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History
History
When you join AUX Air Miami, you could find yourself on patrol saving lives and property, assisting in marine safety and environmental protection, supporting Operation Vigilant Sentry, and much more. That’s what our members do. We don’t just train. We train and perform.
Since 1939 the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has safeguarded our Nation’s maritime interests in the heartland, in the ports, at sea, and around the globe. Members from all walks of life bring their training and experience as a member of the uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard.
Our main goal is recreational boating safety and maritime border patrol while acting as a force multiplier in support of Coast Guard-authorized missions.
Today’s U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, with nearly 21,000 men and women, is a unique force that carries out an array of responsibilities touching almost every facet of the U.S. maritime environment.
The Coast Guard’s motto is Semper Paratus, meaning "Always Ready".
The overarching mission of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is to contribute to the safety and security of our citizens, ports, waterways and coastal regions. We will balance our missions of Recreational Boating Safety and Coast Guard Support with Maritime Homeland Security and other challenges that emerge as a result of our growing understanding of changes required in the post-9/11 era.
Please take the time to read about the history of the Auxiliary, the benefits of joining, the missions we are involved in, awards and recognition, and the pride in wearing the US Coast Guard Auxiliary uniform.
Who we are
Who we are
AUX AIR MIAMI
Tom
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AUX Air Miami Commander
Christopher
Christopher
AUX Air Miami Vice Commander
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Coast Guard Air Station Miami first opened in June 1932 at Dinner Key on Biscayne Bay. As the Coast Guard’s first “modern” aviation unit, it operated a variety of “flying lifeboats;” some were designed specifically for the Coast Guard, while others were modified civilian variants. In 1965, Air Station Miami officially relocated to its current home in Opa Locka, FL, operating an array of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
From its inception, Air Station Miami has been involved in numerous noteworthy operations including heroic rescues, humanitarian relief efforts, and homeland security operations. In January 1933 Lieutenant Commander Carl Von Paulsen set the flying lifeboat Arcturus down in heavy seas off Cape Canaveral to rescue a boy adrift in a skiff. Although the aircraft was so badly damaged that it could not take off again, the boy was brought safely to shore aboard the disabled plane. On 30 December 1972, Eastern Airlines flight 401, crashed into the Everglades with 167 passengers on board. An Air Station Miami HH-52 helicopter was the first rescue asset on scene, transporting 42 survivors to area hospitals. On 23 April 1980, a mass exodus from Cuba began when the island’s government opened the Port of Mariel to any Cuban national desiring to leave the country. Air Station Miami crews flew countless sorties, locating and rescuing more than 100,000 persons attempting to make the treacherous 90 nautical mile voyage. In 2005, Air Station Miami personnel and aircraft participated in Hurricane Katrina relief operations. Five helicopters and more than 50 crew members raced to the disaster area, rescuing 755 survivors in less than two weeks. In January 2010, Air Station Miami aircraft flew in support of Operation Unified Response after a catastrophic 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti. Air Station Miami quickly became the Coast Guard’s logistics hub for the operation, processing and transporting over 94,000 pounds of equipment and 179 personnel into theater to assist the relief effort. Simultaneous with the Haitian response, the unit also provided eight aircraft, flying 46 sorties in support of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup, providing time-critical oil mapping and logistics.
Today, Air Station Miami operates a fleet of five MH-65D Dolphin helicopters and five HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft. The crew consists of 70 officers, 210 enlisted personnel, 13 civilians, and 54 auxiliarists working together to achieve aviation excellence. Since 1932, when the small Coast Guard hangar was built at Dinner Key, the men and women of Air Station Miami have remained on watch, day in and day out, rescuing those in need and protecting our shores from those that look to do our nation harm.
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