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@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@gmail.com>
Sent: Jul 1, 2026 10:31 AM
To: Marc Liebman <marc@marcliebman.com>, <helobubbas@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.

 

 

 

From: Kevin Black <kblack1967@gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 9:07 AM
To: "helobubbas@helobubbas.com" <helobubbas@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?
 
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