1960 to present


usa Helicopter Training Squadron Eight

US Navy

HT-8 Eightballers




Part of Training Air Wing FIVE









Helicopter Training Squadron Eight
HT-8 was formed at NAS Ellyson Field, Pensacola Florida, as Helicopter Training Unit one (HTU-1) on 1950.

In 1960 HTU-1 became the eighth squadron in the Naval Air Basic Training Command and renamed to its current name

In 1972 the squadron moved to NAS South Whiting Field and was splitted: HT-8 keeping basic training ( flying TH-57A Sea Ranger ) whilst HT-18 becaming the new advanced helicopter training squadron ( flying Hueys TH-1L ) . Marines UH-1E & TH-1E were also used.

From 1985 the TH-57B/C models replaced the TH-57A and HT-8 with HT-18 became mirror image squadrons both providing basic and advanced training




Nov63-Dec65, my dad Capt Johns was instructor with HT-8. He was then at NAAS Meridian MS (detached from HT-8?) 12/65 to 5/66 according to some plaques he got there are patches with a cricket with main and tail rotors and his orange flight suit has HT-8 Crickets embroidered on back im told he flew with some of the Mercury 7 and all of the Apollo 1 crew (Grissom in both groups)

Mar66-Aug68, I was stationed at Ellyson Field from March 66 until August 68, I was assigned to the Crash Crew have some fond memories of my time there served with some good men Cliff Yarboro ABH 2

Jan68, I was assigned to HT-8 Ellison field. Then there was about 100 H-34 Helicopters, they were phased out and replaced with TH-1L. I was stationed there until May of 1971. I was a flight line trouble shooter ADR, Serviced those Helicopters hundreds of times

Aug69, I was stationed with HT-8 at Ellison Field . We were just phasing out the 34's and Bell 13's on the primary side. As an ADR I was assigned to the light TH 57A. I worked the flight line, trouble truck, power plants and would fly with test pilots until being discharged in Dec. of 1972 due to the military cut back. I was married while an eight baller and after 46 years still happily married and proud of my time with HT 8. Bill Prescott ADR 3

Oct70 I was assigned to HT-8 i. Worked a lot of Swing and Graveyard shifts. Went with HT-18 when the squadron split. Earned aircrew wings the summer of 1973. Hard to believe the Navy paid me to fly! Life long memories. Made the move to Whiting Field late 72 / early 73. Discharged March, 1974. Note: The last American to die in Viet Nam had been an instructor pilot in HT-18 while we were still at NAS Ellyson Field. Capt. William Nystul, USMC. He was flying plane guard as the embassy evacuation was concluding in April, 1975. A SVN helicopter entered the landing pattern without clearance and nearly collided with Nystul. This caused the Capt to go around again and he went into the water due to fuel starvation. He and his copilot died in the crash, but the two enlisted aircrew were rescued. I knew him and flew with him a few times. He was a good man and USMC officer. A number of articles on this can be found by searching for William Nystul in google. D Brown AK2

1970-1974, I was attached to ht8 then again in 1978 this was a great time in my naval service after a 25 year career I still look back at where i was and how it changed my life forever had a lot of good people back then I started as an ADAA and retired as an ADCS - H. Thomas 2023




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  News about HT-8


TH-73A Thrasher First Naval Aviation Students

TH-73A Thrasher First Naval Aviation Students

24-Sep-22 - First US Navy students naval aviators began advanced helicopter training in the new Leonardo TH-73A Thrasher with Helicopter Training Squadron HT-8 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field in Milton, Florida #Thrasher
First TH-73A Thrasher Delivered to US Navy

First TH-73A Thrasher Delivered to US Navy

09-Aug-21 - US Navy received first operational TH-73 new trainer helicopter at NAS Whiting Field. Named “Thrasher” for a brown bird common to the southeastern United States #Thrasher
US Navy’s Newest Outlying Landing Field

US Navy’s Newest Outlying Landing Field

01-Feb-19 - Following a land exchange with Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, outlying landing field Site X at NAS Whiting Field opened for helicopter training operations. NAS Whiting Field trains all Navy, Coast Guard and Marine helicopter pilots, as well as a number of international students each year #Escambia


  Locations


YearsLocationICAO/FAA
1973-    NAS Whiting FieldKNDZ
1973-    Saufley FieldKNUN
1960/73NAS Ellyson Field closed 1973KNDP


helicopter   Models


Years Models
2021-    AW119T
1969/72 TH-1L Iroquois
1968-    206






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