My HS-8 Aircraft Division members painted the Bicentennial SH-3D in 1976,
with full approval and encouragement of our then Maintenance Officer Bruce
Valley, while we were stationed at NASIB, CA. As a result HS-8 was
designated as the “USN Bicentennial Command”.
As HAC I flew BuNu 154111 many times in its Bicentennial livery. Attached
is a photo showing not only our distinctive logo but us deploying MAD and a
dummy MK-46 while in flight. I can provide photos of my log book to prove
it.
I do not recall HC-1 or any other Helo squadron doing anything similar.
V/R,
Lou Fifer, CDR USN (Ret)
“Banger” HS-8 A/c Div Off
On Wed, Jul 1, 2026 at 08:07 bruce valley <brucevalley(a)earthlink.net> wrote:
> Only you, Lou, as HS-8 Aircraft Division Officer can fully clarify and
> hopefully fortify the evidences sought. Would you need a "Blue Blazer" to
> do so? Best, MO
>
>
> -----Forwarded Message-----
> From: Kevin Black <kblack1967(a)gmail.com>
> Sent: Jul 1, 2026 10:31 AM
> To: Marc Liebman <marc(a)marcliebman.com>, <helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com>
> Subject: [Helobubbas] Re: Bicentennial Sea King.. Naval Aircraft Paint 1976
>
>
> My search continues and so far I found this model kit and AI references
> that it found on the net but no real photos yet:
>
> And AI claims there were ones from HS-8 and HC-1 but no actual photos are
> shown.
>
> On 7/1/2026 7:10 AM, Marc Liebman wrote:
>
> I don’t remember seeing one.
>
>
>
> Marc Liebman
>
> https://www.marcliebman.com
>
> https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/
>
> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g
>
>
>
>
>
> *From: *Kevin Black <kblack1967(a)gmail.com> <kblack1967(a)gmail.com>
> *Date: *Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 9:07 AM
> *To: *"helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com" <helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com>
> <helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com> <helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com>
> *Subject: *[Helobubbas] Bicentennial Sea King.. Naval Aircraft Paint 1976
>
>
>
> Ok folks.. Was there one, did it exist, does anyone have any photos if it
> did? I am looking to see if any Naval Helicopters were painted up during
> 1976 for the Bicentennial and if anyone has photos of it. I have scrounged
> the internet and found
>
>
>
> Ok folks.. Was there one, did it exist, does anyone have any photos if
>
> it did? I am looking to see if any Naval Helicopters were painted up
>
> during 1976 for the Bicentennial and if anyone has photos of it. I have
>
> scrounged the internet and found pretty much everything else from T-2
>
> Buckeye's to F-8 Crusaders, Tomcats and lots of Phantoms in celebratory
>
> paint. I don't have any as I was only 8 years old at the time but maybe
>
> with the significance of this week someone might remember one being done
>
> or a H-2 or 46. I remember what a big deal the bicentennial was. Maybe
>
> one of you archive searchers can find some?
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Helobubbas mailing list -- helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com
>
> To unsubscribe send an email to helobubbas-leave(a)helobubbas.com
>
>
I posted a challenge on Facebook and someone found this one. Another guy
said there had been a spectacular one done with a H-46.
May be an image of helicopter and text that says 'NAVW PIDING EX= NAVY
BICENTENNIAL BICENT COMMAND COMMAN'
On 7/1/2026 7:10 AM, Marc Liebman wrote:
>
> I don’t remember seeing one.
>
> Marc Liebman
>
> https://www.marcliebman.com <https://www.marcliebman.com>
>
> https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/
> <https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/>
>
> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g
> <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g>
>
> *From: *Kevin Black <kblack1967(a)gmail.com>
> *Date: *Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 9:07 AM
> *To: *"helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com" <helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com>
> *Subject: *[Helobubbas] Bicentennial Sea King.. Naval Aircraft Paint 1976
>
> Ok folks.. Was there one, did it exist, does anyone have any photos if
> it did? I am looking to see if any Naval Helicopters were painted up
> during 1976 for the Bicentennial and if anyone has photos of it. I
> have scrounged the internet and found
>
> Ok folks.. Was there one, did it exist, does anyone have any photos if
> it did? I am looking to see if any Naval Helicopters were painted up
> during 1976 for the Bicentennial and if anyone has photos of it. I have
> scrounged the internet and found pretty much everything else from T-2
> Buckeye's to F-8 Crusaders, Tomcats and lots of Phantoms in celebratory
> paint. I don't have any as I was only 8 years old at the time but maybe
> with the significance of this week someone might remember one being done
> or a H-2 or 46. I remember what a big deal the bicentennial was. Maybe
> one of you archive searchers can find some?
> _______________________________________________
> Helobubbas mailing list -- helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com
> To unsubscribe send an email to helobubbas-leave(a)helobubbas.com
My search continues and so far I found this model kit and AI references
that it found on the net but no real photos yet:
And AI claims there were ones from HS-8 and HC-1 but no actual photos
are shown.
On 7/1/2026 7:10 AM, Marc Liebman wrote:
>
> I don’t remember seeing one.
>
> Marc Liebman
>
> https://www.marcliebman.com <https://www.marcliebman.com>
>
> https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/
> <https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/>
>
> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g
> <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g>
>
> *From: *Kevin Black <kblack1967(a)gmail.com>
> *Date: *Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 9:07 AM
> *To: *"helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com" <helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com>
> *Subject: *[Helobubbas] Bicentennial Sea King.. Naval Aircraft Paint 1976
>
> Ok folks.. Was there one, did it exist, does anyone have any photos if
> it did? I am looking to see if any Naval Helicopters were painted up
> during 1976 for the Bicentennial and if anyone has photos of it. I
> have scrounged the internet and found
>
> Ok folks.. Was there one, did it exist, does anyone have any photos if
> it did? I am looking to see if any Naval Helicopters were painted up
> during 1976 for the Bicentennial and if anyone has photos of it. I have
> scrounged the internet and found pretty much everything else from T-2
> Buckeye's to F-8 Crusaders, Tomcats and lots of Phantoms in celebratory
> paint. I don't have any as I was only 8 years old at the time but maybe
> with the significance of this week someone might remember one being done
> or a H-2 or 46. I remember what a big deal the bicentennial was. Maybe
> one of you archive searchers can find some?
> _______________________________________________
> Helobubbas mailing list -- helobubbas(a)helobubbas.com
> To unsubscribe send an email to helobubbas-leave(a)helobubbas.com
