This Day in Coast Guard History, January 26

Based on the Coast Guard Historian’s timeline, https://www.history.uscg.mil/research/chronology/
With inspiration from Mike Kelso

January 26

Every Coast Guard Aircraft Type Pictured Together In Rare ‘Family Photo’. Pictured: HC-130J, C-27J, HC-144, C-37B, MH-60T, MH-65E.

1939 Ground was broken for the construction of an air station at Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  With the support of Congressman Lindsay Warren and a favorable vote by local county and city officials regarding a bond issue, the land was secured for the new facility which was constructed by the WPA.

1953 Coast Guard forces assisted civilian authorities in evacuating 191 persons from the Coxuille Valley, Oregon flood area.

Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20) and crew conduct formation steaming exercises with Candian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier and crew in the Beaufort Sea, July 28, 2023. The crew conducted a passenger exchange with the Sir Wilfrid Laurier off the coast of Utqiagvik, Alaska. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Underwood)

1963 The modern Canadian Coast Guard was founded on this date.  Their official motto is Saluti Primum, Auxilio Semper (Safety First, Service Always).

1991 Upon receiving a request from the Saudi government, the Bush Administration determined that the Coast Guard would head an interagency team to assist the Saudi government in an oil spill assessment and plan for a clean-up operation after an intentional Iraqi oil spill.

1990 Coast Guard Air Station St. Augustine, home of CGAW-1, was formally commissioned.  The Navy loaned E2Cs to the Coast Guard for use in the efforts by CGAW-1 to track drug shipments by radar.  One E2C, #3501, crashed during a landing at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, on August 24, 1990 and all four crewmen on board were killed.  CGAW-1 was disbanded soon thereafter and the remaining E2Cs were returned to the Navy.

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