USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$12.00
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HSC-6 Indians MH-60S Seahawk Tail Flash Patch
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (HSC-6), U.S. Navy
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (HSC-6), the legendary "Indians," was established on 1 June 1956 as Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Six (HS-6) aboard USS Princeton (CVS-37), midway between Formosa and Okinawa. Initially flying the Sikorsky HO4S Chickasaw, the squadron transitioned to the HSS-1N Seabat in 1958 and the SH-3 Sea King in March 1962, beginning a remarkable career that would span nearly seven decades of continuous naval aviation excellence.
The Indians built an extraordinary legacy of achievement during the space race era, recovering Mercury Program astronauts Wally Schirra in 1962 and Gordon Cooper in 1963, and the crew of Apollo 14 returning from the Moon in 1971. During the Vietnam War in 1966, HS-6 rescued 16 downed aviators during U.S. strikes into Vietnam, earning the Navy Unit Commendation. The squadron accumulated an impressive collection of awards including back-to-back Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophies for ASW excellence in 1977-1978 and again in 1985-1986, the Admiral Jimmy Thach Award for carrier-based ASW excellence in 1986, multiple CNO Safety 'S' Awards, and the Battle "E" in 1974, 1978, and 2007. Aboard USS Constellation, the Indians conducted 19 open ocean rescues during their final deployment on that carrier.
HS-6 transitioned to the SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk in 1991, and during WESTPAC 2005 flew over 2,500 hours and nearly 1,000 sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from USS Nimitz and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. On 8 July 2011, the squadron was redesignated HSC-6, transitioning to the MH-60S Seahawk with new primary missions including Anti-Surface Warfare, Combat Search and Rescue, Naval Special Operations Support, and Vertical Replenishment. Today, HSC-6 serves as part of Carrier Air Wing 17, deploying aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68) from NAS North Island.
Perfect For: HSC-6 and HS-6 squadron members and veterans, CVW-17 personnel, USS Nimitz crew members, MH-60S Seahawk enthusiasts, Navy helicopter rescue swimmers, and space program history buffs who appreciate the Apollo recovery legacy.
A storied symbol of nearly seven decades of naval helicopter excellence, from recovering astronauts to rescuing aviators in combat zones worldwide.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
