Aviation

AVIATION———————————————————————

The history of Coast Guard Aviation dates back to early 1915 with Third Lieutenant Elmer F. Stone,
Second Lieutenant Norman B. Hall, and Captain Benjamin M. Chiswell, their commanding officer on the
U.S. Revenue Cutter ONONDAGA. All three men felt strongly that disabled vessels and lost mariners could be located more quickly from an airplane than from a relatively slow moving vessel. With Captain Chiswell’s endorsement, Lieutenants Stone and Hall approached the Curtiss Flying School in Newport News, VA, about using aircraft in air/sea rescue operations, and participated in experimental flights in a Curtiss Model F flying boat. Subsequently, in the summer of 1915, Lieutenants Stone and Hall performed scouting patrols for the ONONDAGA, assisting in search and rescue missions assigned to the cutter.
On 28 March 1916, Lieutenant Stone was enrolled as a student aviator at the U.S. Navy flight facility in Pensacola, FL. During that same year, he also studied aeronautical engineering at the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company factory in Hammondsport, NY.

On 10 April 1917, Lieutenant Elmer F. “Archie” Stone became the Coast Guard's first aviator upon graduating from flight training and was appointed as Coast Guard Aviator No. 1 and Naval Aviator No. 38. And, with that, Coast Guard Aviation was born.

CDR Elmer F. “Archie” Stone
U.S. Coast Guard Aviator No. 1
● In 1919, served as a pilot aboard an NC-4 flying boat during the
first successful transatlantic flight of any aircraft, for which he was
awarded the Navy Cross and Congressional Medal of Achievement
● Set the world speed record for amphibious planes in 1934
● Member of the U.S. Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
● Member of the Coast Guard Aviation Association Hall of Honor
● USCGC STONE (WMSL-758) named in his honor

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MID-AIR COLLISION OF COAST GUARD CG-1705
29 OCTOBER 2009

On 29 October 2009, CG-1705, a Lockheed HC-130H Hercules from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, CA, and a Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter from U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, collided in mid-air 15 miles east of San Clemente Island off the coast of San Diego, CA. CG-1705 was on a Search and Rescue mission to search for a sailboat in distress, while the Super Cobra was on a separate training flight. CG-1705 was carrying a crew of seven and the Cobra a crew of two. Tragically, there were no survivors. USCGC EDISTO, USCGC PETREL, USCGC BLACKFIN, and two Sikorsky CH-53E helicopters were sent to search the area. USCGC BLACKTIP, USCGC GEORGE COBB & USCGC JARVIS later joined the search.

On 1 November 2009, the search for survivors was terminated after 644 square miles of ocean were searched. The search and rescue efforts were then converted to a search and recovery operation. All nine crewmembers involved in the mishap, including seven aboard CG-1705 and two aboard the Marine Super Cobra, were presumed dead.

The crew of CG-1705 was LCDR Che Barnes of Capay, CA, pilot; LT Adam Bryant of Crewe, VA, co-pilot; AMTC John Seidman of Carmichael, CA, flight engineer; AET2 Carl P. Grigonis of Mayfield Heights, OH, navigator; AET2 Monica L. Beacham of Decaturville, TN, radio operator; AMT2 Jason S. Moletzsky of Norristown, PA, air crew; and AMT3 Danny R. Kreder II, of Elm Mott, TX, dropmaster.

In Memory of the Crew of
Coast Guard CG-1705

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AVIATION

ANCIENT ALBATROSS

The Ancient Albatross Aviator Award (Gold - Officer) was instituted in 1966 to honor the Coast Guard Aviator on active duty holding the earliest designation in recognition of clear defiance of the private realm of the albatross and all it seabird kin while in pursuit of the time-honored Coast Guard duties.

The Ancient Albatross Award (Silver - Enlisted) was established in 1988 to honor the Coast Guard enlisted aircrew member on active duty with the earliest graduation date from an aviation technical “A” school.

Ancient Albatross (Gold)
RADM Carola J. List (28th)
April 2025 - Present

Ancient Enlisted Albatross (Silver)
MCPO Shawn Burns (16th)
August 2024 - Present

Ancient Enlisted Ancient Albatross (Silver)
CMC Broderick W. Johnson (12th)
May 2019 - April 2021

Coast Guard Aviation 75th Anniversary
1916 - 1991

Coast Guard Aviation 100th Anniversary
1916 - 2016

USCG Aviation Centennial
1916 - 2016

100 Years of U.S. Coast Guard Aviation
1916 - 2016

50 Years of HC-130 Flight Operations
1959 - 2009

75 Years of Helicopters
1943 - 2018

100 Years of HC-130J Flight
1903 - 2003

Coast Guard Aviation Association
Alexandria, VA
Established 1977
(formerly known as Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl)

Coast Guard Aviation Association
Alexandria, VA
HH-3F Pelican 1486 Refurbishment
The Coast Guard Aviation Association undertook a mini-restoration of HH-3F Pelican CG-1486 for display at the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) located at NAS Pensacola, Florida, as an addition to the Coast Guard exhibit. CG-1486 was the last operational HH-3F and made its final flight in 1994, completing 22 years of exemplary service. 2018 is the 75th Anniversary of Naval Helicopter Aviation.

Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl
Established 1977
(now Coast Guard Aviation Association)

Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl
Established 1977
(now Coast Guard Aviation Association)
Aviator / Aircrew

Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl
Established 1977
(now Coast Guard Aviation Association)
2016 ROOST
Aviation Training Center Mobile, AL

Coast Guard Aviation
(2-1/2” H x 2-1/8” W)

SAR CAM
(2-1/2” diameter)

HH-60 Jayhawk

H-60 Jayhawk
Flight Mechanic

Helicopter Flight Mechanic

MH-60T Jayhawk

MH-60T Jayhawk
(4” W x 1” H)

MH-60T Jayhawk
Tail Section
(4” H x 2-3/4” W)

HH-65 Dolphin

HH-65C Dolphin
Arriel 2C2 CG
500,000 Hours of Flight

HH-65D Dolphin
Arriel 2C2 CG
1,000,000 Hours of Flight

MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter
Coast Guard Aviation Search & Rescue
Now Put The Ready Helo On The Line

MH-65E
Tail Section
(3-1/4” H x 2-1/2” W)

UH-40 Dolphin

HC-130 Hercules

EADS North America
(now Airbus Group, Inc.)
(Prime contractor of the HC-144A Ocean Sentry
maritime patrol aircraft; as well as a supplier of
the HH-65 Dolphin helicopter)

International Ice Patrol
Coast Guard Navigation Center
Alexandria, VA

International Ice Patrol
100 Years
1913 - 2013

Helicopter Rescue Swimmer
So Others May Live

Helicopter Rescue Swimmer
So Others May Live
(Serial #309)

Helicopter Rescue Swimmer
So Others May Live

Rescue Swimmer
So Others May Live

Aviation Rescue Swimmer
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

Underwater Egress
…So The Sea Shall Not Have Them

Katrina Cooley, PA-C
Let your Faith be BIGGER than your Fear

Aviation Logistics Center
Elizabeth City, NC
30 October 2008 - Present
(formerly Aircraft Repair & Supply Center)

Aircraft Repair & Supply Center
Elizabeth City, NC
3 January 1947 - 30 October 2008
(now Aviation Logistics Center)

Aviation Technical Training Center
Elizabeth City, NC

Aviation Projects Acquisition Center (APAC)
Elizabeth City, NC
28 April 2002 - Present
(formerly Asset Project Office (APO)

Asset Project Office (APO)
Elizabeth City, NC
25 June 2014 - 28 April 2002
(now Aviation Projects Acquisition Center (APAC)

Aviation Training Center
Mobile, AL

Aviation Training Center
Mobile, AL
(Heavy 4” diameter x 3/16” thick)

Aviation Training Center
Medical & Dental Clinic
Mobile, AL
(2-1/4” diameter)

Aviation Training Center
Medical & Dental Clinic
Mobile, AL

AIR STATIONS

Astoria
Warrenton, OR
Presented For Excellence
by the Commanding Officer

Astoria
Warrenton, OR
Commanding Officer / Command Senior Chief
Presented For Excellence

Astoria
Warrenton, OR

Astoria
Warrenton, OR
Group Commander

Atlantic City, NJ

Atlantic City, NJ
Golden Wrench Award

Atlantic City, NJ

Atlantic City, NJ
25 Years of Operational Excellence
1998 - 2023

Atlantic City, NJ
Helicopter Rescue Swimmer
So Others May Live

Aviation Operations Bahamas
Seventh Coast Guard District

Operation Bahamas Turks & Caicos
U.S. Embassy Nassau
(2-1/2” diameter)

Barbers Point, HI
Commanding Officer / Command Master Chief

Barbers Point, HI
Stand-Up of Department of Homeland Security
March 1, 2003

Barbers Point, HI
HC-130H to HC-130J Transition 2022

Borinquen
Aguadilla, PR
Commanding Officer

Borinquen
Aguadilla, PR

Borinquen
Aguadilla, PR
U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
50th Anniversary

Brooklyn, NY
Opened: 1936
Closed: 1998

Cape Cod
Buzzards Bay, MA

Cape Cod
Buzzards Bay, MA
Aviation Reserve

Cape Cod
Buzzards Bay, MA
Aviation Reserves

Joint Base Cape Cod
Buzzards Bay, MA
Home to Air Station Cape Cod

Clearwater, FL
Commanding Officer

Clearwater, FL
Presented by the Commanding Officer

Clearwater, FL

Clearwater, FL
Coast Guard City

Clearwater, FL

Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Historical Society Museum
Salutes the U.S. Coast Guard 2023

Detroit
Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Mount Clemens, MI
Commanding Officer

Detroit
Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Mount Clemens, MI

Detroit
Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Mount Clemens, MI
(2-1/4” W x 2” H)

Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Mount Clemens, MI
Home to Air Station Detroit

Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Mount Clemens, MI
Home to Air Station Detroit
Runway Replacement Homecoming
22 September 2002

Elizabeth City, NC
Commanding Officer

Elizabeth City, NC

Aviation Detachment (ADVET)
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Houston, TX

Houston, TX
Wardroom

Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON)
Jacksonville, FL
Commanding Officer

Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON)
Jacksonville, FL

Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron
(HITRON)
Jacksonville, FL

Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron
(HITRON)
Jacksonville, FL
(2-1/2” H x 2” W)

Kodiak, AK
(Antique Nickel Finish)

Kodiak, AK
(Chrome Finish)

Kodiak, AK

Kodiak, AK
(4” W x 1-3/8” H)

Kodiak, AK
Night Shift
(1-3/4” W x 3” H)

Los Angeles, CA
Opened: 1962
Closed: 2016
(now Air Station Ventura, Point Mugu, CA)

Miami
Opa-locka, FL

Miami
Opa-locka, FL
From the Officers of Air Station Miami
For Your Loyal Service

Mobile, AL

New Orleans, LA

North Bend, OR

North Bend, OR
Commanding Officer
”In Recognition of a Job Well Done”

Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles, WA
(2-1/4” H x 2”W)

Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles, WA
85th Anniversary
1935 - 2020

Sacramento
North Highlands, CA

Sacramento
North Highlands, CA
Golden Wrench Award

Sacramento
North Highlands, CA
(Heavy 3” diameter x 1/4” thick)

San Diego, CA

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA
Skunk Works

San Francisco, CA
Forward Operating Base (FOB) Point Mugu
(formerly Air Station Los Angeles, CA;
now Air Station Ventura, Point Mugu, CA)

Savannah, GA

Sitka, AK

Sitka, AK
(2-1/4” W x 1-1/2” H)

Sitka, AK
(2-1/2” W x 2” H)

Traverse City, MI

Traverse City, MI
75th Anniversary
1945 - 2020

Ventura
Point Mugu, CA
(formerly Air Station Los Angeles, CA)
Commanding Officer - Awarded for Excellence
(2-1/4” diameter)

Ventura
Point Mugu, CA
(formerly Air Station Los Angeles, CA)

Washington
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Arlington, VA

Washington
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Arlington, VA
(ERROR on aircraft’s fuselage:
”LIMITED STATES COAST AIRFORCE”
vice “UNITED STATES COAST GUARD”)

Washington
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Arlington, VA

Washington
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Arlington, VA
CG-102 Acquisition Team
29 June 2022
(2” diameter; 1/4” thick)

Washington
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Arlington, VA
C-37 Tail Section
(4” W x 2-3/4” H)

National Capital Region Air Defense Facility (NCRADF)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Arlington, VA
(Joint venture between Air Station Atlantic City and Air Station Washingon)

Contact Us

U.S. Coast Guard Challenge Coins

Aviation

AVIATION———————————————————————

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MID-AIR COLLISION OF COAST GUARD CG-170529 OCTOBER 2009

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AVIATION

ANCIENT ALBATROSS

AIR STATIONS

MID-AIR COLLISION OF COAST GUARD CG-1705
29 OCTOBER 2009