The Long Blue Line (Spring 2024)

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION ACTIVE DUTY
the successful operational testing on the
210s. In preparation for the operational
tests, a wooden grid was added on
Reliance’s flight deck to stabilize the
helicopter during landings by capturing
the landing gear. Due to scheduling
complications, initial cutter helicopter
operations took place during Reliance’s
sea trials, from July 7 to 10, 1964, off the
coast of Galveston. During this three-day
period, a HH-52 helicopter completed 170
landings, including 20 nighttime landings.
A second set of flight-deck landings was
scheduled in November of that year, this
time in more challenging environmental
conditions. At the conclusion of these
evolutions, Reliance had proven that
the Coast Guard was ready to advance
shipboard helicopter operations.
Not to be outdone by her slightly older
sister-ship, Diligence was soon pioneering
a new concept as well. After a referral from
President John F. Kennedy, the Coast
Guard once again collaborated with the
Loewy and Snaith team—this time to
design a new service logo. In March of
1965, the design firm presented their ideas
for the new service logo to senior leaders
at Coast Guard Headquarters. Soon after,
Diligence was chosen as one of the units
to prototype the new logo, along with the
cutter Androscoggin, several aircraft,
and small boats. This design was later
implemented Service wide in 1967.
The 1960s was an exciting decade
for space exploration. At the time, the
“Space Race” was in full swing and by
1965 the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration’s (NASA) was ready to
launch the third Gemini mission. Gemini III
was the first crewed space mission for the
Gemini program. CGC Diligence and her
sister ship Vigilant, with attached HH-52
helicopters, joined the aircraft carrier USS
Intrepid as part of the Gemini III capsule
recovery force. The pilots that flew in the
recovery operations were the same that
had participated in the initial helicopter
operational tests aboard Reliance. The
Gemini III mission was launched on the
morning of March 23, 1965, and splashed
Not to be outdone by her
slightly older sister-ship,
Diligence was soon pioneering a
new concept as well.
down approximately four hours later just
short of the designated landing area.
Diligence was first on scene and launched
its helicopter to ensure the safety of the
Gemini and crew. Sometime afterward,
Navy helicopters from USS Intrepid
recovered the astronauts. Although the
Coast Guard was largely uncredited, this
mission proved the versatility of the new
class of cutter.
For Reliance and Diligence these early
missions were just the beginning of six
decades of service to our nation. These
ships and the generations of crewmembers
to cross their decks went on to launch
daring rescues, pursue drug smugglers and
poachers, responded to natural disasters,
and remain to this day enduring symbols
of U.S. sovereignty on the high seas. There
are many newer and more sophisticated
cutters in the Coast Guard’s fleet today;
however, none can match the character
and legacy of these two ships.
This article was
published on MyCG.
For more great Coast
Guard stories, visit
www.mycg.uscg.mil
64 SPRING 2024
THE LONG BLUE LINE