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Helicopter Antisubmarine
Squadron ELEVEN was established on 27 June 1957 at Naval Air Station (NAS)
Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The squadron first flew the Sikorsky HSS-1
Seabat (later re-designated the SH-34) helicopter under the radio call sign
“Snowbound.” The primary mission of the Seabat was Antisubmarine
Warfare (ASW) and it carried dipping sonar. Later models of the Seabat
were upgraded with Doppler radar and automatic stabilization and hover
capabilities for all-weather operations. The HS-11 Sub Seekers were
assigned to Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 52 (CVSG-52) with tail code AS
and deployed onboard USS WASP (CVS 18).
In 1962, the squadron transitioned to the Sikorsky twin engine SH-3A Sea King
and would later upgrade to the SH-3D and SH-3H in 1969 and 1980,
respectively. In December 1969, HS-11 would become the first ASW
helicopter squadron to deploy as part of a modern carrier air wing with
CVW-17 onboard USS FORRESTAL (CVA 59). From 1970-1973, HS-11 was
assigned to CVSG-56 deploying onboard USS INTREPID (CVS 11) with tail code
AU. On 17 October 1973, HS-11 moved to its new homeport of NAS
Jacksonville and was re-assigned to Carrier Air Wing ONE (CVW-1) where it
remains assigned to this day. In 1989, HS-11 changed its official call
sign to Dragonslayer. HS-11 would make deployments onboard USS JOHN F.
KENNEDY (CV 67), USS AMERICA (CV 66), USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), USS
THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), and USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65). HS-11 is
currently assigned to the ENTERPRISE Carrier Strike Group.
In 1994, HS-11 transitioned to the Sikorsky SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk, the
current aircraft in use today by the Dragonslayers. The capabilities of
this latest airframe allowed the squadron to greatly expand its mission
areas. In addition to ASW and Search and Rescue, the Dragonslayers now
added such missions as Vertical Replenishment, Naval Special Warfare Support,
and Combat Search and Rescue to its capabilities. With the addition of
the Hellfire missile system and GAU-16 .50 caliber machine gun in 1999, HS-11
became capable of effectively conducting Antisurface Warfare.
The Dragonslayer history has many distinguished highlights. In November
1962, HS-11 sailed to the Caribbean onboard USS WASP to enforce the Cuban
quarantine. Later that decade, the squadron played a leading role in
astronaut recovery operations during the Gemini missions, plucking from the
sea such famed astronauts as White, McDivitt, Lovell, and Aldrin. In
1976, the squadron was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for saving
countless lives after ship collisions at sea while attached to USS JOHN F
KENNEDY. Over the years, HS-11 has the answered the domestic call for
help numerous times in support of hurricane relief efforts, including
Hurricane Andrew in 1993 and in 1999 the squadron rescued nine men whose ship
was sunk during Hurricane Floyd in winds over 50 knots and seas measuring 30
feet. Most recently, HS-11 was the first Navy squadron on-station just
hours after Hurricane Ike swept through Galveston, TX in September 2008.
Since 1985, HS-11 has participated in Operation OCEAN SAFARI in the northern
Atlantic, Operation PRAIRIE FIRE in Libya, Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT
STORM and SOUTHERN WATCH in the Arabian Gulf, Operation PROVIDE PROMISE in
the Adriatic Sea, Operation PROVIDE COMFORT off Mogadishu, Somalia and
Operations DENY FLIGHT and DECISIVE EDGE in the Adriatic Sea. Most
recently, HS-11 participated in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM between 2001 and 2003, and again supported Operations
IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, the
Dragonslayers deployed two HH-60H aircraft to Basrah, Iraq in support of
Multi-National Division (South-East) and the Joint Helicopter Force.
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