Airports

Uncovering the History of Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station: US's Oldest Coast Guard Station Since 1925





Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station, located in Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA, is the oldest Coast Guard air station in the United States. It was established in 1925 and has been in continuous operation ever since. Originally called the Coast Guard Air Station Chatham, it was established to provide search and rescue operations for mariners in distress on the waters off the coast of Cape Cod.

In the early days of the station, it was equipped with aircraft such as the U.S. Coast Guard’s Curtiss H-16 and the U.S. Navy’s Curtiss F5L seaplane. Over the years, the station’s mission expanded to include aircraft patrol, law enforcement, and search and rescue missions. In the late 1940s, the station was renamed the Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, as it was now responsible for providing support along the entire length of the Cape.

In the late 1960s, the station was re-designated as the Cape Cod Air Station, and it was here that the first Coast Guard helicopters were introduced. The station was also the first to receive the Coast Guard’s HH-3E helicopter, which was specifically designed for search and rescue operations. The HH-3E was eventually replaced by the HH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

Today, the Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station continues to provide search and rescue operations, as well as aircraft patrol, law enforcement, and environmental services. The station is also home to the Coast Guard’s air search and rescue training program. The station’s official name is the “Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod”, which pays tribute to its long and storied history.





The airport code for the Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station is FMH. This code is derived from the station’s location in Falmouth, MA. The airport currently operates about three to four flights a day and is served by major airlines such as Delta, American, and United.

The Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station is a vital part of the region’s maritime infrastructure, and its long and distinguished history has been instrumental in keeping the waters of Cape Cod safe and secure.