Twenty-eight of the seventy-nine United States Navy helicopter squadrons which have ever been established no longer exist having been disestablished. Eleven squadrons exist in an "inactive" status for possible future reactivation and forty are currently active.

These disestablished and deactivated squadrons are sometimes incorrectly referred to as decommissioned squadrons, but the U.S. Navy does not "commission" or "decommission" aircraft squadrons. Until 1998, squadrons were "established", "disestablished", and sometimes "redesignated"; since 1998, squadrons are "established", "deactivated", and sometimes "reactivated" and/or "redesignated". It has never been correct to refer to U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons as being commissioned and decommissioned, ships are commissioned and decommissioned, U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons are not.

Under the system in use until 1998, a squadron's history and lineage began when it was established and ended when it was disestablished. During the course of its existence (between establishment and disestablishment) a squadron could be redesignated multiple times. The Navy's oldest currently active aircraft squadron is VFA-14 "Tophatters". It was established in September 1919 and has carried sixteen different designations (VT-5, VP-1-4, VF-4, VB-3, VS-41, VA-14, VF-14, VFA-14 to name just a few) having been redesignated fifteen times. Re-designation might assign a squadron a new basic designation while leaving the number untouched (e.g., HU-1 to HC-1), or it could change the entire designation (e.g., HS-3 to HSC-9). A Squadron retains its lineage regardless of its redesignation(s). When a squadron was disestablished or redesignated its former designation became available to be used for a new squadron or in the redesignation of an existing squadron. Squadrons which share a designation do not also share a lineage as a squadron's lineage follows the squadron, not the designation. A squadron which received the designation of a former squadron might adopt the nickname and/or the insignia and carry on the traditions of the previous squadron, but it could not lay claim to the history or lineage of that previous squadron any more than a new ship commissioned with the name USS Enterprise could claim to be the actual WWII aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.

This system changed in March 1998 with Chief of Naval Operations Instruction (OPNAVINST) 5030.4E. U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons are now no longer disestablished, they are instead "deactivated." A deactivated squadron remains in existence, though only "on paper", awaiting possible future "reactivation". Neither its designation nor any previous designations are available for use by a new squadron. A reactivated squadron would trace its lineage back to the squadron's original establishment date, including its inactive period. Under this new system a squadron can still be redesignated if its function changes necessitating a different designation, for example Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron EIGHT (HS-8) was redesignated as a Sea Combat Squadron; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron EIGHT (HSC-8)

The current update of OPNAVINST 3050.4 contains a list of all currently active and deactivated U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons.

The sections of this article list disestablished and deactivated squadrons but also listed will be the former no longer used designations of squadrons which are still active under their current designation.

Antisubmarine (HS) squadrons The HS designation was created in 1951 to designate Helicopter Antisubmarine squadron and remained in use until the last active HS squadron was redesignated as a Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) squadron on 1 June 2016. The designation has not been in active use since. HS squadrons were the second type of helicopter squadron to be established, the first being Helicopter Utility (HU) squadrons. HS squadrons were established to combat the emerging Soviet submarine threat and were equipped with early sonar technologies. They initially deployed aboard remaining WWII escort carriers hunting soviet submarines in the decade of the 1950s. In 1960 the Navy paired them with Air Antisubmarine (VS) squadrons forming Antisubmarine Carrier Air Groups (CVSG) aboard WWII Essex-class aircraft carriers converted to Antisubmarine Carriers (CVS). The CVSs were decommissioned and their CVSGs disestablished by the mid-1970s and HS squadrons (along with the VS squadrons) were added to Carrier Air Wings.

HS designations were numbered sequentially beginning with HS-1 with odd numbers designating Atlantic Fleet squadrons and even numbers designating Pacific Fleet squadrons (the opposite of the HC and the HSL designation scheme). There were also four Navy Reserve HS squadrons which were numbered in accordance with the Reserve Antisubmarine Carrier Air Groups (CVSGR) for which they were established (HS-74 and HS-75 in CVSGR-70, and HS-84 and HS-85 in CVSGR-80). The USNR squadrons are listed in the "U. S. Navy Reserve Squadrons" section at the end of the article.

There are nine disestablished squadrons and two deactivated squadrons listed below. There are also nine entries listing former designations of currently active squadrons.

Note: The parenthetical (1st) and (2nd) appended to some designations in the tables below are not a part of the squadron designation system. They are added to indicate that the designation was used more than once during the history of U.S. Naval Aviation and which use of the designation is indicated. Absence indicates that the designation was used only once.

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron ONE: Established on 3 October 1951. It was the third U.S. Navy helicopter squadron to be established and the first antisubmarine squadron and as such was heavily involved in the development of equipment, tactics and procedures for the helicopter's use. Later operated as the Atlantic Fleet HS FRS. Disestablished on 30 June 1997.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage DisestablishedHS-1SeahorsesHUP, HTL, TBM, HRS, HO4S, SNB, HSS-1, HSS-1N/SH-34J, HSS-2/SH-3A, VH-3A, HH-3A, SH-3D, SH-3G, SH-3H, SH-60FHS-1: 3 Oct 1951 – 30 Jun 199730 June 1997

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron TWO: Established on 7 March 1952. Oldest currently active operational U.S. Navy helicopter squadron. Operated as a Pacific Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. Redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWELVE (HSC-12) on 6 August 2009. Remains active as HSC-12.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage Current DesignationHS-2Golden FalconsHO4S, HSS-1, HSS-1N, HSS-2/SH-3A, SH-3D, SH-3H, SH-60F, HH-60HHS-2: 7 Mar 1952 – 6 Aug 2009HSC-12: 6 Aug 2009–presentHSC-12

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron THREE: Established on 18 June 1952. Operated as an Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. Redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron NINE (HSC-9) on 1 June 2009. Remains active as HSC-9.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage Current DesignationHS-3TridentsHUP, HO4S, HSS-1, HSS-1N, HSS-2/SH-3A, SH-3D, SH-3H, SH-60F, HH-60HHS-3: 18 Jun 1952 – 1 Jun 2009HSC-9: 1 Jun 2009–presentHSC-9

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron FOUR: Established on 30 June 1952. Operated as a Pacific Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. Redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron FOUR (HSC-4) on 29 Mar 2012. Remains active as HSC-4.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage Current DesignationHS-4Black KnightsHO4S, HSS-1, HSS-1N/SH-34J, SH-3A, SH-3D, HS-3H, SH-60F, HH-60HHS-4: 30 Jun 1952 – 29 Mar 2012HSC-4: 29 Mar 2012–presentHSC-4

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron FIVE: Established on 3 January 1956. Operated as an Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. Redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron FIVE (HSC-5) on 29 Mar 2012. Remains active as HSC-5.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage Current DesignationHS-5Night DippersHSS-1N/SH-34J, SH-3A, SH-3D, SH-3H, SH-60F, HH-60HHS-5: 3 Jan 1956 – 24 Jan 2014HSC-5: 24 Jan 2014–presentHSC-5

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SIX: Established on 1 June 1956. Operated as a Pacific Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. Redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC-6) on 8 July 2011. Remains active as HSC-6.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage Current DesignationHS-6IndiansHO4S, HSS-1N, HSS-2/SH-3A, SH-3D, SH-3H, SH-60F, HH-60HHS-6: 1 Jun 1956 – 8 Jul 2011HSC-6: 8 Jul 2011–presentHSC-6

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SEVEN(1st): Established as HS-7 (first use of the designation) on 2 April 1956. Established at Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia for the purpose of harbor defense. In 1960 the squadron was assigned as an aircraft carrier based squadron. It was disestablished on 31 May 1966.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage DisestablishedHS-7(first use)Big DippersHSS-1, HSS-1N/SH-34JHS-7(1st): 2 Apr 1956 – 31 May 196631 May 1966

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SEVEN(2nd): Established as HS-7 (second use of the designation) on 15 December 1969 adopting the name and insignia of the disestablished HS-7(1st). Operated as an Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. Redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SEVEN (HSC-7) on 15 April 2011. Remains active as HSC-7.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage Current DesignationHS-7(second use)(1969)(1995)Big Dippers (1969)Shamrocks (1973)Dusty Dogs (1995)SH-3D, SH-3H, SH-60F, HH-60HHS-7(2nd): 15 Dec 1969 – 15 Apr 2011HSC-7: 15 Apr 2011–presentHSC-7

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron EIGHT(1st): Established as HS-8 (first use of the designation) on 1 June 1956. Operated as a Pacific Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. It was disestablished on 31 December 1968.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage DisestablishedHS-8(first use)EightballersHSS-1N/SH-34J, SH-3AHS-8 (1st): 1 Jun 1956 – 31 Dec 196831 December 1968

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron EIGHT(2nd): Established as HS-8 (second use of the designation) on 1 November 1969 adopting the name and insignia of the disestablished HS-8(1st). Operated as a Pacific Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. Redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron EIGHT (HSC-8) on 28 September 2007. Remains active as HSC-8.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage Current DesignationHS-8(second use)EightballersSH-3D, SH-3H, SH-60F, HH-60HHS-8 (2nd): 1 Nov 1969 – 28 Sep 2007HSC-8: 28 Sep 2007–presentHSC-8

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron NINE(1st): Established as HS-9 (first use of the designation) on 1 June 1956. Operated as an Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. It was disestablished on 1 October 1968.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage DisestablishedHS-9(first use)Sea GriffinsHSS-1N/SH-34J, SH-3AHS-9(1st): 1 June 1956 – 1 Oct 19681 October 1968

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron NINE(2nd): Established as HS-9 (second use of the designation) on 4 June 1976 adopting the name and insignia of the disestablished HS-9(1st). Operated as an Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. Disestablished on 30 April 1993.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage DisestablishedHS-9(second use)Sea GriffinsSH-3H, SH-60F, HH-60HHS-9(2nd): 4 Jun 1976 – 30 Apr 199330 April 1993

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron TEN: Established on 1 July 1960. Operated as the Pacific Fleet FRS. Deactivated on 12 July 2012.

Designation Insignia Nickname Aircraft Squadron Lineage DeactivatedHS-10Task Masters,War Hawks(1990s)HSS-1N, HSS-2/SH-3A, SH-3D, SH-3G, SH-3H, SH-60FHS-10: 1 July 1960 – 12 July 201212 July 2012

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron ELEVEN: Established on 27 June 1957. Operated as an Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier based squadron. Redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron ELEVEN (HSC-11) on 1 June 2016. Remains active as HSC-11.