Seawolves Exhibit Will Open in Pensacola

The National Naval Aviation Museum will dedicate a new exhibit on September 26, 2026, honoring the Seawolves squadron.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Military Jobs

Seawolves Exhibit Will Open in Pensacola

The National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, will host the dedication of a new exhibit on September 26, 2026, commemorating Helicopter Attack Squadron 3. The display will honor the history of the Navy's first rapid-reaction armed-helicopter squadron, which operated in Vietnam.

Why it matters

The exhibit serves to commemorate the history of the Seawolves, the Navy's first rapid-reaction armed-helicopter squadron. It provides a permanent tribute to the personnel who served in the Vietnam theater.

The squadron recorded 78,000 combat missions and 131,000 total flight hours over five years in Vietnam. Personnel earned over 17,000 decorations, including 5 Navy Crosses, 31 Silver Stars, 219 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 6 Presidential Unit Citations.

The players

Ed Dyer

A retired U.S. Navy Commander who led the initiative to establish the new Seawolves memorial exhibit.

National Naval Aviation Museum

A prominent institution located in Pensacola that preserves and displays the history of naval aviation.

The details

Veterans donated a combat-used UH-1B Huey helicopter to serve as the centerpiece for the new museum installation. Retired Cmdr. Ed Dyer spearheaded the effort to bring this history of the Seawolves to the public in Pensacola.

September 26, 2026: Dedication of the new HA(L)-3 museum exhibit.

Market Landscape

The exhibit preserves the historical legacy of a specific tactical unit established during the Vietnam War combat operations in the Mekong Delta. By honoring the Seawolves, the museum maintains a record of the Navy's transition into rapid-reaction armed-helicopter warfare.

The exhibit offers the public an opportunity to view a rare combat-used UH-1B Huey helicopter. Residents and visitors can access this historical collection starting with the dedication ceremony.

The takeaway

The Seawolves squadron sustained 44 fatalities and over 200 injuries during its five-year service. Visitors to the museum can honor these sacrifices and reflect on the intense combat realities faced by helicopter crews in the Vietnam theater.