Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles

USCG Air Station Port Angeles
Unit Patch CGAS Port Angeles
Active	1935–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Coast Guard
Type	Air Station
Role	Air Station Port Angeles is responsible for conducting Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement/Homeland Security and Resource Protection activities in an area that includes the Strait of Juan De Fuca and the north western coast of Washington around the Olympic Peninsula to the mouth of Puget Sound.
Commanders
Commanding Officer	CAPT Keith McTigue
Executive Officer	CDR Michael Campbell
Command Master Chief	AETCM Jon Moan
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	HH-65C

Coordinates: 48°08′27″N 123°24′39″W / 48.14083°N 123.41083°W / 48.14083; -123.41083

US Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles (ICAO: KNOW, FAA LID: NOW) is located at the end of the Ediz Hook peninsula in Port Angeles, Washington, above the Olympic National Park.

The Coast Guard’s presence in Port Angeles began 136 years ago on August 1, 1862 with the arrival of the SHUBRICK, the first Revenue Cutter to be home ported on the Olympic Peninsula. Ediz Hook, a level sand spit extending from the mainland north and east into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, was declared a Federal Lighthouse Reservation by President Lincoln in 1863. The first lighthouse was commissioned on 1 April 1865. The Air Station was commissioned on 1 June 1935, becoming the first permanent Coast Guard Air Station on the Pacific Coast. Its location was chosen for its strategic position for coastal defense of the Northwest. The first aircraft, a Douglas RD-4 amphibian, arrived 11 June 1935 and flew the first "mercy hop" on August 1935. The 75-foot patrol boats were also stationed at the new unit.

During World War II, the Air Station expanded to include a gunnery school training aerial gunners and local defense forces. A short runway was added to train Navy pilots for carrier landings. It also hosted independent units such as Naval Intelligence and was Headquarters of the Air Sea Rescue System for the Northwest Sea Frontier Area. By the end of 1944, the Air Station had 29 aircraft assigned.

In September 1944 the station officially became Coast Guard Group Port Angeles, with several sub-units. Today, Group Port Angeles comprises the Air Station, Station Bellingham, Station Neah Bay, Station Port Angeles, Station Quillayute River, USCGC ADELIE, USCGC BLUE SHARK, USCGC CUTTYHUNK, USCGC OSPREY, USCGC SEA LION, USCGC SWORDFISH, USCGC TERRAPIN, and USCGC WAHOO.