HS-15 Red Lions Squadron Patch – Sew On

HS-15 Red Lions Squadron Patch – Sew On Aviators! Are you looking for a high-quality patch you'll proudly wear or display? Look no further than the HS-15 Red Lions Patch! 4" patch Embroidered US Naval Aviator Owned Business Sew On Plastic Backing (increases rigidity; the patch lasts longer and stays flat) As an aircraft carrier-based squadron, HS-15 has operated aboard eleven East Coast carriers: USS AMERICA (CV 66), USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62), USS FORRESTAL (CV 59), USS SARATOGA (CV 60), USS ENTERPRISE (CV 65), USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69), USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76), USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67), and USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75). Now as a West Coast squadron, HS-15 is attached to the USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70). Over the years, operations have taken HS-15 to the Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Adriatic, Arabian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Norwegian Seas.  During deployments, the Red Lions have long played a role in U.S. foreign policy and military actions, including contingency operations with the U.S. Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon during Operation FLUID DRIVE; combat operations during URGENT FURRY in Grenada; extensive North Atlantic antisubmarine warfare (ASW) operations with NATO; PROVIDE COMFORT in Iraq; PROVIDE PROMISE and DENY FLIGHT in the former Yugoslavia; DECISIVE ENDEAVOR and SOUTHERN WATCH in the Arabian Gulf; DELIBERATE GUARD and COOPERATIVE ASSEMBLY supporting U.S. involvement in the Balkans conflict; IRAQI  FREEDOM in Iraq; ENDURING FREEDOM and NEW DAWN in Afghanistan; and UNIFIED RESPONSE in Haiti for humanitarian support.  Throughout its entire history, HS-15 has the proud distinction of rescuing or evacuating no fewer than 700 personnel. HELICOPTER ANTISUBMARINE SQUADRON FIFTEEN was commissioned on 29 October 1971 to fly the SH-3 Sea King at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey.  This new squadron was commissioned for the purpose of testing and then fulfilling a new naval concept: SEA CONTROL.  HS-15’s first years were spent assisting the Interim Sea Control Ship evaluations onboard the USS GUAM (LPH-9).  On 21 January 1972, only 80 days after its commissioning and one month after receiving its full complement of SH-3G aircraft, HS-15 deployed for the first time.  The first major event in HS-15’s illustrious history occurred on 23 June 1972.  Hurricane Agnes had severely flooded the Wilkes-Barres/Scranton area in northern Pennsylvania.  HS-15 sent five of its aircraft for disaster relief and evacuated or rescued 427 people.  Without any rest for the weary, HS-15 was deployed two days later to continue its Sea Control Concept evaluation.  This intrepid squadron transitioned to the new SH-3H helicopter in August 1972, eventually joining Helicopter Sea Control Group ONE on 29 September 1972.  The Sea Combat Control mission gave the squadron the opportunity to fly over the polar icecaps and relax during their first port call to Lisbon, Portugal on 20 June 1973.  In November of that same year, HS-15 moved from Lakehurst, New Jersey to Jacksonville, Florida. The final Sea Combat Control Evaluation was held on 18 April 1974.  By finally finishing the first mission assigned, HS-15 was allowed to shift from the Sea Control environment to the CV environment and operate as a conventional HS squadron. During a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in 1976 onboard the USS AMERICA, HS-15 provided actual evacuations in Lebanon during operation FLUID DRIVE.  During an exercise in the Med, HS-15 continuously tracked a submarine for over an 8 hour period.  Following the completion of this training exercise, the submarine transmitted: “Tracked by big dippers all morning.  Trying to break helicopter contact proved to be Mission Impossible.”  The Red Lions further showed their anti-submarine prowess by tracking and forcing a Soviet sub to surface. Six years later, during another deployment the Red Lions were tasked to shuttle