HSC - 12 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 ( HSC - 12 ) " Golden Falcons " is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi , in Japan . The " Golden Falcons " are attached to Carrier Air Wing Five with the aircraft carrier . In early 2009 , HS - 2 " Golden Falcons " transitioned to MH - 60S and re - designated as HSC - 12 . Command History . Helicopter Anti - Submarine Squadron Two was established on March 7 , 1952 as the first Anti - Submarine Warfare ( ASW ) helicopter squadron on the West Coast , flying the HRS - 2 . Initially used in small detachments , the first deployment as an entire squadron was made in 1957 when the world famous " Golden Falcons , " flying the HSS - 1 , embarked aboard the aircraft carrier . At this time , the squadron was manned by 258 enlisted and 39 officers to fly and maintain 17 aircraft . Since that time , the squadron has deployed on nine other carriers and currently with Carrier Air Wing Two ( CVW - 2 ) aboard with 190 enlisted , 22 officers and seven Sikorsky H - 60 helicopters . 1960s . In addition to being the first HS squadron on the West Coast , the squadron boasts a long list of first and unique achievements which attest to the professional caliber and dedication of its officers and men . HS - 2 was the first ASW helicopter squadron to make a deployment with the Sikorsky SH - 3A Sea King , the Navy ’ s first turbine powered all - weather ASW helicopter . HS - 2 was also the first H - 3 squadron to operationally employ Helicopter In - flight Refueling ( HIFR ’ s ) at night . In November 1965 , an HS - 2 SH - 3A performed the longest operational flight at the time . The aircraft remained airborne for eleven hours and eighteen minutes on a search and rescue mission in the Gulf of Tonkin with the help of four HIFR ’ s three of which were at night . Other technical innovations by " Golden Falcons " include the pioneering of submarine detection capabilities with the introduction of the SH - 3D in 1967 as a multi - sensor ASW platform . In addition to the Bendix AQS - 13 B sonar , Magnetic Anomaly Detector ( MAD ) and Multi - Channel Jezebel Relay ( MCJR ) active sonobuoy systems were added to the aircraft , the latter providing the carrier with sonobuoy monitoring capability . In 1980 the squadron became the first West Coast unit to deploy with new tactical navigation ( TACNAV ) equipped SH - 3D / H helicopters . HS - 2 performed the first night rescue in North Vietnam in 1965 . In 1966 HS - 2 participated in the Apollo Saturn 202 spaceshot recovery program , and was responsible for ten overland and five coastal rescues of pilots in North Vietnam during 1967 . The " Golden Falcons " provided relief support to snowbound Indians in Arizona over the Christmas holidays of 1967 , airlifting fifteen tons of food supplies , flying 292 " Mercy Missions " and performing 37 medical evacuations . The squadron also lost Edward Robert Dorsey and Johnnie Lee Frazier . 1970s . In 1970 , HS - 2 was the first helicopter squadron to travel across the United States for deployment on a ship from the other coast . In that year , the squadron participated in operations with U . S . Forces responding to the Jordanian Crisis . HS - 2 was directed to prepare to go into Amman , Jordan and also provide Combat Search and Rescue ( CSAR ) for the Battle Group . It was during the same year that the American flag was painted on the helicopters . The flag was painted on the aircraft overnight so the helicopter could be distinguished from the Israeli H - 3 ’ s , which might also be operating in the combat zone . To commemorate the event , the Chief of Naval Operations authorized the American flag to become a permanent part of HS - 2 ’ s paint scheme . As a result of its superior performance during that period , the squadron was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation . Following the cease - fire agreement in 1972 , HS - 2 became the first U . S . Naval air unit to fly into North Vietnam , providing transportation to and from Haiphong for the negotiating team . In 1974 the squadron provided relief assistance to the cyclone devastated island of Mauritius . The 1976 deployment aboard was the first Western Pacific deployment for the Navy ’ s modern CV concept . Along with the S - 3A Viking and an on board Tactical Support Center ( TSC ) , HS - 2 contributed to the refinement and success of modern day ASW tactics . In the fall of 1979 , HS - 2 was chosen to participate in amphibious operations with a multi - nation task force . The squadron deployed aboard and again proved the value of helicopter ASW . HS - 2 earned the Humanitarian Service Medal in 1980 for its participation in the rescue of three groups of Vietnamese refugees . In 1984 , HS - 2 provided the first damage assessments following the collision of a Soviet Victor submarine with . 1990s . HS - 2 led the way in modern Carrier Airborne Anti - Submarine Warfare by transitioning to the SH - 60F " Seahawk , " the newest and most capable rotary wing ASW weapon system in today ’ s Navy . HS - 2 was also the first active duty HS squadron to fully incorporate the Combat Search and Rescue mission , having received two new HH - 60H aircraft in November 1990 . Additionally , HS - 2 was the first HS squadron to deploy with the FLIR / Hellfire weapons system . 2000s . HS - 2 is currently attached to the USS Abraham Lincoln where it provides support to both the airwing and fleet ships . During 2005 the command provided relief support to the citizens of Indonesia devastated by a tsunami due to an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra , Indonesia on December 26 , 2004 . Flying the SH - 60F and HH - 60H , there were 231 medevacs of displaced refugees , 475 , 000 lbs of disaster relief cargo delivered , and 1010 . 9hrs flown in a 31 day period . 10 , 000 lives were saved in the first ten days . On the 6th of August 2009 , the " Golden Falcons " transitioned to the MH - 60S helicopter and re - designated as HSC - 12 .