Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles

34°07′13″N 119°07′16″W

Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles
Unit patch
Active1962 (1962) to
2016 (2016)
Country United States
BranchUnited States Coast Guard
TypeAir station
RolePatrol the Southern California Coast from Dana Point to Morro Bay.
Garrison/HQNaval Air Station Point Mugu
Aircraft flown
Helicopter3 HH-65 Dolphin

Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles (CGAS Los Angeles) was a United States Coast Guard air station located at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California. CGAS Los Angeles was activated in 1962, and was deactivated in 2016.[1]

Missions

Crews from CGAS Los Angeles and Baywatch Cabrillo demonstrating search and rescue techniques in San Pedro, 2009

CGAS Los Angeles missions included search and rescue, homeland security, and environmental protection.

Homeland security was also an important mission of CGAS Los Angeles. Helicopters from the base patrolled the west coast of the United States from Dana Point to Morro Bay. The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach also lied within the station's patrol area.

History

CGAS Los Angeles was founded in August 1962 through the combined efforts of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Senator Thomas Kuchel, and U.S. Representative James Roosevelt.

Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard of USCG Los Angeles over LAX in 1973

In May 1963, the unit switched to three HH-52A Seaguard helicopters. These helicopters were flown for 24 years.

In September 2016, CGAS Los Angeles was closed when the lease on the existing facility at Los Angeles International Airport ended. Administratively, its component units were relocated to Naval Air Station Point Mugu and merged with/became a satellite of the Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco.[2][3] This allowed LAX to accommodate the planned improvements for LAX's midfield, including the Midfield Satellite Concourse North (MSC North) terminal.[2][4]

Older CGAS Los Angeles patch

References

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