Current Title:	U.S. Coast Guard
Title in English:	U.S. Coast Guard
Abbreviation:	USCG

Narrative Summary:
Summary Narrative History

Key Dates:
1916		Congress authorized the Coast Guard to establish ten air stations.
6 April 1917		The Coast Guard was transferred to the US Navy.
1918		The Coast Guard was returned to the Treasury Department.
March 1920		The first air station was established at Morehead City, NC.
1936		The Coast Guard had six Air Stations, two Air Detachments and 42 aircraft.
1 November 1941		The Coast Guard was transferred to the Navy Department.
5 October 1943		Patrol Squadron Six (Coast Guard) (VP-6 (CG)) was established as a Guard squadron under Navy operational control at NAS Argentia, Newfoundland/Canada.
30 June 1946		The U.S. Navy returned eleven Air Stations to the operational control of the U.S. Coast Guard and to the Treasury Department.
1950-1953		The Coast Guard remained under the Treasury Department throughout the Korean War.
1967		The Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Transportation.
22 January 1987		Coast Guard Airborne Warning Squadron One (CGAW-1) was fomed with 2 E-2C.
1998		HITRON-10 (Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron) was formed.
1.3.2003		The Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security.

 

Current Status:
Units of the U.S. Coast Guard are fully operational.

Future Plans:
No information available.

National Insignia:
Current --- Historical

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
The first series of serials were allocated to aircraft from 1926 to 1934. Serials began with number 1 and were given one- and two-digit serial numbers assigned in groups.

The second series of serials were allocated to aircraft from 1934 to 1936. Serials were given three-digit numbers assigned in groups, with the first digit indicating the type of aircraft. Those serials beginning with a 1 were amphibians, those beginning with 2 were flying boats, those beginning with 3 were land-based aircraft, and those beginning with 4 were convertible designs. At this time, the aircraft originally ordered in the first series were reserialled with numbers in the second series.

The third series of serials were allocated to aircraft from 1936 to the present day. On 13.10.1936, all Coast Guard aircraft ever acquired (including those already withdrawn from service or written off) were reserialled with a three-digit number prefixed with a V. On 28.12.1945, the V prefix was deleted. From 1.1.1951 onwards, a 1 prefix was added in front of the three-digit serial number. Beginning in the 1980s, serials were assigned in blocks for each type, usually with gaps between adjacent blocks.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used.

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None.

Current Aircraft Inventory:
Table of Current Service Aircraft

All-Time Aircraft Used List:
Alphabetical Order --- Chronological Order

Main Headquarters:
Coast Guard Headquarters, Department of Homeland Security, 2100 2nd Street SW, Washington, DC 20593

Current Organisational Structure:
The U.S. Coast Guard currently operates 27 mayor air stations and 5 secondary air stations with a mixture of aircraft and helicopter operating from these bases.

Current Order of Battle:
Table of Current Order of Battle

Historical Orders of Battle:

Historical Order of Battle (as at 1941)

Historical Order of Battle (as at 1961)

Historical Order of Battle (as at 1981)

Historical Order of Battle (as at 2009)

Historical Order of Battle (as at 2011)

All-Time Flying Units List: (only units, which are not included in the Orders of Battle)

Air Patrol Detachment El Paso

AIRFAC Norfolk

AIRSTA Morehead City

AIRSTA St. Augustine

AIRSTA Ten Pound Island

Coast Guard Airborne Warning Squadron One (CGAW-1)

Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Ten (HITRON-10)

Patrol Squadron Six (Coast Guard) (VP-6 (CG))

Current Air Bases:
The U.S. Coast Guard currently operates 27 mayor air stations and 5 secondary air stations.

Military Air Bases Listing

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Military Air Bases Listing

Books:

'US Coast Guard Aviation' [Order this book from Amazon UK]
by Robert F Dorr
Published by Motorbooks International, 1992 ISBN: 0 87938 583 9
* All-colour look at Coast Guard aviation and the aircraft and helicopters flown.

'A History of U.S. Coast Guard Aviation' [Order this book from Amazon UK]
by Arthur Pearcy
Published by Airlife Publishing, 1989 ISBN: 1 85310 018 8
* Well researched, well illustrated history of USCG aviation from the earliest days.

'U.S. Coast Guard Aircraft since 1916' [Order this book from Amazon UK]
by Arthur Pearcy
Published by Airlife Publishing, 1991 ISBN: 1 85310 118 4
* History of USCG aircraft plus type-by-type review of all aircraft used.

'Wonderful Flying Machines: History of U.S. Coast Guard Helicopters' [Order this book from Amazon UK]
by Barrett Thomas Beard
Published by Naval Institute Press, Nov 1996 ISBN: 155750086X
* The story of USCG aviator Lt. Frank Erickson and his struggle to get the early helicopters accepted by the Coast Guard.

'Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City (Images of America)' [Order this book from Amazon UK]
by -
Published by Arcadia Publishing, Aug 2005 ISBN: 0738518360
* Collection of b+w photos of USCGAS Elizabeth City throughout its history.

Magazines:

United States Air Forces Directory 2004/2005 (Ken Wardle)

World Air Power Journal No.18 p.148