Air Station Astoria, Oregon

Original Location: Tongue Point Naval Station

Current Location: Astoria Regional Airport, Warrenton, Oregon

Date of Commission: 14 August 1964

Fate: Still in operation

Historical Remarks:

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria was established 14 August 1964 at Tongue Point Naval Station with a crew of 10 officers and 22 enlisted men.  Two Sikorsky HH-52A helicopters were operated from that location, staging from the Port of Astoria Airport until the Air Station was permanently moved to its present location at the Astoria Regional Airport on 25 February 1966. 

The HH-52A helicopters were replaced with three larger HH-3F helicopters in March 1973, to extend the SAR capability of the Air Station.  Two HU-25A Falcon jet aircraft were assigned to the Air Station in October 1983 to enhance the law enforcement effort as well as contribute to search and rescue and logistical missions.  Later, the station's HH-3s were replaced with three Sikorsky HH-60s.

Group/Air Station Astoria has an area of responsibility which stretches from the Queets River on the Washington coast south, to Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon coast; and the Columbia River east to Longview, Wash.

Group Astoria has responsibility for the operational units in their area which include: Station Grays Harbor in Westport; Station Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco; Station Tillamook in Garibaldi; Aids-to-Navigation Team Astoria; three HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters; and three lighthouses.  

The missions of Group/Air Station Astoria include: search and rescue, law enforcement, aids to navigation support, and environmental protection.  The Group also provides limited operational support to the National Motor Lifeboat School and the Advanced Rescue Swimmer School, both located in Ilwaco; as well as logistical support to the Pacific Area 210-foot USCGC Alert and USCGC Steadfast, both homeported in Astoria.

Historic Photo Gallery

Unless otherwise indicated all photos are official U.S. Coast Guard photographs.  Any original caption information is included in the text beneath each photo, along with a date, if known.  Click on the thumbnail to access a 300 dpi image.

Original photo caption: "Astoria Air Station, Warrenton, ORE."; photo dated 1974; Photo No. 13CGD 08077440"; photographer unknown.

Original photo caption: "Aerial shot of Astoria Coast Guard Station.";  dated 18 November 2003; Photo Number 021118-N-6477M-676 (FR); Photo by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Eli J. Medellin.

Historical Sources:

Air Station Files, U. S. Coast Guard Historian's Office

Arthur Pearcy.  A History of U. S. Coast Guard Aviation.  Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1989.