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From late 1968 through the spring of 1970, the 'Black Knights' of the Navy's Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four (HS-4) participated in and pioneered techniques for the Apollo capsule recoveries. HS-4 was on scene for Apollo missions 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13. The helicopter's flight number was changed from '66' to '740' (The Navy had switched to a three number squadron designator - but the chopper was repainted with the number '66' for each recovery thereafter for public relations reasons). For their efforts, the members of HS-4 received the
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Meritorious Unit
Commendation ribbon, the service's third highest unit citation.
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| Recovery: Dec 27, 1968 | Recovery: May 29, 1969 | Recovery: July 24, 1969 | Recovery: Nov 24, 1969 | Recovery: April 17, 1970 |
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Recovery Pilot: CDR Donald S. Jones |
Recovery Pilot: CDR Chuck B. Smiley |
Recovery Pilot: CDR Donald S. Jones |
Recovery Pilot: CDR Warren E. Aut |
Recovery Pilot: CDR Chuck B. Smiley |
| Vessel: USS Yorktown, CVS-10 | Vessel: USS Princeton, LPH-5 | Vessel: USS Hornet, CVS-12 | Vessel: USS Hornet, CVS-12 | Vessel: USS Iwo Jima, LPH-2 |
| @ 8°6' N-165°1' W | @ 15°2' S-164°39' W | @ 13°19' N-169° 9' W | @ 15°47' S-165°9' W | @ 21°38' S-165°21' W |