The U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) operations started as an experiment in 1998 to halt the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. Drug trafficking organizations primarily used “go-fast” boats, high-speed smuggling vessels capable of traveling over twice the speed of Coast Guard cutters. The Coast Guard needed a way to counter Leer másCoast Guard HITRON History Series: Rear Adm. Donna Cottrell[…]
In this Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) history series, the USCG spoke with retired Chief Warrant Officer Ray Stobinski Jr. (HITRON 10). Stobinski was one of the first Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron gunners and shares what that role entailed. The Coast Guard HITRON operations started as an experiment in 1998 to halt the Leer másCoast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Founding Members[…]
In this USCG HITRON History Documentary Series, the Coast Guard speak with Petty Officer 1st Class Kimberly Dechmerowski, an avionics electrical technician. Dechmerowski and the first female gunner of Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron. The HITRON operations started as an experiment in 1998 to halt the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. Drug trafficking organizations Leer másCoast Guard HITRON History Series: AET1 Kimberly Dechmerowski[…]
PORT ANGELES, Wash. – The Coast Guard Cutter Active and a HITRON Unit returned to Port Angeles Friday after interdicted 159 million in cocaine following a 46-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Dec. 18. Nicknamed “Lil Tough Guy,” the USCGC Active’s crew patrolled 10,056 total nautical miles off the coast of Central America, deployed Leer másCoast Guard Cutter Active and HITRON interdicted 159 million of cocaine[…]
In this HITRON Squadron history documentary series, the Coast Guard spoke with Vincent Van Ness, a Lieutenant junior grade at the time Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) was stood up. Van Ness is a HITRON-10 member and recognized for his role in evaluating night vision goggles (NVG) and applying them to the Unit’s proof of Leer másCoast Guard HITRON history series: Lt. Comander Vincent Van Ness[…]
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Legare and HITRON crews returned to home after an eight-week counter narcotic patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Friday. The Cutter Legare interdicted over 7,000 pounds of contraband, with an estimated street value in excess of $20 million and patrolled over 10,000 nautical miles throughout the Eastern Leer másUSCGC Legare and HITRON crews interdicting over 20 million in drugs[…]
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Seneca returned to its homeport in Portsmouth after a 57-day patrol conducting counter-drug and humanitarian assistance operations in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, November 20. The USCGC Seneca crew deployed with an embarked MH-65 Dolphin Short-Range Recovery (SRR) helicopter from Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Leer másUSCGC Seneca returns to homeport after counter-drug and joint maritime operations[…]