Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point is anair station of theUnited States Coast Guard located approximately 13½ miles west ofHonolulu, at theKalaeloa Airport,[2] on theHawaiian island ofOahu. Initially the Coast Guard established a base on the Hawaiian Archipelago in 1945, with a pair ofPBY-5 Catalinas and oneGrumman G-21 Goose. The air unit maintained supervision for the windward side of Oahu. In 1949 the Command moved toNaval Air Station Barbers Point, and in 1965 the unit received its current designation of Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point. For 24 years theSikorsky HH-52 Seaguard was the primarysearch-and-rescue helicopter, unit 1987 when it was retired and replaced with theAérospatiale HH-65 Dolphin. The fixed wing component has consisted of various models of theC-130 Hercules which have been assigned to the unit since 1959. Currently, AIRSTA Barbers Point has fourHC-130J Super Hercules in use, configured primarily as a long-range search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and logistical support aircraft. It has the ability to airdrop rescue equipment to survivors at sea or on land. It can take off and land on short, unprepared airfields.[3]
Today 250 officers and enlisted personnel maintain a continuous service for the Fourteenth Coast Guard District. Duties include aviation mission support for Search and Rescue, Marine Environmental Protection, Maritime Law Enforcement and Aids to Navigation. Since 1979, the unit has been awarded two Coast Guard Unit Commendations and four Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations for exemplary service.[3]
United States
United States Coast Guard
Capt. Maurice D. Murphy[1]