A pioneer helicopter squadron, Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 1 (HC-1), the Fleet Angels, pushed the threshold of naval helicopter operations during its long history. Its 21 detachments performed search and rescue and a wide range of utility services throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The Pacific Fleet's first helicopter squadron was established as Helicopter Utility Squadron 1 (HU-1) at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey, on 1 April 1948, moving to NAAS Ream Field, Imperial Beach, California, where it was based until 1976.
Deploying detachments of HO3S-1 helicopters on carriers operating off Korea, HU-1 flew sorties into enemy territory to rescue downed aircrews. HU-1 steadily grew—along with the utility of the helicopter—after Korea. In January 1963 the squadron acquired its first turbine-powered helicopter, the UH-2A/B Seasprite, which replaced the UH-25 aboard carriers. Until the mid-1960s, the squadron operated the RH-3A, CH-19E, UH-34DIE, UH-46A, and SH-34G as well.
On 1 July 1965, HU-1 was redesignated HC-1. In July 1966 the first of four gunship detachments was formed in Vietnam, flying ex-Army UH-1Bs to support patrols in the Mekong River delta. By 1967, HC-1 had grown so large that the Navy formed four other helicopter squadrons from HC-1 detachments.
The streamlined HC-1 continued deployments to the Vietnam war zone through 1975. HC-1's UH-2A1Bs were steadily replaced by UH-2Cs, in turn succeeded by SH-3A/G Sea Kings.
HC-1 moved to NAS North Island, California, in 1976. During the 1970s, a reduced HC-1 provided extensive recovery services for the U.S. space program. In 1980, HC-1 assumed control of the West Coast Swimmer School, and in 1984 acquired the CH-53E heavy-lift helicopter to augment its SH-3G fleet. In 1989 HC-1 took over duties as the utility H-3 fleet readiness squadron. During the Gulf War, HC-1 deployed one CH-53E and two SH-3G detachments to naval forces in the Persian Gulf. HC-1 became the first Navy unit to land an aircraft in newly liberated Kuwait.
After transferring its missions and its SH-3H and UH-3H aircraft to other squadrons, HC-1 was disestablished on 29 April 1994. In 46 years of service, the Fleet Angels performed more than 1,680 rescues.