station at Bermuda, established during World War II, had been turned over to the control of Naval Station Bermuda after the war. Patrol squadrons returned again when, as a result of the Korean War, it was deemed necessary to have … Read more

1952 – Coast Guard Air Detachment Arlington Established On February 20, 1952 the United States Coast Guard commissioned, for the first time, an aviation unit for the sole purpose of providing air transportation for personnel as may be directed by Coast Guard Headquarters. It was a tenant unit at Washington National Airport and as is … Read more

1951 – Coast Guard Acquires the HO4S Helicopter Sikorsky Model S-51 (HO3S) had enjoyed both military and commercial acceptance which led Sikorsky to initiate a follow-on design capable of carrying 10 passengers or equivalent cargo. The Sikorsky Model S-55 was built, without government funds, to compete against large tandem-rotor helicopters such as Piasecki’s PD-22 (H21) … Read more

1951 – Coast Guard Acquires the UF-1G/2G Albatross Aircraft The Grumman Model G-64, the largest of a series of amphibians designed and manufactured by the Grumman Aircraft Corporation, was the only one originally developed for the military. Design work to meet the U.S. Navy requirement for an all-weather general purpose amphibious transport began in 1944. … Read more

1951 – The ASW Helicopter Becomes a Reality The potential of the helicopter for submarine detection had been demonstrated in 1946. During the next four years sonar underwent major modifications which resulted in improved reliability and maintainability. To make it more compact the Navy contracted for the development and manufacture of a lightweight dipping- sonar … Read more

1950 – Coast Guard Air Detachment Corpus Christi, Texas Established The Coast Guard Air Detachment Corpus Christi was established on 20 November 1950 as a tenant organization of the US Naval Air Station (NAS). NAS Corpus Christi is located in the Flour Bluff area, ten miles southeast of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas.  The … Read more

1950 – The Korean War – Coast Guard Aviation Participation On 25 June 1950 six North Korean Infantry divisions, supported by large armor and artillery forces, crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea. Much of the world was caught off guard. The Coast Guard’s involvement would be gradual and the duties assigned would be … Read more