Dragon Masters deactivated

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – After 63 years of flying test and evaluation aviation missions, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City’s (NSWC) “Dragon Masters” Aviation Unit was deactivated Sept. 8. Its mission was to fly test and evaluation missions for the only Navy lab located along the Gulf Coast. The unit is presently comprised of 53 military and contractors, and two MH-60S aircraft. The aircraft will be returned to the Navy fleet in San Diego on Sept. 10. NSWC will continue to support the Navy’s mine-countermeasure missions, said base commander, Capt. Aaron Peters. Five of the unit’s military billets and three contractors will remain at NSWC. The phase out will occur between FY 2018-20. Those personnel will assist in conducting Unmanned Aerial System drone test flights. Additionally, a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) detachment of up to 100 sailors will use the aviation unit as they train on the next generation LCAC presently under construction at Textron Inc., in Mobile, Ala. (Source: NSWC Panama City 09/08/17)