40 Years of the old Dolphin
Capping a selection process that had been started in 1974 for a new Short-Range Recovery (SRR) Aircraft to replace the aging HH-52 Sea Guard, the Coast Guard accepted the first of 96 HH-65 Dolpins for service on 14 November 1984.
They entered service in the branch’s then-standard red-white and blue full-color livery, complete with racing stripe.
Official caption: November 1984. HH-65 “successor” replacing the venerable HH-52A, a USCG workhorse for decades. USCG Historian’s Office Photo.
The first Dolphin det was CGAS New Orleans, which stood up in 1985. USCG Historian’s Office Photo.
In this work from the U.S. Coast Guard Art Program 2014 Collection, “Search Light” ID# 201414, An Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin flies low over a small boat station crew in turbulent waters of Biscayne Bay to conduct search and rescue training exercises. In order to be prepared for emergencies occurring at any time, crew members routinely complicate training exercises by performing them at night. (U.S. Coast Guard Art Program work by Karen Loew)
Still “flying yesterday’s helicopter tomorrow,” the Reagan-era HH-65s were given a service life extension and became the Multi-Mission Cutter Helicopter (MCH), now in its MH-65E Echo upgrade variant which is anticipated to be in operation well through 2027.
