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| |  Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SEVEN
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HC-7 Seadevils
| 1967 to 1975 |
Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SEVEN (HC-7) served the Navy and the United States faithfully and honorably for seven years and ten months in the war to preserve the independence of the Republic of Vietnam. From North Sar (20N 107E) to South Sar (19N 106E) supporting the fleet aboard a variety of ships, from Combat to Supply Ships.
Active from 1 Sep 1967 until 30 Jun 1975, it provided combat support, combat search and rescue, and vertical replenishment support to ships of the Seventh Fleet and shore based activities in the Republic or Viet Nam, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines. It counted no less than one Medal of Honor, five Navy Cross, three Silver Star, two Bronze Star (Combat V), six Distinguished Flying Cross and numerous Air Medals, Commendation Medals (V) and Achievement Medals (V) recipients during its short existance. It flew the Sikorsky SH-58J Sea Bat, Kaman HH-2A/D Sea Sprite, Sikorsky HH-3A Sea King, and UH-46A/D Sea Knight helicopters. Their tailcode was VH. 
I served with this outfit from 1972 to 1974, Shipped out of NAS Ream Field, NAS Imperial Beach Calif. We flew the HH3 alphas and golf Sikorsky, We operated out of Subic Bay Phillippines at Det Cubi Pt. I served as an AME3 attached to the Parachute Loft ( oxymoron ). I have not been able to locate my information from the roster of the squadron. Ron Sandlin
Supposedly the most decorated Naval Air Unit during the Vietnam conflict. In Sept 1967 through the end of the war they took over all combat search
Correction on the most decorated Naval Air Unit, that distinction belongs to the Seawolves of HA(L)-3
I served with HC-7 from Oct 1967 to Sept 1969 both in Atsugi, Japan and Det Cubi, Philippines. Most of my time I worked as a mail orderly because they were shorthanded when I got there ans was asked to do it, even though I was an airedale. They have been having reunions every two years. 2012 it was in Tucson, AZ. Joe Klimkowski
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| Construction Numbers found for HC-7 | Help Us | |
| C/N | Version | Built | In this Organisation | In other Org | | 61-002 | hss-2 | 1959 | 147138 : redesig RH-3A 1968 for Mine Countermeasures mission of HC-7 Dets 112 and 1+
| | | 61-003  | hss-2 | 1959 | 147139 : redesig RH-3A 1968 for Mine Countermeasures mission of HC-7 Dets 112 and 1+
: 09jan69 deployed aboard USS Catskill (MCS-1) to HC-7 Det 113, Atsugi Japan+
| |  | 61-004 | hss-2 | 1959 | 147140 : Sikorsky S-61A c/n 61-004 ff 1959; del USN as XHSS-2 147140 unk; redesig +
| | | 61-008 | hss-2 | 1959 | 147144 : 09jan69 deployed aboard USS Catskill (MCS-1) to HC-7 Det 113, Atsugi Japan+
| | | 61-014 | hss-2 | | 148036 : Sikorsky S-61A c/n 61-014 ff?; del USN as HSS-2 148036 unk; redesig SH-3A +
| | | 61-018 | hss-2 | | 148040 : 09jan69 deployed aboard USS Catskill (MCS-1) to HC-7 Det 113, Atsugi Japan+
| | | 61-076 | hss-2 | | 149002 : USN; conv SH-3G; HC-7 Cubi Point w/o 29dec71
| | | 45 | UH-2A | | 149743 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 45, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149743 unk; redesig +
: Helo assisting departing detachment from HC-7 Det Cubi. Loaded with 10,00+
| | | 66 | UH-2A | | 149764 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 66, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149764 unk; redesig +
: MOH flight was 19jun68. ALL four crew were rescued by HC-7 H-3 Big Mother+
| | | 75 | UH-2A | | 149773 : noted as HH-2C type asg HC-7
|  N29-149773 : Rebuilt as SH-2G(A). RAN 842
| | 61-177 | hss-2 | | 149908 : USN; SH-3A HC-7 110det w/o 20feb70
: While on approach to USS Constellation (CV-64), Yankee Station, helo lost +
| | | 152 | UH-2B | | 151315 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 152, ff?; del USN as HU2K-1U 151315 unk;
redes+
| | | 172 | UH-2B | | 151335 : unk date pictured as HH-2C SAR type HC-7 /VH-25 during Vietnam War
| | | 61-272 | hss-2 | | 151552 : HH-3A type with HC-7 in Viet Nam; transf to HC-9 upon HC-7 deactivation in+
| N561SC : Sky Cats Puma Corp 2007; ex 151552
| | 61-292 | hss-2 | | 151556 : Sikorsky HSS-2 c/n 61-292, ff:?; del USN as SH-3A 151556, 15Dec64; units u+
| | | 2057 | UH-46A | 1965 | 151903 : 1965/66 pictured as VH-51 with HC-7 at Atsugi Japan
| | | 2062 | UH-46A | 1965 | 151904 : 1969 pictured (top) during WestPac cruise as HC-7 /VH-53 from USS Niagara +
| | | 2112 | UH-46A | 1965 | 152490 : BV-107M, c/n 2112, ff?; del USN 21Dec65 as UH-46A 152490; xfer HC-7, Det 1+
| | | 2137 | UH-46A | 1966 | 152494 : BV-107M, c/n 2137, ff?; del USN 24Mar66 as UH-46A 152494; xfer HC-1, Det U+
: Personal collection operational photo shows HC-7 identification with USS M+
: w/o 08apr69 HC-7 Det 102, vertrep, aboard USS Mars (AFS-1) night flight t+
| | | 2144 | UH-46A | 1966 | 152495 : 27nov67 HC-7 Det 102 aboard USS Mars (AFS-1) - off loading ammo from grou+
| | | 2259 | UH-46D | 1967 | 153410 : BV-107M, c/n 2259, ff?; del USN as UH-46D, 153410, 27Feb67; xfer HC-7, VH-+
: 1965/66 pictured as VH-61 with HC-7 at NAS Atsugi, Japan during a SAR miss+
| | | | US Marine Corps | | | 2021 | CH-46A | 1964 | 150938 : BV-107M, c/n 2021; ff?; del USMC as CH-46A 150938; asgd Boeing FR Morton, +
| | 2081 | CH-46A | 1965 | 151931 : BV-107M, c/n 2081, ff?; del USMC 04Jun65 as CH-46A 151931; asgd Boeing FR +
| | 2099 | CH-46A | 1965 | 151949 : BV-107M, c/n 2099, ff?; del USMC 30Sep65 as CH-46A 151949; asgd Noeing FR +
| 24 C/N found for HC-7
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