HS - 5 HS - 5 Helicopter Anti - submarine Squadron Five , also known as " Nightdippers " is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Station Norfolk . The Nightdippers are a part of Carrier Air Wing Seven and deploy aboard the . History . Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Five was commissioned at Naval Air Station Key West , Florida , on 3 January 1956 . Its primary mission back then was the same as it is today : denying the enemy effective use of their submarines . In 1963 , HS - 5 transitioned to the first twin jet turbine helicopter , the SH - 3A " Sea King " . In 1978 , HS - 5 and CVW - 7 were assigned to , at the time the Navy ' s newest nuclear - powered aircraft carrier . Following an extended deployment to the Mediterranean , HS - 5 transitioned to the SH - 3H , which incorporated the latest in ASW technological advances . An extensive work - up cycle prepared HS - 5 and the Eisenhower for a 1988 Mediterranean deployment . With a single helicopter embarked on the USS Peterson ( DD 969 ) , the community had its first ever six - month detachment of a single SH - 3H for ASW . The venerable " Sea King " again proved its mettle during numerous multi - national exercises and sensitive Black Sea operations . Well - recognized for its outstanding performance in 1988 , the squadron reveled its fourth Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophy , sixth CNO Safely Award , and a Meritorious Unit Commendation . Following a successful turnaround cycle highlighted by two successive HSWING ONE Maintenance Trophies , HS - 5 deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in March 1990 , once again aboard the Eisenhower . Referred to as the " Centennial Cruise " in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of President Dwight D . Eisenhower , this deployment included an unusual mid - deployment journey to the English Channel for participation in ceremonies in remembrance of the D - Day invasion of Normandy . In August 1990 , the IKE left the Mediterranean again , transiting the Suez Canal and taking position in the Red Sea to deter possible Iraqi aggression against Saudi Arabia at the beginning of Operation Desert Shield . The " Nightdippers " marked the end of an era when the last of their SH - 3H " Sea King " helicopters was transferred from NAS Jacksonville in January 1995 . Although the Sea Kings were older than the personnel maintaining them , several upgrades , modifications , and service life extensions kept the H - 3 up - to - date with the latest technological advances in ASW , electronics , and power plant systems . The squadron kept their vintage helicopters aloft for a total of 108 , 661 hours and in ready - to - launch , around the clock status for over three decades . The Sea Kings were flown to different parts of the country and one is proudly displayed at the Quonset Point Air Museum in Rhode Island . January 1995 began a new chapter in " Nightdipper " history when the squadron transitioned to the SH - 60 " Seahawk " . Faced with completing a demanding transition during a compressed thirteen - month turnaround cycle , the men and women of HS - 5 completed the transition three months ahead of schedule and met every operational commitment during their pre - deployment work - up schedule . Also at this time , HS - 5 added yet another facet to their repertoire of warfare missions . While detached to NAS Fallon , Nevada , the " Nightdippers " perfected Combat Search and Rescue ( CSAR ) procedures in preparation for deployment . As a result of their first operational deployment with the new SH - 60F / HH - 60H , the " Nightdippers " were awarded the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle " E " , the Thatch USW Excellence Award and the Commander Sixth Fleet " Hook ' em " Award for Undersea Warfare Excellence . The squadron has won the prestigious Battle “ E ” award three of the last five years , and the Fleet Forces Retention Excellence Award for the last two years , as well as the Isbell Award for ASW and ASU excellence in FY06 . Operationally , recent " Nightdipper " achievements speak for themselves . Approximately thirty maintainers , aircrew , and pilots from HS - 5 were deployed for six months to an Expanded Maritime Interdiction Operation ( EMIO ) operating site in the summer of 2005 . The Nightdippers effectively fulfilled the Navy ’ s EMIO mission , acting as a critical maritime component to the Global War on Terrorism by deterring , delaying , and disrupting the movement of terrorists and terrorist - related materials at sea . The Nightdippers collaborated on this mission with United States Marine Corps fleet anti - terrorism security teams ( FAST ) and Mobile Security Squadron Seven ( MSS - 7 ) , as well as other various allied nations and their forces . In addition to the recent completion of the EMIO mission , HS - 5 provided two aircraft and 37 personnel to participate in the massive Hurricane Katrina relief effort . The Nightdippers logged more than 93 . 6 flight hours and rescued 41 people in distress , as well as delivering 14 , 860 pounds of food and water to hurricane victims . Most recently , HS - 5 has provided CVW - 7 and the with over 5 , 000 hours of direct support missions over the course of the 2006 work - up cycle and 2006 - 2007 extended deployment .