HSC - 8 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight ( HSC - 8 ) " Eightballers " is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island , San Diego , California . HSC - 8 is attached to Carrier Air Wing Nine ( CVW - 9 ) and deploys aboard . HSC - 8 was redesignated from HS - 8 on 28 September 2007 . Mission . Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight ' s primary mission is to employ the versatility of the MH - 60S helicopter to support the battle group commander ' s objectives , with emphasis on anti - surface warfare ( ASUW ) , combat search and rescue ( CSAR ) , support of special operations , and vertical replenishment ( VERTREP ) . Secondary missions include anti - ship missile defense and medical evacuation ( MEDEVAC ) . History . The original HS - 8 was established at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Ream Field , Imperial Beach , California on June 1 , 1956 . The first helicopters employed by the command were the HSS - 1 ( H - 34 ) Sea Bat . The squadron performed eight Western Pacific ( WESTPAC ) deployments between 1957 and 1968 including combat tours in Vietnam . Notable achievements included the a 1 , 200 mile medical evacuation ( MEDEVAC ) made by helicopter , the longest in history . Other squadron achievements included participation in the Apollo VI space vehicle / crew recovery and performing more than 30 Combat Search and Rescue missions in North Vietnam . The squadron was decommissioned in November 1968 only to be recommissioned a year later on November 1 , 1969 . Although the Navy does not officially recognize lineage between the two squadrons , the newly established squadron resumed the insignia and traditions of the former squadron . With the new commissioning came new helicopters , namely the SH - 3D . Notable achievements during the next decade included site surveys for the U . S . Atomic Energy Commission , a study of blue whale migration patterns , supporting President Nixon during his working vacation aboard the USS " New Orleans " and deploying in response to the Iranian hostage crisis . In 1976 the American Bicentennial Committee honored HS - 8 as a bicentennial command . The squadrons 19th deployment came in response to Desert Shield / Desert Storm in December 1990 . This deployment was the last for HS - 8 in the SH - 3 . On April 2 , 1993 HS - 8 completed transition from the SH - 3H into the new SH - 60F / HH - 60H Seahawk helicopter . The squadron ' s 20th WESTPAC deployment was from February to August 1994 . HS - 8 was a member of Carrier Air Wing 14 ( CVW - 14 ) aboard the USS Carl Vinson ( CVN - 70 ) . The 21st WESTPAC was concluded in May 1996 followed in September 1997 by an " Around the World Cruise " with the USS " Nimitz " . Deployments after this were routine until September 11 , 2001 . From November 2001 to May 2002 HS - 8 and Carrier Air Wing Nine deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom . There they played a vital role in the campaign that ended with the removal of the Taliban government in Afghanistan . HS - 8 made another WESTPAC deployment from January to September 2003 followed by their second " Around the World Cruise " from January to August 2005 aboard the USS " Carl Vinson " . The squadron earned the Carrier Air Wing Nine Golden Wrench Award for superior maintenance and mission completion percentages as well as the Battle E Device ( Navy Battle Efficiency Award ) for the 2005 World Cruise . In early December 2005 an HS - 8 helicopter and aircrew participated in filming a portion of the television show ' 24 ' where the helicopter was transporting the fictitious Russian president and his wife to the American presidents ranch . On September 28 , 2007 at Naval Air Station North Island , Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Eight was redesignated as Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight and received its first MH - 60S with the armed helo kit . In January 2009 , HSC - 8 went on its first deployment with the MH - 60S where it was joined by HSM - 71 aboard the USS John C . Stennis ( CVN - 74 ) . During this deployment , HSC - 8 assisted in the filming of Transformers 2 . Starting the first of two back to back eight month deployment cycles , HSC - 8 embarked on a WESTPAC deployment in July 2011 . During deployment , the Eightballers accomplished the first ever MH - 60S Cruiser / Destroyer ( CRUDES ) detachment when they embarked on USS MOBILE BAY ( CG - 53 ) . HSC - 8 also assisted in counter piracy operations , successfully aiding in the capture of fifteen suspected pirates . After a short turn around , HSC - 8 departed on an eight - month surge deployment to the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility in September 2012 . HSC - 8 deployed as part of Carrier Air Wing NINE ( CVW - 9 ) aboard the USS JOHN C . STENNIS ( CVN - 74 ) in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM , maritime security operations , and theater security exercises . One of the highlights of the deployment was the rescue of a drowning man in the Straits of Malacca - the Eightballer ’ s first overwater rescue in several years . HSC - 8 also participated in OPERATION BEACON FLASH , a joint security exercise with the Royal Omani Air Force . Squadron Aircraft . H - 34 Choctaw ( redesignated SH - 34 in 1962 ) H - 3 Sea King SH - 60 Seahawk