PHOTO : Aircrew running to its Sikorsky SH - 3D Sea King from Helicopter Anti - Submarine Squadron 3 ( HS - 3 ) " Tridents ", USS Forrestal ( CVA - 59 )
Prix régulier 45,00 € TTC 6%
Characteristics
| Special features | Handwritten notes on the back, slightly folded corners |
| Condition | Used, good condition |
| Date |
Between 1972 and 1973 |
| Language | English |
| Size | 20.56 x 25.32 cm |
|
Photographer |
Unknown |
Description
Today, we offer for sale this nice photograph that depicts an aircrew running to its Sikorsky SH - 3D Sea King from Helicopter Anti - Submarine Squadron 3 ( HS - 3 ) " Tridents ", assigned to USS Forrestal ( CVA - 59 ).
A little History :
The unit was established as Helicopter Anti - Submarine Squadron 3 ( HS - 3 ) on June 18th, 1952, at the Naval Air Facility Elizabeth City ( North Carolina, United States ). The " Tridents " commenced operations flying the Piasecki HUP - 2S Retriever helicopter, and later transitioned to the Sikorsky HO4S and Sikorsky HSS - 1 Seabat helicopters. Here are HS - 3's successive assignments :
- USS Antietam and USS Leyte ( late 1956 ).
- USS Lake Champlain, USS Tarawa and USS Valley Forge ( 1958 - 1960 ).
- Carrier Anti - Submarine Air Group 56 ( CVSG - 56, 1960 - 1970 ).
- USS Randolph ( 1961 ).
HS - 3 then transitioned to the Sikorsky HSS - 2 / SH - 3A Sea King. The " Tridents " were the first Atlantic Fleet operational Squadron to operate the Sea King. In 1962, on board USS Wasp, HS - 3 participated in the naval blockade of Cuba. The Air Group was reassigned to USS Intrepid in 1962 until she was deployed as an attack carrier to Vietnam in 1966.
The " Tridents " began an active role in the space programme on May 24th, 1962, when then C.O. Commander J.M. Wondergem picked up Lieutenant Commander Malcolm S. Carpenter ( 1925 - 2013 ) from his Aurora 7 spacecraft and delivered him to Intrepid. Astronauts Virgil I. " Gus " Grissom ( 1926 - 1967 ), John W. Young ( 1930 - 2018 ), Michael Collins ( 1930 - 1921 ), Richard F. Gordon Jr. ( 1929 - 2017 ), Charles " Pete " Conrad Jr. ( 1930 - 1999 ), James A. McDivitt ( 1929 ), David R. Scott ( 1932 ) and Russell L. " Rusty " Schweickart ( 1935 ) all ended their space journeys with rides aboard HS - 3 helicopters.
HS - 3's next assignments are listed as follows :
- USS Randolph ( 1967 ).
- USS Yorktown ( 1969 ).
- USS Intrepid ( 1970 ).
- Carrier Air Wing 17 ( CVW - 17 ), USS Forrestal ( early 1970s ).
In 1979, HS - 3 received the SH - 3H Sea King. From 1984 to 1991, CVW - 17 and HS - 3 were reassigned to USS Saratoga. The " Tridents " returned home in early 1991 and were the first Atlantic Squadron to transition to the Sikorsky SH - 60F / HH - 60H Seahawk.
On April 16th, 2009, the " Tridents " returned home to Naval Air Station Jacksonville ( Florida, United States ) from their final cruise as a Helicopter Anti - Submarine Squadron. In May, the Squadron started its permanent duty station change from Naval Air Station Jacksonville to Naval Air Station Norfolk ( Virginia, United States ) and airframe change to the MH - 60S Seahawk. On June 1st, 2009, the " Tridents " were redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9 ( HSC - 9 ).
( sources : Wikipedia, www.seaforces.org )
