A four-man crew of Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron 22 took one final flight Wednesday, getting one final view from the only real remaining MH-60 Seahawk bearing the squadron’s “Sea Knight” emblem earlier than it’s taken out of operation.
On the bottom at Naval Station Norfolk, the hangar buzzed as members of HSC-22 gathered. A banner on the far left facet of the hangar learn “Sea Knight Nation.”
However come June 30, Sea Knight Nation can be no extra. A squadron that was as soon as 300 robust has been stripped to about 150 sailors because it prepares to be dissolved.
“It’s a fairly unhappy day for the squadron, I can actually say that I don’t assume anybody at HSC-22 is comfortable to see the squadron sunset,” mentioned Matthew Estep, chief helicopter aircrewman.
Wednesday’s flight culminated 16 years of service, all through which the Sea Knights have supported wartime and peacetime missions. Estep has been with HSC-22 for eight of these 16 years.
“Everybody right here, in truth, is a staff and it’s unhappy to see the squadron shut down, however we’re sending ourselves off with a real legacy of teamwork and profitable operations,” Estep mentioned.
The mission of HSC-22 was to deploy helicopter detachments for littoral fight ships, amphibious prepared teams and fight logistics ships for things like particular warfare, search and rescue, theater safety cooperation, humanitarian help or catastrophe reduction.
In recent times, the squadron has supported the U.S. 4th Fleet with counter narcotics operations and the U.S. sixth Fleet within the Baltic Sea.
“We’re simply re-aligning with the capability that we now have and the wants of the Navy,” Cmdr. Aaron “Dempsey” Berger mentioned.
The squadron had greater than a dozen manned and unmanned plane. Because the squadron dissolves, some are being distributed to different squadrons, others can be despatched to the Aerospace Upkeep and Regeneration Group in Arizona. There, the helicopters can be put into long-term preservation storage within the occasion they’re recalled or should be stripped for elements.
All of the sailors on the squadron will switch or go away the service by June 30.
Berger, the commanding officer, was considered one of two pilots on the controls in the course of the remaining flight. Moments after touchdown, he rushed to hug his spouse and daughter, who splashed him with a pail of water simply outdoors the hangar.
A number of members of the crew adopted behind with three giant buckets and a water hose, dousing him as a part of a conventional Navy “moist down.”
For the sunset flight, he and his crew traveled to Kill Satan Hills, the place they flew over the Wright Brothers Nationwide Memorial earlier than returning to Norfolk. The identical journey was made on the squadron’s maiden flight.
“It was superb. It was an honor … And main these women and men has been unbelievable,” Berger mentioned.
Following the ultimate flight, Berger — nonetheless soaking wet — addressed the skeleton crew.
“(HSC) 22 wouldn’t be the place it’s right now with out all of your onerous work … I believe we now have raised the usual on the seawall,” Berger mentioned to his crew.
Berger mentioned he hopes the tradition of the squadron lives on.
“For those who ask anybody on the seawall or anybody that operated with us who they need to work with, they need to work with HSC-22. And that’s actually how skilled we’re. We present up. We execute on time with a smile on our face. When requested to do one thing, we lead with ‘Sure.’… I don’t assume many different organizations actually have that tradition like we constructed right here,” Berger mentioned.
Because the bittersweet celebration concluded, Berger referred to as out, “Knights of the Sea!”
“Greatest on the wall!” the crew bellowed.
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