1st Helicopter Squadron

This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (November 2022)

1st Helicopter Squadron
Bell UH-1N Twin Huey of the 1st Helicopter Squadron flying over Washington DC[note 1]
Active	1944–1945; 1969–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Helicopter Airlift
Part of	Air Force District of Washington
Garrison/HQ	Andrews Air Force Base
Motto(s)	First and Foremost[1]
Engagements	China Burma India Theater
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[2]
Insignia
1st Helicopter Squadron emblem[note 2][2]
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	UH-1N

The 1st Helicopter Squadron is a United States Air Force unit based at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland reporting to the 316th Operations Group, administratively controlled by Air Force District of Washington.

The 1st Helicopter Squadron's primary mission is to be prepared to evacuate high-ranking personnel from the Capital area in the event of a national emergency.^[3] It also supports Washington D.C. area airlift for high-ranking Executive Branch, dignitaries, military leaders and other VIPs. The squadron also supports search and rescue missions.^[3]

The squadron was first activated in February 1944 as the 1st Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron and equipped with a mix of P-51 fighter and F-6 reconnaissance Mustangs. It trained for operations with Third Air Force and trained at the Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics. Moved to India, September–November 1944 assigned to Tenth Air Force. Combat in CBI, 14 February-9 May 1945. After May 1945 in training. Returned to the US during October— November 1945.

The 1st flew combat missions in the China Burma India Theater from 14 February to 9 May 1945 as a fighter unit.^[2]

The squadron was consolidated with the 1st Helicopter Squadron in September 1985.^[2]

The Air Force's use of helicopters to transport 'distinguished persons' in the Capital area go back to August 1955, when Military Air Transport Service organized the 1401st Helicopter Flight at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.^[3] In July 1957, a helicopter from the 1401st landed on the lawn of the White House to transport President Eisenhower, marking the unit's first presidential airlift flight.^[3] In October 1957, the flight was transferred to Headquarters Command, which required renumbering it as the 1001st Helicopter Flight.^{[note 3]} The flight moved to Bolling Air Force Base in 1963. Expanding demands for helicopter airlift resulted in the flight expanding to the 1001st Helicopter Squadron.^[4] On 7 September 1968 the 1001st returned its operations to Andrews.^[5]

The squadron received the Air Force's flying safety award in 1963. In 1966, it dropped supplies to snowbound civilians following a blizzard.^[3]

In 1969 Headquarters Command replaced the 1001st, which was a MAJCON (four-digit) unit and could not continue its history, with a unit controlled by Headquarters, USAF, which could continue its history.^[6] The conversion was one of unit category and number only and the new squadron would continue the mission and assume the manning and resources of the discontinuing 1001st. The new squadron was entitled to all the awards earned by the 1001st, but not its lineage.^{[7][note 4]}

Since activation in 1969 the 1st Helicopter Squadron has provided local airlift for the Executive Department, high-ranking dignitaries, and distinguished visitors, as well as support for emergency evacuation of key government officials, search and rescue, and emergency medical evacuation.^[2] The squadron maintains a helicopter on alert for short notice mission assignments.^[3]

In January 1983 Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street bridge during a blizzard. The squadron participated in the following relief efforts despite the unfavourable weather conditions at the time.^[3]

Currently the squadron operates Bell UH-1N Twin Huey helicopters acquired in the early 1970s.^[3] Air Force Space Command also operates the UH-1N and has proposed the Common Vertical Lift Support Platform (CVLSP) program to seek a replacement to their UH-1Ns.^[8] On June 7, 2022 it was announced that Joint Base Andrews will be the fourth base to the host the new AgustaWestland MH-139 Grey Wolf which replaces the UH-1N.^[9]

1st Fighter Squadron

• Constituted as the 1st Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 April 1944

Activated on 20 April 1944

Redesignated 1st Fighter Squadron, Commando on 2 June 1944

Inactivated on 12 November 1945

Disbanded on 8 October 1948

Reconstituted and consolidated with the 1st Helicopter Squadron as the 1st Helicopter Squadron on 19 September 1985^[2]

1st Helicopter Squadron

• Constituted as the 1st Helicopter Squadron on 9 May 1969

Activated on 1 July 1969

Consolidated with the 1st Fighter Squadron on 19 September 1985^[2]

• Third Air Force, 20 April 1944
• 2d Air Commando Group, 22 April 1944 – 12 November 1945
• 1st Composite Wing, 1 July 1969
• 89th Military Airlift Wing (later 89 Military Airlift Group, 89 Military Airlift Wing), 1 Jul 1976
• 89th Operations Group, 12 July 1991
• 316th Operations Group, 22 June 2006
• 811th Operations Group, 1 November 2010
• 316th Operations Group, 25 June 2020 – present^[2]

• Lakeland Army Air Field, Florida, 20 April 1944
• Cross City Army Air Field, Florida, 12 June 1944
• Alachua Army Air Field, Florida, 21 June 1944
• Drew Field, Florida, 17 August 1944
• Lakeland Army Air Field, Florida, 22 August-23 October 1944
• Kalaikunda Airfield, India, 14 December 1944
• Cox's Bazar, India, 13 February 1945
• Kalaikunda Airfield, India, 10 May-22 October 1945
• Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 11–12 November 1945
• Andrews Air Force Base (later, Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington), Maryland, 1 July 1969 – present^[2]

• North American P-51 Mustang (1944–1945)
• North American F-6 Mustang (1944)
• Piasecki CH-21 Workhorse (1969–1970)
• Bell TH-1 Huey (1969–1970)
• Bell UH-1N Twin Huey (1970–present)
• Sikorsky CH-3 (1970–1988)^[2]

• Designated as the 1401st Helicopter Flight and organized on 14 August 1955^[3]

Redesignated 1001st Helicopter Flight on 1 October 1957

Redesignated 1001st Helicopter Squadron 15 April 1962

Discontinued on 9 May 1969^[7]

• Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 14 August 1955^[3]
• Bolling Air Force Base, District of Columbia, 7 August 1963^[4]
• Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 7 September 1968 – 1 July 1969^[5]

• Sikorsky H-19 (1955-unknown)^[3]
• Piasecki CH-21 Workhorse (1955–1969)^[3]
• Bell TH-1 Huey (unknown-1969)

Explanatory notes

Citations

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982). Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). A Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors (2d, Revised ed.). Maxwell AFB, AL: USAF Historical Research Center.

Media related to 1st Helicopter Squadron (United States Air Force) at Wikimedia Commons