VP-9 - Naval History and Heritage Command - U.S. Navy
VP-9 - Naval History and Heritage Command - U.S. Navy
VP-9 - Naval History and Heritage Command - U.S. Navy
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74 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Second <strong>VP</strong>-9<br />
Lineage<br />
Established as Patrol Squadron NINE (<strong>VP</strong>-9) on 15<br />
March 1951, the second squadron to be assigned the<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-9 designation.<br />
orange, rust, green <strong>and</strong> red. The design was approved<br />
by CNO on 11 July 1951, <strong>and</strong> remained in use until<br />
1954.<br />
The second insignia of <strong>VP</strong>-9 was approved by CNO<br />
on 15 June 1954. The quality <strong>and</strong> aspect of the artwork<br />
reflected its Disney Hollywood studio origins.<br />
Squadron Insignia <strong>and</strong> Nickname<br />
Patrol Squadron 9 devised its first insignia shortly<br />
after its establishment in 1951. The insignia depicted<br />
the squadron’s primary duty of mining “with a chain<br />
of nine mines encircling the globe, the <strong>Navy</strong> wing for<br />
the branch of service, <strong>and</strong> the globe signifying roundthe-world<br />
operations.” Colors: background, gray with<br />
blue border; wings, red <strong>and</strong> gold; pole, red <strong>and</strong> white,<br />
mines, black; globe, blue, green, tan <strong>and</strong> white; rays,<br />
This is a copy of<br />
the squadron’s second<br />
insignia developed<br />
into a patch.<br />
The squadron’s first<br />
insignia depicted its<br />
primary mission of<br />
mining.<br />
The circular patch had a muscular-looking cartoon<br />
eagle st<strong>and</strong>ing on a cloud with a 5-inch rocket in a<br />
raised right wing, poised to hurl the missile at a<br />
periscope emerging from the waves below. The eagle<br />
reflected the bird of prey favored by the squadron,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the missile was the primary weapon against its<br />
submarine prey. The designation Patron Nine was located<br />
in a banner at the bottom of the design. Colors:<br />
background, sky blue; water, dark blue; eagle, brown<br />
with yellow beak <strong>and</strong> feet; missile, red; periscope,<br />
brown; banner, red with white letters.<br />
The third insignia of <strong>VP</strong>-9 was adopted in 1984 after<br />
the squadron had completed Harpoon modifications<br />
to the P-3C aircraft. The decision to modernize <strong>and</strong><br />
streamline the insignia was based on the inordinate<br />
The squadron’s<br />
third insignia used<br />
a stylized eagle<br />
design.<br />
The second approved insignia used by the squadron was a cartoon<br />
design depicting an eagle.
CHAPTER 3 75<br />
amount of time <strong>and</strong> effort required to paint the previous<br />
multicolored insignia on squadron aircraft. The<br />
new insignia sported a stylized eagle in profile with<br />
upthrust wings carrying the Harpoon missile in its<br />
claws. This updated insignia was approved by CNO<br />
on 15 January 1985. Colors: eagle, gold with black<br />
eye; harpoon body gold with dark brown fins <strong>and</strong><br />
trim; background, white; trim around insignia, gold.<br />
Nickname: Golden Eagles, 1969–present.<br />
Chronology of Significant Events<br />
15 Mar 1951: <strong>VP</strong>-9 was established at NAS Seattle,<br />
Wash., flying the P4Y-2 (PB4Y-2) Privateer. Fleet<br />
Aircraft Service Squadron 895 at NAS S<strong>and</strong> Point,<br />
Seattle, Wash., undertook training of the squadron’s<br />
new crews.<br />
Feb 1952: <strong>VP</strong>-9 was given a permanent change of<br />
station to NAS Alameda, Calif., under operational control<br />
of FAW-4. The squadron flew the P4Y-2/2S with<br />
improved radar.<br />
27 Jun 1952: <strong>VP</strong>-9 deployed to NAF Iwakuni,<br />
Japan. During this deployment a detachment was sent<br />
to Korea to aid in UN operations. <strong>VP</strong>-9 aircraft operated<br />
in conjunction with USMC night-fighter F7F aircraft,<br />
dropping parachute flares to light North Korean<br />
roads, bridges, supply dumps <strong>and</strong> convoys to aid the<br />
attacking F7Fs.<br />
Jan 1953: <strong>VP</strong>-9 turned in its PB4Y-2 Privateer<br />
bombers for new P2V-2 Neptune aircraft. Conversion<br />
training was completed by September 1953.<br />
Sep 1953: <strong>VP</strong>-9 was deployed to NAS Atsugi, Japan,<br />
minus 12 of its newly trained pilots who had just been<br />
released from active duty due to the cessation of hostilities<br />
with North Korea on 27 July 1953.<br />
22 Jun 1955: While patrolling in the Aleutians area,<br />
a P2V-5 (BuNo 131515) of <strong>VP</strong>-9 based at NAS Kodiak,<br />
Alaska, was attacked by two Russian MiG-15s. The<br />
Neptune’s starboard engine was hit <strong>and</strong> caught fire,<br />
forcing the crew to crash on St. Lawrence Isl<strong>and</strong> near<br />
Gambell in the Bering Sea. There were no fatalities to<br />
the crew of 11, but four were injured by MiG gunfire<br />
<strong>and</strong> six others were hurt in the crash l<strong>and</strong>ing. This is<br />
A squadron P2V at NAS Atsugi, Japan, 1954.<br />
A squadron SP-2H at NAS Alameda, July 1963 (Courtesy of William<br />
L. Swisher Collection).<br />
the only incident in which the Soviet Union admitted<br />
any responsibility.<br />
15 May 1958: <strong>VP</strong>-9 deployed to the Aleutians,<br />
based at Kodiak, Alaska, with detachments at Adak<br />
<strong>and</strong> Fairbanks. The squadron made a series of exploratory<br />
flights over the Polar ice cap to aid the submarine<br />
Nautilus (SSN 571) in her historic polar penetration.<br />
21 Apr 1960: The squadron assisted the USAF in locating<br />
a B-58 Hustler bomber that crashed into the<br />
Great Salt Lake. A <strong>VP</strong>-9 P2V-7 located the sunken<br />
wreckage using Magnetic Airborne Detection (MAD)<br />
equipment.<br />
Feb 1962: <strong>VP</strong>-9 aircraft began receiving the<br />
AN/ASA-16 integrated display system, an upgrade of<br />
existing submarine detection equipment.<br />
13 Jul 1962: Six aircraft of <strong>VP</strong>-9 participated with<br />
the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron 407 in an ASW<br />
exercise off the coast of British Columbia.<br />
1 Dec 1963: <strong>VP</strong>-9 was given a change of permanent<br />
duty station from NAS Alameda to NAS Moffett Field,<br />
Calif. During December the squadron began the transition<br />
to the P-3A.<br />
12 Nov 1964: <strong>VP</strong>-9 deployed to WestPac, based at<br />
Naha, Okinawa, patrolling the Formosan Straits, South<br />
China Sea, Yellow Sea <strong>and</strong> Philippine Sea. The deployment<br />
marked the first operational use of the P-3A in<br />
WestPac.<br />
4 Dec 1964: A squadron P-3A, BuNo. 150508, <strong>and</strong><br />
crew were lost over the South China Sea after a flare<br />
ignited a fire inside the aircraft.<br />
17 Jan 1966: The squadron received its first P-3B<br />
Orion, the first assigned to a West Coast operational<br />
squadron. The ninth <strong>and</strong> final P-3B was received on<br />
11 May 1967.<br />
25 Jul–4 Dec 1966: <strong>VP</strong>-9 deployed to NAF Naha,<br />
Okinawa, under the operational control of<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>er Task Force 72. The deployment marked<br />
the first operational use of the P-3B Orion in the<br />
Western Pacific. A detachment was sent to Tainan,
76 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
A squadron P-3B in flight with Bullpup missiles under the wings, February 1969. Note the squadron’s insignia on both the tail <strong>and</strong> nose of the aircraft.<br />
Taiwan, for one week commencing 4 December 1966<br />
to participate in Operation Yankee Team. The joint<br />
U.S. Air Force <strong>and</strong> U.S. <strong>Navy</strong> operation inaugurated on<br />
21 May 1963, provided low-level aerial reconnaissance<br />
of suspected Communist infiltration routes in eastern<br />
<strong>and</strong> southern Laos.<br />
9 Sep–1 Oct 1968: A detachment of three squadron<br />
aircraft was maintained at NAS Agana, Guam, in support<br />
of the Acoustic Survey of the Philippine Sea. The<br />
survey was completed on 1 October 1968 <strong>and</strong> the aircraft<br />
<strong>and</strong> crews returned to NAS Moffet Field, Calif..<br />
Feb 1969: <strong>VP</strong>-9 aircraft were retrofitted to make<br />
them Bullpup missile capable.<br />
1 Apr–10 Aug 1969: <strong>VP</strong>-9 relieved <strong>VP</strong>-47 at NS<br />
Sangley Point, R.P., <strong>and</strong> at Cam Ranh Bay, RVN.<br />
Operational control was under FAW-8 until 4 August<br />
1969, when relieved by FAW-10. On 5 August the<br />
squadron relocated to Cam Ranh Bay for watch duties.<br />
During the deployment the squadron conducted<br />
Market Time patrols of the Tonkin Gulf <strong>and</strong> coastal<br />
waters of South Vietnam. On 7 August the detachment<br />
at Cam Rahn Bay came under Viet Cong rocket attack<br />
with no damage resulting to squadron aircraft or personnel.<br />
The aircraft were immediately dispersed to<br />
Sangley Point <strong>and</strong> U-Tapao, Thail<strong>and</strong>, until 10 August.<br />
31 May 1969: <strong>VP</strong>-9 participated in SEATO exercise<br />
Sea Spirit, which was abruptly terminated on 2 June<br />
1969 with the collision of the Frank E. Evans (DD 754)<br />
<strong>and</strong> HMAS Melbourne.<br />
29 Jul 1971: <strong>VP</strong>-9 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni,<br />
Japan, with a detachment at RTNB U-Tapao, Thail<strong>and</strong>.<br />
5 May 1972: The squadron deployed a six-aircraft<br />
detachment to NAS Cubi Point, R.P., marking the last<br />
patrols for <strong>VP</strong>-9 in the combat zone during the<br />
Vietnam Conflict. The detachment augmented the <strong>VP</strong><br />
units tasked with ocean surveillance air patrols in relationship<br />
to the mining of North Vietnamese harbors<br />
<strong>and</strong> the corresponding movement of Communist bloc<br />
ships.<br />
1 Jul–Oct 1976: <strong>VP</strong>-9 began the transition to the<br />
new P-3C UI aircraft. The transition training was provided<br />
by <strong>VP</strong>-31 <strong>and</strong> continued through early<br />
September. The squadron’s inventory of P-3B aircraft<br />
was turned over to <strong>VP</strong>-8. The squadron’s full complement<br />
of nine new aircraft was reached in October.<br />
10 May 1978: <strong>VP</strong>-9 deployed to Adak, Alaska.<br />
During the six-month deployment the squadron flew<br />
reconnaissance patrols, ASW missions <strong>and</strong> surveillance<br />
coverage for over 10-million square miles of ocean.<br />
26 Oct 1978: While on a routine patrol mission<br />
Crew 6, in a P-3C, BuNo. 159892, ditched in heavy<br />
seas off the Aleutians due to an engine fire. Four of<br />
the 14 crew aboard perished before being rescued by<br />
the Soviet Vessel Mys Senyavina. The survivors were<br />
taken to Petropavlovak <strong>and</strong> returned to U.S. custody<br />
on 5 November 1978.<br />
27 Jun–Nov 1979: <strong>VP</strong>-9 deployed to NAF Misawa,<br />
Japan. During the next month the squadron flew 125<br />
sorties in support of exercise Multiplex 6-79. In August<br />
the squadron was called upon to support CTG 72.3 in<br />
the humanitarian effort to locate <strong>and</strong> rescue South<br />
Vietnamese refugees. During the month of November
CHAPTER 3 77<br />
the squadron participated in joint exercises with the<br />
Japanese Defense Forces <strong>and</strong> South Korean forces.<br />
10 Oct 1981: A squadron detachment of three aircraft<br />
deployed to Adak, Alaska, <strong>and</strong> another three-aircraft<br />
det deployed to Kadena AFB, Okinawa, on the<br />
same day. The latter detachment returned in late<br />
December 1981 <strong>and</strong> the former in February 1982, after<br />
months of diverse missions in very different climates.<br />
10 Jan 1984: The Golden Eagles deployed to Diego<br />
Garcia <strong>and</strong> maintained a detachment in Kadena. The<br />
squadron established a new precedent on the deployment<br />
by becoming the first patrol squadron to operate<br />
detachments out of Berbera, Somalia, <strong>and</strong> Al Masirah,<br />
Oman.<br />
1 Jun 1985: <strong>VP</strong>-9 was the first “full” squadron to<br />
deploy to NAS Adak, Alaska, in over 13 years. Adak<br />
was reestablished as a Third Fleet forward-deployed<br />
site <strong>and</strong> <strong>VP</strong>-9 played a key role in the build-up of the<br />
Adak facilities to support a full patrol squadron.<br />
During the deployment the squadron participated in<br />
Bering Sea mammal surveys <strong>and</strong> flights over the polar<br />
ice cap to ensure safe navigational passage to Alaska’s<br />
North Slope.<br />
2 Nov 1986–Jan 1987: The Golden Eagles deployed<br />
for six months to WestPac, based at Misawa,<br />
Japan. The squadron was the first to deploy with the<br />
AN/APS-137 Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR),<br />
which reduced the size of the electronics package<br />
through microminiaturization <strong>and</strong> presented a greatly<br />
improved operator interface. In January 1987 the<br />
squadron was based at NAS Cubi Point, R.P., during<br />
the Sea Siam 87-1 <strong>and</strong> Team Spirit 2-87 exercises.<br />
Remote sites at Guam, Midway, Korea <strong>and</strong> Okinawa<br />
were visited during this period.<br />
20 Sep 1989: <strong>VP</strong>-9, while deployed to Eielson AFB,<br />
Alaska, received a modified P-3C, aircraft side number<br />
PD-01, with the “Outlaw Hunter” satellite communication<br />
<strong>and</strong> navigation gear for testing <strong>and</strong> operational<br />
evaluation.<br />
24 Oct 1989: The squadron’s complement of aircraft<br />
was reduced from nine to eight P-3Cs due to decreased<br />
operational funding.<br />
Jan–Mar 1991: Three <strong>VP</strong>-9 detachments were sent<br />
to Panama on one-month deployments to assist the<br />
drug interdiction effort.<br />
A squadron P-3C in flight, 1984.
78 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Home Port Assignments<br />
Location<br />
Date of Assignment<br />
NAS Seattle, Wash. 15 Mar 1951<br />
NAS Alameda, Calif. Feb 1952<br />
NAS Moffett Field, Calif. 1 Dec 1963<br />
NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii 20 Nov 1992<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
CDR M. B. Bailey 15 Mar 1951<br />
CDR J. B. Filson Apr 1952<br />
CDR M. T. Ebright Jan 1953<br />
CDR H. M. Murphy May 1954<br />
CDR T. H. T. Norris Aug 1955<br />
CDR M. A. Merrill Mar 1957<br />
CDR R. F. Peterson 10 Mar 1958<br />
CDR V. Deitchman 25 Mar 1959<br />
CDR C. H. Cox 29 Apr 1960<br />
CDR T. L. Healey 28 Apr 1961<br />
CDR R. C. Schubert 9 Mar 1962<br />
CDR J. T. Freeman 12 Mar 1963<br />
CDR J. F. Kurfess 10 Jan 1964<br />
CDR R. A. Dunning Dec 1964<br />
CDR James H. B. Smith 3 Dec 1965<br />
CDR Richard B. Mahon 30 Nov 1966<br />
CDR Gordon J. Schuller 1 Nov 1967<br />
CDR Roger G. Booth 24 Jul 1968<br />
CDR L. Phillips, Jr. 8 Jul 1969<br />
CDR M. F. Pasztalaniec Apr 1970<br />
CDR Noel Melville 31 Mar 1971<br />
CDR B. J. Adams 30 Mar 1972<br />
CDR R. F. Marryott 30 Mar 1973<br />
CDR Patrick Cleary Mar 1974<br />
CDR Joseph Dressler 27 Mar 1975<br />
CDR Daniel M. Truax 13 Mar 1976<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers—Continued<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
CDR Delbert A. Ritchhart 25 Mar 1977<br />
CDR Byrons L. Powers 3 Mar 1978<br />
CDR Peter H. Cressy 23 Mar 1979<br />
CDR Charles C. Nute 31 Mar 1980<br />
CDR James L. Mattson 31 Mar 1981<br />
CDR R. J. Quinn 4 Mar 1982<br />
CDR J. C. Wyatt III Mar 1983<br />
CDR Nicholas P. Burhans 5 Jun 1984<br />
CDR W. G. Bozin 16 May 1985<br />
CDR Philippe M. Lenfant 16 Jul 1986<br />
CDR David W. Stromquist 29 May 1987<br />
CDR Christopher L. Weiss 27 May 1988<br />
CDR Thomas M. Feeks 27 May 1989<br />
CDR P. E. Hallowell 27 May 1990<br />
CDR A. J. Ruoti May 1991<br />
CDR K. A. Morrell, Jr. 14 May 1992<br />
CDR S. C. Lavender 14 May 1993<br />
CDR John V. Plehal 1994<br />
CDR Brendan L. Gray 5 May 1995<br />
CDR T. K. Hohl 24 May 1996<br />
Aircraft Assignment<br />
Type of Aircraft<br />
Date Type First Received<br />
P4Y-2 Mar 1951<br />
P4Y-2/2S Jun 1952<br />
P2V-2 Jan 1953<br />
P2V-7 1960<br />
SP-2H Dec 1962<br />
P-3A Dec 1963<br />
P-3B Feb 1966<br />
P-3C UI Jul 1976<br />
P-3C UIIIR Aug 1990<br />
Major Overseas Deployments<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
Jul 1951 Dec 1951 FAW-4 Kodiak P4Y-2 NorPac<br />
Sep 1951 Feb 1952 FAW-2 Barbers Pt. P4Y-2 WestPac<br />
27 Jun 1952 * 16 Nov 1952 FAW-6 Iwakuni P4Y-2S WestPac<br />
Jul 1952 * 3 Jan 1953 FAW-6 Pusan P4Y-2S WestPac<br />
Sep 1953 Apr 1954 FAW-1 Atsugi P2V-2 WestPac<br />
Jul 1955 Dec 1955 FAW-4 Kodiak P2V-2 NorPac<br />
31 Aug 1956 Mar 1957 FAW-1 Iwakuni P2V-2 WestPac<br />
15 May 1958 30 Sep 1958 FAW-4 Kodiak P2V-2 NorPac<br />
Oct 1960 Nov 1960 FAW-4 Kodiak/Adak P2V-7 NorPac<br />
13 Jul 1962 21 Jul 1962 FAW-4 B.C., Canada SP-2H NorPac<br />
5 Sep 1962 30 Sep 1962 FAW-2 Barbers Pt. SP-2H WestPac<br />
12 Nov 1964 8 Jul 1965 FAW-8 Naha P-3A WestPac<br />
25 Jul 1966 * 10 Jan 1967 FAW-8 Naha P-3B WestPac<br />
25 Jun 1966 * 12 Dec 1966 FAW-8 Sangley Pt. P-3B WestPac<br />
4 Dec 1966 11 Dec 1966 FAW-8 Tainan P-3B WestPac
CHAPTER 3 79<br />
Major Overseas Deployments—Continued<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
1 Dec 1967 1 Jun 1968 FAW-4 Adak P-3B NorPac<br />
9 Sep 1968 1 Oct 1968 FAW-8 Agana P-3B WestPac<br />
1 Apr 1969 * 1 Oct 1969 FAW-8 Sangley Pt. P-3B WestPac<br />
1 Apr 1969 * 1 Oct 1969 FAW-8 Cam Rahn P-3B WestPac<br />
Jun 1970 * Nov 1970 FAW-10 Adak P-3B NorPac<br />
Jun 1970 * Nov 1970 FAW-8 Agana P-3B WestPac<br />
29 Jul 1971 * 11 Feb 1972 FAW-8 Iwakuni P-3B WestPac<br />
Dec 1971 * 11 Feb 1972 FAW-8 U-Tapao P-3B IO<br />
5 May 1972 24 Jul 1972 FAW-8 Cubi Pt. P-3B WestPac<br />
4 Jan 1973 31 Jul 1973 PatWing-1 Iwakuni P-3B WestPac<br />
Jun 1974 10 Feb 1975 PatWing-1 Iwakuni P-3B WestPac<br />
1 Dec 1975 10 Jun 1976 PatWing-1 Kadena P-3B WestPac<br />
Jul 1977 Dec 1977 PatWing-1 Kadena P-3C UI WestPac<br />
10 May 1978 10 Nov 1978 PatWingsPac Adak P-3C UI NorPac<br />
27 Jun 1979 10 Jan 1980 PatWing-1 Misawa P-3C UI WestPac<br />
18 Sep 1980 10 Feb 1981 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UI NorLant<br />
10 Oct 1981 * Dec 1981 PatWing-10 Adak P-3C UI NorPac<br />
Two squadron P-3s in<br />
flight near Great Sitkin<br />
Mountain, Adak, Alaska.<br />
10 Oct 1981 * Feb 1982 PatWing-1 Kadena P-3C UI WestPac<br />
Aug 1982 * Jan 1983 PatWing-1 Kadena P-3C UI WestPac<br />
Aug 1982 * Jan 1983 PatWing-1 Diego Garcia P-3C UI IO<br />
10 Jan 1984 * 10 Jul 1984 PatWing-1 Kadena P-3C UI WestPac<br />
10 Jan 1984 * 10 Jul 1984 PatWing-1 Diego Garcia P-3C UI IO<br />
1 Jun 1985 10 Dec 1985 PatWing-10 Adak P-3C UI NorPac<br />
2 Nov 1986 11 May 1987 PatWing-1 Misawa P-3C UI WestPac<br />
Jul 1988 16 Jan 1989 PatWing-1 Diego Garcia P-3C UI IO<br />
30 Aug 1989 30 Sep 1989 PatWing-8 Eielson AFB P-3C UI NorPac<br />
Feb 1990 Aug 1990 PatWing-1 Misawa P-3C UI WestPac<br />
Jan 1991 Mar 1991 PatWing-10 Panama P-3C UIIIR Carib<br />
24 Jul 1991 9 Aug 1991 PatWing-10 Adak P-3C UIIIR NorPac<br />
8 Jun 1992 * 12 Nov 1992 PatWing-10 Panama P-3C UIIIR Carib<br />
18 Jun 1992 * 15 Nov 1992 PatWing-10 Adak P-3C UIIIR NorPac<br />
29 Oct 1993 May 1994 PatWing-1 Kadena/ P-3C UIIIR WestPac/IO<br />
Masirah<br />
May 1994 Nov 1995 PatWing-1 Misawa P-3C UIIIR WestPac<br />
Nov 1996 * May 1997 PatWing-1 Diego Garcia P-3C UIIIR IO<br />
Nov 1996 * May 1997 PatWing-1 Bahrain P-3C UIIIR Gulf<br />
Nov 1996 * May 1997 PatWing-1 Al Masirah P-3C UIIIR Gulf<br />
*<br />
The squadron conducted split deployments to two or more sites during the deployment.
80 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
A close up of a squadron P-3 tail with the squadron’s third insignia<br />
<strong>and</strong> tail code PD.<br />
Unit Awards Received<br />
A close up of a squadron P-3 tail with the squadron’s second insignia<br />
<strong>and</strong> tail code PD.<br />
Wing Assignments<br />
Wing Tail Code Assignment Date<br />
FAW-4 CB 15 Mar 1951<br />
FAW-2 CB Sep 1951<br />
FAW-4 CB Feb 1952<br />
COMFAIRALAMEDA CB/PD † Jun 1953<br />
FAW-10 PD 29 Jun 1963<br />
COMPATWINGSPAC ‡ PD 30 Jun 1973<br />
PatWing-10 PD 1 Jun 1981<br />
PatWing-2 PD 20 Nov 1992<br />
Unit Award<br />
Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award<br />
NUC 19 Mar 1967 1 Apr 1967<br />
MUC 1 Dec 1967 31 May 1968<br />
1 Jun 1970 30 Nov 1970<br />
1 Jun 1971 20 Jul 1971<br />
8 Dec 1981 8 Jan 1982<br />
(Cubi Det) 1 Feb 1972 15 Jul 1972<br />
RVNGC 1 Mar 1969 30 Sep 1969<br />
KSM 25 Jun 1952 5 Jan 1953<br />
AFEM 1 Oct 1966 14 Jan 1967<br />
15 Apr 1969 15 May 1969<br />
HSM (Crew 11) 4 May 1990 5 May 1990<br />
†<br />
The squadron’s tail code was changed from CB to PD in 1957. The<br />
effective date for this change was most likely the beginning of FY<br />
1958 (1 July 1957).<br />
‡<br />
FAW-10 was disestablished on 30 June 1973 <strong>and</strong> the squadron was<br />
assigned to Comm<strong>and</strong>er Patrol Wings Pacific (COM-<br />
PATWINGSPAC).<br />
A <strong>VP</strong>-9 P-3C(U) on approach to NAS Moffett Field in May 1982<br />
Courtesy Rick R. Burgress Collection via Michael Grove).
CHAPTER 3 81<br />
Third <strong>VP</strong>-10<br />
Lineage<br />
Established as Patrol Squadron TEN (<strong>VP</strong>-10) on 19<br />
March 1951, the third squadron to be assigned the <strong>VP</strong>-<br />
10 designation.<br />
Squadron Insignia <strong>and</strong> Nickname<br />
In an effort to establish a link with the history of<br />
the previous <strong>VP</strong>-10 (disestablished as <strong>VP</strong>B-23 on 25<br />
January 1946), the squadron adopted the insignia<br />
devised by the earlier organization upon its formation<br />
in 1930. The date on which the official insignia<br />
of the squadron was accepted by CNO is unknown.<br />
A compass rose with the Big Dipper <strong>and</strong> Polaris as<br />
Chronology of Significant Events<br />
Feb–Jun 1954: <strong>VP</strong>-10 deployed to various locations<br />
in the Caribbean area during the unrest in Guatemala<br />
<strong>and</strong> a tense revolutionary atmosphere in Central<br />
America. Detachments were located in the Azores, San<br />
Juan, P.R., Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, <strong>and</strong> Key West, Fla.<br />
Oct 1954: <strong>VP</strong>-10 deployed to Keflavik, Icel<strong>and</strong>.<br />
During the period of Icel<strong>and</strong>ic patrols, the squadron<br />
was tasked with conversion from the P2V-5 to the<br />
A squadron P2V in flight.<br />
The squadron’s insignia was developed from a design used by a former<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-10.<br />
background encloses the circular design. A homing<br />
torpedo is central (updated from the earlier design<br />
of a Mark IV depth charge). Two pairs of lightinglike<br />
radio waves are on either side of the torpedo at<br />
the top, the radio being an essential element of<br />
long-range patrols. The background stars are the<br />
navigator’s guide in celestial navigation. The torpedo<br />
signifies the squadron’s role in ASW. A banner<br />
at the bottom of the design contains the designation<br />
“Patrol Squadron Ten.” Colors of the design: blue<br />
field with white stars; radio waves <strong>and</strong> torpedo, yellow<br />
with tip of torpedo red; banner, blue, with yellow<br />
letters.<br />
Nickname: Red Lancers, 1968–present.<br />
newer P2V-5F, which necessitated sending crews to<br />
Burbank, Calif., to pick up the replacement aircraft at<br />
the factory. The transition was completed prior to the<br />
return of the squadron to NAS Brunswick in January<br />
1955.<br />
1957: <strong>VP</strong>-10 deployed to Argentia, Newfoundl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
During the deployment the squadron participated in<br />
the annual exercise Operation Springboard at<br />
Roosevelt Roads, P.R. Before returning to home base<br />
in late 1957, the squadron flew to Thule, Greenl<strong>and</strong>,<br />
to collect valuable information on the location <strong>and</strong><br />
movement of ice formations in the northeast areas of<br />
Canada <strong>and</strong> Greenl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
Jul 1958: <strong>VP</strong>-10 was split into two detachments.<br />
One detachment deployed to Icel<strong>and</strong> with six aircraft<br />
to plot the ice coverage over the Denmark Straits.<br />
During the deployment the detachment visited<br />
Norway, Denmark, Holl<strong>and</strong>, Engl<strong>and</strong>, Germany <strong>and</strong><br />
French Morocco. The second detachment flew to<br />
Lebanon <strong>and</strong> provided support during the Lebanon<br />
Crisis. Following the end of the crisis, they visited<br />
Spain, Morocco, Italy, Greece, Libya <strong>and</strong> Malta.<br />
Feb 1959: A three-aircraft detachment visited<br />
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru <strong>and</strong> Chile. A second detachment<br />
of three aircraft visited Brazil, Uruguay,<br />
Argentina <strong>and</strong> Dutch Guyana. The flights were intended<br />
to bolster the faltering democratic governments<br />
of South American allies with a demonstration of U.S.<br />
military power <strong>and</strong> the “long reach” of <strong>Navy</strong> patrol<br />
squadrons.<br />
Sep 1960: <strong>VP</strong>-10 conducted a “Hurrivac,” flying to<br />
Battle Creek, Mich., to escape Hurricane Donna. At the
82 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
end of the month, a part of the squadron deployed to<br />
Argentia, Newfoundl<strong>and</strong>, for one week to assist the<br />
fleet in ASW exercises.<br />
6–29 Jan 1961: <strong>VP</strong>-10 conducted a split deployment<br />
with six aircraft deployed to Rota, Spain, <strong>and</strong><br />
five aircraft to Keflavik, Icel<strong>and</strong>. On 27 Jan 1961, the<br />
Rota detachment received an unusual request from the<br />
Portuguese government to assist in the search for<br />
Santa Maria, a Portuguese luxury liner, the seized by<br />
“pirates.” The detachment operated briefly from the<br />
Isle DeSal in the Cape Verde Isl<strong>and</strong>s from 27 to 29<br />
January 1961, before Portuguese authorities captured<br />
the ship.<br />
7 Nov 1961: A <strong>VP</strong>-10 P2V-5F Neptune flying on<br />
ASW patrol crashed into the ocean with the loss of all<br />
11 crewmen.<br />
10 Oct 1962: <strong>VP</strong>-10 deployed a four-aircraft detachment<br />
to Lajes AFB, Azores, in support of the Cuban<br />
Quarantine.<br />
13 Apr 1963: <strong>VP</strong>-10 flew SAR flights in an attempt<br />
to locate the missing nuclear submarine Thresher (SSN<br />
593). After several hours of searching, a squadron aircraft<br />
spotted an oil slick at 41°43'N 64°57'W <strong>and</strong> radioed<br />
the position to surface vessels involved in the<br />
search. Remote submersible cameras located the<br />
wreckage, but all h<strong>and</strong>s were lost.<br />
30 Jan 1966: <strong>VP</strong>-10 deployed to Keflavik, Icel<strong>and</strong>,<br />
relieving <strong>VP</strong>-21. A detachment of the squadron also<br />
deployed to Argentia, Newfoundl<strong>and</strong>. <strong>VP</strong>-10 was the<br />
first patrol squadron on that station with the P-3A<br />
Orion. The squadron transitioned to the newer P-3B<br />
upon return from deployment in June.<br />
13 Jan 1967: <strong>VP</strong>-10 deployed to Keflavik with five<br />
of its new P-3Bs. Four other crews deployed to Puerto<br />
Rico to take part in the annual Operation Springboard<br />
exercises at Roosevelt Roads. Upon completion, three<br />
aircraft deployed to Lajes, Azores, while the fourth rejoined<br />
the squadron at Keflavik.<br />
15 Mar 1974: The squadron lost P-3B, BuNo.<br />
152749, in a crash at sea 41 miles from NAS<br />
Brunswick, Maine. The crash resulted in the death of<br />
all five crew members <strong>and</strong> ended the squadron’s<br />
record of 95,232 accident-free flying hours.<br />
9 Aug 1978: <strong>VP</strong>-10 deployed to NAS Bermuda, during<br />
which the squadron received a Meritorious Unit<br />
Commendation for its achievements in tracking Soviet<br />
submarines.<br />
Jan–Sep 1980: The squadron began receiving the<br />
updated P-3C UII aircraft at the rate of one per month.<br />
The squadron’s P-3Bs were transferred to fleet reserve<br />
squadrons.<br />
2 Jan 1980: A detachment of P-3B Orions of <strong>VP</strong>-10<br />
deployed to Rota, Spain, flew photoreconnaissance<br />
missions to locate areas damaged by an earthquake<br />
which struck the Azores the day before, killing some<br />
50 people <strong>and</strong> injuring another 500.<br />
26 Jul 1981: <strong>VP</strong>-10 deployed to NAS Keflavik,<br />
Icel<strong>and</strong>. During the deployment the squadron was engaged<br />
in operation Ocean Venture against numerous<br />
friendly “targets.” One of the players in the exercise<br />
turned out to be a Soviet Papa-class submarine that<br />
had w<strong>and</strong>ered into the area while trying to conduct<br />
surveillance of the NATO surface activities. The successful<br />
exposure of the submarine <strong>and</strong> the squadron’s<br />
general performance during the deployment earned<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-10 a Meritorious Unit Commendation from the<br />
Secretary of the <strong>Navy</strong>.<br />
A squadron P-3B in flight over the Arctic, 1967.
CHAPTER 3 83<br />
25 Oct–2 Nov 1983: <strong>VP</strong>-10 provided several aircraft<br />
<strong>and</strong> crews for patrols in the vicinity of Grenada during<br />
Operation Urgent Fury in which U.S. forces deployed<br />
to Grenada to protect the lives of Americans on the<br />
isl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
13 Sep 1989: A <strong>VP</strong>-10 P-3C Orion deployed on<br />
anti-drug patrol in the Puerto Rico operating area spotted<br />
a suspicious ship in the offshore waters of the<br />
Dominican Republic. Authorities were notified <strong>and</strong> the<br />
suspects were caught on the beach 11 miles from<br />
Santo Domingo attempting to off-load 2,930 pounds of<br />
pure cocaine.<br />
1 Jun 1991: <strong>VP</strong>-10 deployed to Sigonella, Sicily,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The deployment had originally<br />
been planned for the Caribbean, but two factors<br />
changed those plans abruptly at the last moment: the<br />
disestablishment of <strong>VP</strong>-44 <strong>and</strong> Operation Desert<br />
Storm. In 4,500 accident-free flight hours during deployment,<br />
the squadron flew the equivalent of 6.5<br />
times around the earth.<br />
A squadron P-3C with a Harpoon missile under its wing being escorted by a TA-4J from VC-8, February 1996.<br />
Home Port Assignments<br />
Location<br />
Date of Assignment<br />
NAS Jacksonville, Fla. 10 Mar 1951<br />
Home Port Assignments—Continued<br />
Location<br />
Date of Assignment<br />
NAS Brunswick, Maine Feb 1952<br />
A squadron P-3C firing a<br />
Harpoon missile, February<br />
1996.
84 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
CDR C. W. Craven 19 Mar 1951<br />
CDR A. H. Henderson, Jr. 29 May 1952<br />
CDR D. C. Carmichael Jul 1953<br />
CDR R. J. Fleming 26 Aug 1954<br />
CDR W. E. Scarborough Mar 1955<br />
CDR E. L. Moss Jul 1956<br />
CDR W. W. Lape 18 Dec 1957<br />
CDR W. T. Rapp 2 Dec 1958<br />
CDR R. A. Kimener 29 Jan 1960<br />
CDR T. J. Brady 7 Feb 1961<br />
CDR Jens B. Hansen 9 Jan 1962<br />
CDR E. Luka 28 Jan 1963<br />
CDR D. E. Gately 9 Jan 1964<br />
CDR K. W. Sharer 20 Nov 1964<br />
CDR L. R. Roberts, Jr. 18 Nov 1965<br />
CDR K. J. Bernstein 21 Sep 1966<br />
CDR J. G. Redmond 3 Aug 1967<br />
CDR Thomas K. Anaston, Jr. 26 Jul 1968<br />
CDR Robert L. Williamson 15 Jul 1969<br />
CDR Robert L. Latta 28 May 1970<br />
CDR Joseph A. Pertel 30 Dec 1970<br />
CDR R. J. Wallace Dec 1971<br />
CDR J. R. Sheets 10 Dec 1972<br />
CDR R. J. Lanning 7 Dec 1973<br />
CDR N. E. Koehler III 20 Dec 1974<br />
CDR D. F. Parker 5 Dec 1975<br />
CDR P. W. Wright 3 Dec 1976<br />
CDR F. W. Gullett 2 Dec 1977<br />
CDR K. D. Sullivan 14 Nov 1978<br />
CDR J. M. Kaiser 16 Nov 1979<br />
CDR E. B. Darsey 21 Nov 1980<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers—Continued<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
CDR D. P. Hickman 24 Nov 1981<br />
CDR D. B. Bellamy 16 Nov 1982<br />
CDR John E. Kane 17 Feb 1984<br />
CDR N. L. Spires 31 May 1985<br />
CDR C. T. Butler Aug 1986<br />
CDR Perry J. Martini Sep 1987<br />
CDR John D. Roberts 3 Aug 1988<br />
CDR James A. Carman, Jr. 8 Sep 1989<br />
CDR Peter A. Masciangelo 12 Sep 1990<br />
CDR Carl P. Norton 6 Sep 1991<br />
CDR Duane J. Phillips 4 Sep 1992<br />
CDR Keith F. Koon 21 Oct 1993<br />
CDR Thomas J. Arminio 30 Sep 1994<br />
CDR Frank M. Munoz 8 Sep 1995<br />
CDR Glen O. Woods 13 Sep 1996<br />
CDR David C. Johnson 1997<br />
CDR Richard W. Goodwyn 26 Jun 1998<br />
Aircraft Assignment<br />
Type of Aircraft<br />
Date Type First Received<br />
P2V-2 Mar 1951<br />
P2V-3 1952<br />
P2V-5 1954<br />
P2V-5F Dec 1954<br />
P2V-5F Mod Oct 1960<br />
P-3A Jul 1965<br />
P-3B Jan 1967<br />
P-3C UII Jan 1980<br />
P-3C UII.5 1993<br />
P-3C UIIIR 1995<br />
Major Overseas Deployments<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
Jul 1953 15 Jan 1954 FAW-3 Malta P2V-2 Med<br />
Feb 1954 Jun 1954 FAW-11 Puerto R. P2V-5 Carib<br />
Oct 1954 2 Jan 1955 FAW-3 Keflavik P2V-5F NorLant<br />
Nov 1955 Feb 1956 FAW-3 Argentia P2V-5F NorLant<br />
1957 1957 FAW-3 Argentia P2V-5F NorLant<br />
Jul 1958 * Nov 1958 FAW-3 Keflavik P2V-5F NorLant<br />
Jul 1958 * Nov 1958 FAW-3 Malta P2V-5F Med<br />
Feb 1959 Apr 1959 FAW-11 Pan-American P2V-5F SoLant<br />
19 Aug 1959 25 Jan 1960 FAW-3 Rota P2V-5F Med<br />
Sep 1960 Sep 1960 FAW-3 Argentia P2V-5F NorLant<br />
6 Jan 1961 31 Mar 1961 FAW-3 Keflavik P2V-5F Mod NorLant<br />
7 Apr 1962 Aug 1962 FAW-3 Argentia P2V-5F Mod NorLant<br />
10 Oct 1962 Nov 1962 FAW-3 Lajes P2V-5F Mod Lant<br />
Jun 1963 Aug 1963 FAW-3 Argentia P2V-5F Mod NorLant<br />
1 Nov 1963 9 Apr 1964 FAW-3 Sigonella P2V-5F Mod Med<br />
Aug 1964 Jan 1965 FAW-11 Key West P2V-5F Mod Carib<br />
30 Jan 1966 Jun 1966 FAW-3 Keflavik P-3A NorLant<br />
13 Jan 1967 15 Jul 1967 FAW-3 Keflavik P-3B NorLant
CHAPTER 3 85<br />
Major Overseas Deployments—Continued<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
4 Jun 1968 * 4 Dec 1968 FAW-3 Argentia P-3B NorLant<br />
4 Jun 1968 * 4 Dec 1968 FAW-3 Bermuda P-3B Lant<br />
Jun 1969 Nov 1969 FAW-3 Rota P-3B Med<br />
22 Feb 1970 17 Jul 1970 FAW-3 Keflavik P-3B NorLant<br />
26 Feb 1971 9 Jul 1971 FAW-3 Sigonella P-3B Med<br />
13 Dec 1972 21 Jan 1973 PatWing-5 Rota P-3B Med<br />
31 Jul 1973 9 Jan 1974 PatWing-5 Rota/Lajes P-3B Med<br />
26 Aug 1974 * 23 Jan 1975 PatWing-5 Lajes P-3B Lant<br />
26 Aug 1974 * 23 Jan 1975 PatWing-5 Bermuda P-3B Lant<br />
2 Feb 1976 * 29 Jun 76 PatWing-5 Rota P-3B Med<br />
2 Feb 1976 * 29 Jun 1976 PatWing-5 Lajes P-3B Lant<br />
4 May 1977 * 20 Oct 1977 PatWing-5 Rota P-3B Med<br />
4 May 1977 * 20 Oct 1977 PatWing-5 Lajes P-3B Lant<br />
9 Aug 1978 2 Feb 1979 PatWing-5 Bermuda P-3B Lant<br />
3 Dec 1979 * 7 May 1980 PatWing-5 Rota P-3B Med<br />
3 Dec 1979 * 7 May 1980 PatWing-5 Lajes P-3B Lant<br />
26 Jul 1981 26 Jan 1982 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UII NorLant<br />
8 Dec 1982 11 May 1983 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UII NorLant<br />
9 Apr 1984 11 Sep 1984 PatWing-5 Bermuda P-3C UII Lant<br />
11 Jul 1985 18 Dec 1985 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UII NorLant<br />
10 Dec 1986 * May 1987 PatWing-5 Rota P-3C UII Med<br />
10 Dec 1986 * May 1987 PatWing-5 Lajes P-3C UII Lant<br />
10 May 1988 10 Nov 1988 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UII NorLant<br />
13 Sep 1989 Oct 1989 PatWing-11 Panama P-3C UII Carib<br />
Dec 1989 * 23 Jun 1990 PatWing-5 Rota P-3C UII Med<br />
Dec 1989 * 23 Jun 1990 PatWing-5 Sigonella P-3C UII Med<br />
1 Jun 1991 * 29 Nov 1991 PatWing-1 Jeddah P-3C UII Gulf<br />
1 Jun 1991 * 29 Nov 1991 PatWing-5 Sigonella P-3C UII Med<br />
Feb 1993 Jul 1993 PatWing-11 Roosevelt Rds P-3C UII.5 Carib<br />
Jul 1994 Jan 1995 PatWing-5 Sigonella P-3C UII.5 Carib<br />
Feb 1996 Aug 1996 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UIIIR NorLant<br />
Aug 1997 * Feb 1998 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UIIIR NorLant<br />
Aug 1997 * Feb 1998 PatWing-11 Roosevelt Rds. P-3C UIIIR Carib<br />
Aug 1997 * Feb 1998 PatWing-11 Panama P-3C UIIIR Carib<br />
*<br />
The squadron conducted split deployment to two sites during the same dates.<br />
Wing Assignments<br />
Wing Tail Code Assignment Date<br />
FAW-11 HK 10 Mar 1951<br />
FAW-3 HK/LD † Feb 1952<br />
FAW-5/PatWing-5 ‡ LD 1 Jul 1971<br />
†<br />
The squadron’s tail code was changed from HK to LD in 1957. The<br />
effective date for this change was most likely the beginning of FY<br />
1958 (1 July 1957).<br />
‡<br />
FAW-5 was redesignated PatWing-5 <strong>and</strong> COMPATWINGSLANT on 1<br />
July 1973, a dual hatted comm<strong>and</strong>. On 1 July 1974 Patrol Wing 5<br />
(PatWing-5) was established as a separate comm<strong>and</strong>.<br />
A <strong>VP</strong>-10 P-3B at<br />
NAS Moffett Field in<br />
June 1979 (Courtesy<br />
Rick R. Burgress<br />
Collection).<br />
Unit Awards Received<br />
Unit Award<br />
Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award<br />
NUC 15 Nov 1967 2 Jul 1968<br />
15 Dec 1982 11 May 1983<br />
MUC 28 Jun 1968 27 Jul 1968<br />
8 Apr 1970 15 Apr 1970<br />
30 Jul 1973 9 Jan 1974<br />
29 Mar 1976 30 Apr 1976<br />
9 Aug 1978 8 Feb 1979<br />
30 Jul 1981 26 Jan 1982<br />
5 Apr 1984 12 Sep 1984<br />
9 Dec 1986 9 Jun 1987<br />
(Cuba Det) 18 Sep 1978 23 Sep 1978<br />
(Panama Det) 18 Sep 1978 30 Sep 1978<br />
AFEM 4 Oct 1962 31 Dec 1962<br />
(Part.Aircrew) 23 Oct 1983 21 Nov 1983<br />
JMUA 5 Aug 1990 12 Oct 1990<br />
10 May 1991 9 Nov 1991
86 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Fourth <strong>VP</strong>-11<br />
Lineage<br />
Established as Patrol Squadron ELEVEN (<strong>VP</strong>-11) on<br />
15 May 1952, the fourth squadron to be assigned the<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-11 designation.<br />
Disestablished on 15 January 1997.<br />
Squadron Insignia <strong>and</strong> Nickname<br />
The insignia of <strong>VP</strong>-11 was adopted from an earlier<br />
squadron with the same designation (<strong>VP</strong>-11, later<br />
<strong>VP</strong>B-11) that was disestablished on 20 June 1945. The<br />
central figure of the<br />
circular design was<br />
Pegasus, a flying horse<br />
from Greek mythology.<br />
Like Pegasus, the<br />
patrol aircraft was a<br />
mighty winged creature<br />
capable of flying<br />
great distances to carry<br />
out its mission. At the<br />
bottom of the design<br />
The squadron’s insignia was developed<br />
from a design used by a former<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-11.<br />
was a scroll with the<br />
squadron’s designation<br />
Patron Eleven.<br />
Colors: Pegasus, white<br />
with gold wings; background, navy blue; piping, gold;<br />
letters, gold.<br />
Nickname: Lovin’ Eleven, 1981.<br />
Pegasus, 1982–1997.<br />
Chronology of Significant Events<br />
15 May 1952: <strong>VP</strong>-11 was established at NAS<br />
Quonset Point, R.I., with a complement of 12 P4Y-2<br />
patrol aircraft (a redesignated Privateer PB4Y-2<br />
bomber, with the B for bomber dropped in favor of its<br />
new patrol designation).<br />
Jan–Jun 1953: <strong>VP</strong>-11 conducted its first deployment<br />
to Argentia, Newfoundl<strong>and</strong>. Upon return, the<br />
squadron was assigned new Neptune P2V-5s as replacements<br />
for the WWII vintage Privateers.<br />
A couple of squadron P4Y-2s in flight, circa 1953.<br />
A close up of a squadron P4Y-2 showing personnel installing a .50<br />
caliber machine gun in a side turret, 1952.<br />
Nov 1960–Mar 1961: <strong>VP</strong>-11 participated in underwater<br />
sound tests (Project Breezeway) with the Office<br />
of <strong>Naval</strong> Research from November to December 1960.<br />
The squadron was again called upon to assist in tests<br />
of new sonobuoy equipment during January to March<br />
1961.<br />
8 Feb 1962: A detachment of <strong>VP</strong>-11 at NAS<br />
Argentia, Newfoundl<strong>and</strong>, began ice reconnaissance<br />
flights over the Gulf of St. Lawrence to aid in evaluating<br />
satellite readings of the ice formations transmitted<br />
by Tiros 4 which was put into orbit the same day.<br />
24 Oct–14 Nov 1962: <strong>VP</strong>-11 deployed to Argentia,<br />
Newfoundl<strong>and</strong>, on 12 hours’ notice during the Cuban<br />
Missile Crisis. Surveillance flights totaling 1,065 flying<br />
hours were conducted through 14 November 1962.<br />
6 May–19 Aug 1965: <strong>VP</strong>-11 conducted around-theclock<br />
surveillance operations with nine aircraft operating<br />
out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the<br />
Dominican Republic Crisis. Operations ceased on 3<br />
June 1965 <strong>and</strong> all but four aircraft returned to NAS<br />
Brunswick. The remaining four aircraft <strong>and</strong> crews continued<br />
surveillance in the Caribbean until 19 August<br />
1965.<br />
12 Oct 1967: <strong>VP</strong>-11 deployed to NAF Keflavik,<br />
Icel<strong>and</strong>. The squadron was awarded a <strong>Navy</strong> Unit<br />
Commendation for its ASW activities during that period<br />
of operations. It was the first time the award had<br />
been given to a patrol squadron not in a combat zone.<br />
14–26 Sep 1969: Elements of <strong>VP</strong>-11 participated in<br />
a NATO exercise Operation Squeezeplay, conducted<br />
from St. Mawgan, Engl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
23 Jul 1972: <strong>VP</strong>-11 received emergency deployment<br />
orders to WestPac. The squadron departed NAS<br />
Brunswick for NAS Cubi Point, R.P., arriving 26 July. A<br />
small detachment was maintained at RTNB U-Tapao,<br />
Thail<strong>and</strong>. Upon arrival in the Philippines the<br />
squadron’s deployment was greatly impeded by a
CHAPTER 3 87<br />
A squadron P-3B in flight, 1974.<br />
record rainfall of 74.4 inches. Despite the difficulties,<br />
the squadron was able to conduct assigned sector patrols<br />
of the South China Sea <strong>and</strong> Gulf of Tonkin. For<br />
its humanitarian efforts during disaster relief operations<br />
in the Philippines, the squadron was awarded a<br />
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.<br />
25 Oct 1973: The last P-3B DIFAR upgrade on the<br />
squadron’s aircraft was completed on this date. <strong>VP</strong>-11<br />
was the last East Coast P-3 squadron to be fitted with<br />
DIFAR, which replaced the 10-year-old JULIE system<br />
for detection <strong>and</strong> tracking of submarines.<br />
14 Apr 1975: <strong>VP</strong>-11 conducted a split deployment<br />
to Rota, Spain, <strong>and</strong> Lajes, Azores. During the deployment<br />
the squadron hosted officers from Canada, Iran<br />
<strong>and</strong> Norway to familiarize them with the P-3 <strong>and</strong> it operational<br />
capabilities.<br />
15 Oct 1977: <strong>VP</strong>-11 deployed to Rota, Spain, <strong>and</strong><br />
Lajes, Azores. On 11 December 1977, one of the<br />
squadron’ P-3Bs, BuNo. 153428, crashed into a mountain<br />
on Hierro Isl<strong>and</strong>, Canary Isl<strong>and</strong>s; all 13 crew<br />
members were lost.<br />
26 Jul 1978: Squadron detachments participated in<br />
UNITAS operations <strong>and</strong> visited seven South American<br />
countries during the excercises.<br />
23 Jan 1979: <strong>VP</strong>-11 conducted a split deployment<br />
to Rota, Spain, <strong>and</strong> Lajes, Azores. During the deployment<br />
the opportunity was taken to run exercise simulations<br />
against the Soviet Kiev <strong>and</strong> Minsk battle groups<br />
present in the Mediterranean Sea.<br />
24 Jul 1979: Comm<strong>and</strong>er G. T. Martinsen, the<br />
squadron’s comm<strong>and</strong>ing officer, died of a myocardial<br />
infarction during a squadron briefing at NAS<br />
Brunswick, Maine. Comm<strong>and</strong>er J. M. Evans, executive<br />
officer, acceded to comm<strong>and</strong>.<br />
2 Feb 1981: Phase I in the transition from the P-3B<br />
DIFAR to the P-3C UII began with the training of the<br />
first increment of four <strong>VP</strong>-11 crews at NAS<br />
Jacksonville, Fla. <strong>VP</strong>-30 conducted the transition training<br />
for <strong>VP</strong>-11.<br />
12 Nov 1981: <strong>VP</strong>-11 sent five crews to NS Roosevelt<br />
Roads to participate in READEX 1-82. During the exercise<br />
the squadron had its first opportunity to fire a<br />
“live” Harpoon missile, successfully hitting the target.<br />
13 Dec 1985–24 May 1986: <strong>VP</strong>-11 deployed to NS<br />
Keflavik, Icel<strong>and</strong>, returning to NAS Brunswick on 24<br />
May 1986. During the deployment the squadron collected<br />
environmental data on the Marginal Ice Zone,<br />
<strong>and</strong> tested the efficiency of ice-penetrating sonobouys.<br />
A <strong>VP</strong>-11 P-3B at NAS Glenview in February 1980 (Courtesy Rick R.<br />
Burgress Collection).<br />
9 Jun 1987: The squadron conducted a split deployment<br />
to Rota, Spain, <strong>and</strong> Lajes, Azores. During operations<br />
in the Mediterranean Sea the squadron had<br />
numerous practice attack simulations against Iowa battle<br />
group <strong>and</strong> the Soviet Kiev battle group—the former<br />
willingly, the latter unknowingly.<br />
10 Nov 1988: <strong>VP</strong>-11 deployed to NAS Keflavik,<br />
Icel<strong>and</strong>. The first two months of the deployment were<br />
during the worst weather conditions on record for<br />
over a decade; never-the-less, squadron P-3s performed<br />
all assigned missions. By the end of the deployment<br />
744 sorties had been flown, with 17 frontline<br />
Soviet submarines contacted.<br />
Jun 1989: A detachment of eight aircraft deployed<br />
to NAS Key West, Fla., to assist in anti-drug operations<br />
with Joint Task Force Four. The detachment flew over
88 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Two squadron P-3Cs in flight, circa early 1990s.<br />
300 hours in support of task force operations, resulting<br />
in severe disruption of the drug smuggling routes into<br />
the U.S.<br />
10 Jun 1990: <strong>VP</strong>-11 deployed to NAF Sigonella,<br />
Sicily. During the deployment the squadron flew numerous<br />
missions in support of Operation Desert<br />
Shield, which began on 2 August 1990. Two detachments<br />
were maintained for Operation Desert Shield<br />
support, one at Souda Bay, Crete, the other at Jeddah,<br />
Saudi Arabia.<br />
4 Jan 1992: <strong>VP</strong>-11 conducted a split deployment to<br />
NS Roosevelt Roads, P.R., <strong>and</strong> NAF Rota, Spain. The<br />
detachment at Roosevelt Roads flew many missions in<br />
support of national drug control strategy. As the lead<br />
squadron, the detachment was responsible for the detection<br />
<strong>and</strong> monitoring of aerial <strong>and</strong> maritime transit of<br />
illegal drugs into the U.S. The detachment’s participation<br />
in the operation resulted in the seizure of 10,000<br />
kilos of cocaine <strong>and</strong> 20 tons of marijuana.<br />
1993: <strong>VP</strong>-11 conducted another split deployment<br />
with detachments at Sigonella, Sicily, <strong>and</strong> Jeddah,<br />
Saudi Arabia. The squadron flew over 250-armed sorties<br />
in the Adriatic Sea in support of UN resolutions<br />
against the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The<br />
squadron was the first to carry the new AGM-65<br />
Maverick missile on patrol aircraft.<br />
17 Jun 1994: <strong>VP</strong>-11 deployed to NS Roosevelt<br />
Roads, P.R. During the deployment the squadron flew<br />
numerous missions in support of the U.S. Coast Guard<br />
<strong>and</strong> U.S. Customs Service. Operations resulted in 29<br />
interdictions, 13 vessels seized <strong>and</strong> 77 narcotics traffickers<br />
arrested. A total of 12,000 kilos of cocaine <strong>and</strong><br />
45,000 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street<br />
value of over $1 billion was destroyed.<br />
15 Jan–2 Aug 1997: <strong>VP</strong>-11 was disestablished. The<br />
disestablishment ceremony was held at NAS<br />
Brunswick, Maine, on 2 August 1997.<br />
Home Port Assignments<br />
Location<br />
Date of Assignment<br />
NAS Quonset Point, R.I. 15 May 1952<br />
NAS Brunswick, Maine 1954<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
CDR J. Weiss 15 May 1952<br />
CDR H. Hines Oct 1953<br />
CDR J. S. Kilner, Jr. Oct 1954<br />
CDR William M. Hodges Nov 1955<br />
CDR W. B. Oliver Jan 1957<br />
CDR D. Lawson 27 May 1958<br />
CDR J. H. Burton 8 Jun 1959<br />
CDR Vance E. Horswell 13 Jun 1960<br />
CDR William L. Hudspeth 20 Jun 1961<br />
CDR Raymond G. Neal 21 Jun 1962<br />
CDR R. A. Gaul 6 Jun 1963<br />
CDR James P. Richardson 17 Jul 1964<br />
CDR J. E. Klause 6 May 1965<br />
CDR R. R. Falkenstein 6 May 1966<br />
CDR R. D. Hartell May 1967<br />
CDR W. S. Myers May 1968<br />
CDR R. Gradel 2 Jul 1969<br />
CDR S. G. Boyett 26 Jun 1970<br />
CDR Robert C. Crawford 15 Jun 1971<br />
CDR C. F. Hendrickson, Jr. 6 Jun 1972<br />
CDR W. A. O’Neil 15 Jun 1973
CHAPTER 3 89<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers—Continued<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
CDR Josef S. Kuckelkorn 28 Jun 1974<br />
CDR Robert L. Prehn 30 Jun 1975<br />
CDR David A. Hilty 28 Jun 1976<br />
CDR M. J. Bartolomei 30 Jun 1977<br />
CDR E. M. Brittingham 29 Jun 1978<br />
CDR G. T. Martinsen 5 Jun 1979<br />
CDR John M. Evans 24 Jul 1979<br />
CDR Glenn W. Ritchey, Jr. 5 Sep 1980<br />
CDR R. S. Noce 6 Aug 1981<br />
CDR J. R. Ryan 13 Aug 1982<br />
CDR Robert G. Nolan 19 Nov 1983<br />
CDR Rocklin E. Gmeiner, Jr. 19 Feb 1985<br />
CDR Gregory A. Markwell 28 Jun 1986<br />
CDR David A. Larson 1987<br />
CDR Donald K. Miskill, Jr. 12 Aug 1988<br />
CDR Robert P. Scott 1989<br />
CDR John R. Miller Aug 1990<br />
CDR John P. Horsman, Jr. Aug 1991<br />
CDR Alex S. Hill 13 Aug 1992<br />
CDR Anthony L. Winns 24 Jul 1993<br />
CDR Paul J. C. Hulley 29 Jul 1994<br />
CDR David A. Williams 7 Jul 1995<br />
Aircraft Assignment<br />
Type of Aircraft<br />
Date Type First Received<br />
P4Y-2 May 1952<br />
P2V-5 Jun 1953<br />
P2V-7 1956<br />
SP-2H Dec 1962<br />
P-3B Jan 1967<br />
P-3B DIFAR Oct 1973<br />
P-3C UII 1981<br />
P-3C UII.5 1993<br />
A squadron P2V in flight, circa late 1950s.<br />
Major Overseas Deployments<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
Jan 1953 Jun 1953 FAW-3 Argentia P4Y-2 NorLant<br />
Jan 1954 Jun 1954 FAW-3 Malta P2V-5 Med<br />
Apr 1955 Sep 1955 FAW-3 Malta P2V-5 Med<br />
1956 1956 FAW-3 Malta P2V-7 Med<br />
17 Oct 1957 24 Feb 1958 FAW-3 Malta P2V-7 Med<br />
1 Mar 1959 22 Aug 1959 FAW-3 Rota P2V-7 Med<br />
Feb 1960 Mar 1960 FAW-3 Keflavik P2V-7 NorLant<br />
7 Aug 1960 * 8 Jan 1961 FAW-3 Keflavik P2V-7 NorLant<br />
7 Aug 1960 * 8 Jan 1961 FAW-3 Sicily P2V-7 Med<br />
24 Oct 1962 14 Nov 1962 FAW-3 Argentia P2V-7 NorLant<br />
9 Feb 1963 * 2 Jul 1963 FAW-3 Rota SP-2H Med<br />
9 Feb 1963 * 2 Jul 1963 FAW-3 Keflavik SP-2H NorLant<br />
Mar 1964 May 1964 FAW-11 Guantanamo SP-2H Carib<br />
29 Aug 1964 2 Feb 1965 FAW-3 Sicily SP-2H Med<br />
6 May 1965 19 Aug 1965 FAW-11 Cuba SP-2H Carib<br />
27 Jan 1966 7 Jul 1966 FAW-3 Rota SP-2H Med<br />
12 Oct 1967 Mar 1968 FAW-3 Keflavik P-3B NorLant<br />
25 Feb 1969 * 27 Jun 1969 FAW-3 Keflavik P-3B NorLant<br />
25 Feb 1969 * 27 Jun 1969 FAW-3 Lajes P-3B Lant<br />
3 Feb 1970 2 Mar 1970 FAW-3 Bermuda P-3B Lant<br />
12 Jul 1970 13 Nov 1970 FAW-3 Lajes P-3B NorLant<br />
29 Jun 1971 15 Dec 1971 FAW-5 Rota/Lajes P-3B Med<br />
23 Jul 1972 * 8 Nov 1972 FAW-8 Cubi P-3B WestPac<br />
23 Jul 1972 * 8 Nov 1972 FAW-8 U-Tapao P-3B WestPac<br />
Jan 1973 Mar 1973 FAW-5 Rota/Lajes P-3B Med<br />
1 Nov 1973 25 Mar 1974 PatWing-5 Bermuda P-3B DIFAR Lant<br />
14 Apr 1975 5 Sep 1975 PatWing-5 Rota/Lajes P-3B DIFAR Med
90 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Major Overseas Deployments—Continued<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
12 May 1976 30 Jun 1976 PatWing-5 Bermuda P-3B DIFAR Lant<br />
15 Oct 1977 23 Mar 1978 PatWing-5 Rota/Lajes P-3B DIFAR Med<br />
26 Jul 1978 1 Dec 1978 PatWing-11 Pan-American P-3B DIFAR SoLant<br />
23 Jan 1979 11 Jul 1979 PatWing-5 Rota/Lajes P-3B DIFAR Med<br />
1 May 1980 4 Nov 1980 PatWing-5 Rota/Lajes P-3B DIFAR Med<br />
19 Jan 1982 26 Jul 1982 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UII NorLant<br />
9 May 1983 5 Oct 1983 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UII NorLant<br />
9 Sep 1984 13 Feb 1985 PatWing-5 Bermuda P-3C UII Lant<br />
13 Dec 1985 24 May 1986 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UII NorLant<br />
9 Jun 1987 7 Dec 1987 PatWing-5 Rota/Lajes P-3C UII Med<br />
10 Nov 1988 10 May 1989 PatWing-5 Keflavik P-3C UII NorLant<br />
Jun 1989 Jul 1989 PatWing-11 Key West P-3C UII Carib<br />
10 Jun 1990 * 10 Dec 1990 PatWing-5 Sigonella P-3C UII Med<br />
2 Aug 1990 * 10 Dec 1990 PatWing-1 Jeddah P-3C UII Red Sea<br />
4 Jan 1992 * 11 Jul 1992 PatWing-11 Roosevelt Rds. P-3C UII Carib<br />
4 Jan 1992 * 11 Jul 1992 PatWing-5 Rota P-3C UII Med<br />
May 1993 * Sep 1993 PatWing-5 Sigonella P-3C UII.5 Med<br />
May 1993 * Sep 1993 PatWing-1 Jeddah P-3C UII.5 Red Sea<br />
17 Jun 1994 17 Dec 1994 PatWing-11 Roosevelt Rds. P-3C UII.5 Carib<br />
Jan 1996 Jun 1996 PatWing-5 Sigonella P-3C UII.5 Med<br />
*<br />
The squadron conducted split deployment to two sites during the same dates.<br />
Wing Assignments<br />
Wing Tail Code Assignment Date<br />
FAW-3 HB/LE † 15 May 1952<br />
FAW-5/PatWing-5 ‡ LE 1 Jul 1971<br />
†<br />
The squadron’s tail code was changed from HB to LE in 1957. The<br />
effective date for this change was most likely the beginning FY 1958<br />
(1 July 1957).<br />
‡<br />
FAW-5 was redesignated PatWing-5 <strong>and</strong> COMPATWINGS LANT on<br />
1 July 1973, a dual hatted comm<strong>and</strong>. On 1 July 1974 Patrol Wing 5<br />
(PatWing-5) was established as a separate comm<strong>and</strong>.<br />
Unit Awards Received<br />
Unit Award<br />
Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award<br />
NUC 12 Oct 1967 15 Feb 1968<br />
5 May 1980 5 Nov 1980<br />
MUC 5 Sep 1969 30 Jun 1970<br />
1 Jun 1975 16 Jul 1975<br />
27 Jan 1982 27 Jul 1982<br />
11 May 1983 5 Oct 1983<br />
10 Jun 1990 10 Dec 1990<br />
NEM 5 Aug 1990 21 Feb 1991<br />
AFEM 24 Oct 1962 31 Dec 1962<br />
10 May 1965 10 Aug 1965<br />
NAVE 1 Oct 1979 30 Sep 1980<br />
SASM 10 Nov 1990 9 Dec 1990<br />
JMUA 19 Jun 1991 14 Aug 1991<br />
9 Jan 1992 30 Apr 1992<br />
RPPUC 21 Jul 1972 15 Aug 1972<br />
A close up of a squadron P-3 tail with the insignia <strong>and</strong> tail code LE.<br />
Two squadron P-3s on the tarmac with personnel forming the designation<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-11.
CHAPTER 3 91<br />
Third <strong>VP</strong>-16<br />
Lineage<br />
Established as Reserve Patrol Squadron NINE HUN-<br />
DRED SIX (<strong>VP</strong>-906) in May 1946.<br />
Redesignated Medium Seaplane Squadron FIFTY SIX<br />
(<strong>VP</strong>-ML-56) on 15 November 1946.<br />
Redesignated Patrol Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED<br />
FORTY ONE (<strong>VP</strong>-741) in February 1950.<br />
Redesignated Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN (<strong>VP</strong>-16) on<br />
4 February 1953, the third squadron to be assigned the<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-16 designation.<br />
Squadron Insignia <strong>and</strong> Nickname<br />
The first insignia used by the squadron was approved<br />
by CNO on 15 October 1951 when it was still<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-741. The design featured a Disney-like alligator<br />
wearing a sailor’s hat with a spy glass in its left h<strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> in its right a bomb poised ready to throw at a<br />
periscope projecting from the<br />
water. Colors: background,<br />
white; water, light blue;<br />
periscope, telescope <strong>and</strong><br />
bomb, black; upper body of<br />
alligator, dark green; alligator<br />
chest, light green; tongue <strong>and</strong><br />
bomb tip, red. The nickname<br />
“Fighting Gators,” was highlighted<br />
in red above the top<br />
of the design, <strong>and</strong> the designation<br />
Patrol Squadron 741,<br />
across the bottom.<br />
The squadron’s<br />
first insignia was<br />
a cartoon designed<br />
alligator.<br />
The squadron’s second insignia<br />
featured an eagle<br />
probing for a submarine.<br />
The second insignia used by the squadron superseded<br />
the previous design after its approval by CNO<br />
on 30 October 1953. The insignia portrays an eagle<br />
perched on a fish bowl probing for a small, fish-like<br />
submarine. The heraldic significance of the American<br />
Eagle probing for the submarine in its confined space<br />
of operation portrays the antisubmarine warfare mission<br />
of the squadron. Colors: background, red; body<br />
<strong>and</strong> wings of eagle, black; head, white; beak <strong>and</strong> feet,<br />
orange; water in fish bowl, blue; submarine, black.<br />
The nickname “Eagles,” is highlighted in white against<br />
a black background over the top of the design <strong>and</strong><br />
Patrol Squadron Sixteen across the bottom.<br />
Nickname: Fighting Gators, 1951–1953.<br />
Eagles, 1961–1968.<br />
War Eagles, 1983–present.<br />
Chronology of Significant Events<br />
May 1946: <strong>VP</strong>-906 was established as a reserve<br />
squadron, home-ported at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.,<br />
under operational control of FAW-11 <strong>and</strong> administratively<br />
under <strong>Naval</strong> Air Reserve Training Comm<strong>and</strong>.<br />
The squadron was one of 21 reserve patrol squadrons<br />
established after the war to accommodate the large<br />
number of aircrews recently released from active duty,<br />
utilize the enormous stocks of aircraft in the inventory<br />
<strong>and</strong> serve as an experienced manpower pool in the<br />
event new Cold War tensions erupted into a shooting<br />
war. <strong>VP</strong>-906 flew the Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon <strong>and</strong> the<br />
amphibious PBY-5A/6A Catalina.<br />
15 Nov 1946: <strong>VP</strong>-906 was redesignated <strong>VP</strong>-ML-56<br />
while at Cecil Field, Fla. Under the new designation<br />
system, reserve squadron number designations began<br />
with the number 51 <strong>and</strong> regular <strong>Navy</strong> squadrons<br />
began with 1. All reserve patrol squadrons were designated<br />
as ML. The ML designation used by the reserves<br />
stood for either Medium Patrol Squadrons flying the<br />
twin-engine PV-2 Harpoon or Medium Seaplane<br />
Squadrons flying the amphibious PBY-5A Catalina.<br />
Regular <strong>Navy</strong> patrol squadrons flying the PV-2 were<br />
designated ML also, but those flying the PBY-5A were<br />
designated AM for Amphibian.<br />
Feb 1950: <strong>VP</strong>-ML-56 was redesignated <strong>VP</strong>-741 during<br />
the reorganization of <strong>Naval</strong> Aviation reserve units,<br />
effective the first quarter of 1950. In this period of extensive<br />
defense spending reductions the number of<br />
<strong>Naval</strong> Aviation reserve patrol squadrons was reduced<br />
from a 1949 total of 24 to only 9.<br />
1 Mar 1951: <strong>VP</strong>-741 was recalled to active duty by<br />
the president, the last of the nine reserve patrol<br />
squadrons recalled for service during the Korean War<br />
period. Of the Atlantic fleet squadrons, only one regular<br />
<strong>Navy</strong> squadron, <strong>VP</strong>-7, saw limited combat while<br />
stationed at Iwakuni, Japan, in the last month of the<br />
war.<br />
4 Feb 1953: After the Korean War the decision was<br />
made to augment all of the nine reserve patrol<br />
squadrons activated during the 1950 to 1951 time period<br />
as part of the regular <strong>Navy</strong>. <strong>VP</strong>-741 was redesig-
92 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Squadron personnel surrounding one of its P2Vs at NAS Jacksonville, 1952.<br />
nated <strong>VP</strong>-16. The redesignations did not require<br />
changes in tail codes or home ports.<br />
10 Nov 1956: The squadron deployed to Keflavik,<br />
Icel<strong>and</strong>. While on duty at this location the Middle East<br />
Crisis, sparked by the seizure of the Suez Canal, kept<br />
the squadron flying around the clock to protect<br />
NATO’s northern flank. After the situation was defused,<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-16 conducted a series of goodwill tours to<br />
several European countries before returning to the<br />
U.S. in April 1957.<br />
Mar 1960: <strong>VP</strong>-16 deployed to NS Roosevelt Roads,<br />
P.R., <strong>and</strong> participated in Operation Springboard 1960.<br />
May 1960: The squadron participated in test shots<br />
of the Redstone <strong>and</strong> Atlas missiles as part of Task<br />
Force 140, Project Mercury Recovery Force.<br />
12 Dec 1960: <strong>VP</strong>-16 deployed to NAF Sigonella,<br />
Sicily, for a five-month tour of duty, relieving <strong>VP</strong>-5.<br />
The squadron provided shipping surveillance in the<br />
Mediterranean Sea for the Sixth Fleet <strong>and</strong> responded<br />
A squadron P2V in flight.<br />
to the Santa Maria incident—the seizure of a<br />
Portuguese vessel by dissidents. <strong>VP</strong>-16 was one of several<br />
squadrons called on to assist in the search for the<br />
ship.<br />
29 Nov 1963–Mar 1964: Seven squadron aircraft<br />
departed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to provide<br />
surveillance during the Cuban Missile Crisis, relieving<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-23. The detachment was relieved in March 1964 by<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-11.<br />
1 Dec 1964: <strong>VP</strong>-16 relieved <strong>VP</strong>-49 at Kindley AFB,<br />
Bermuda. This was the first deployment for the<br />
squadron in its new P-3A Orion aircraft.<br />
23 Mar 1965: The squadron participated in operations<br />
involving the launching <strong>and</strong> recovery of the<br />
Gemini 3 space capsule, which carried John Young<br />
<strong>and</strong> Virgil Grissom into orbit <strong>and</strong> returned them safely<br />
after completing three orbits.<br />
27 Jul 1965: A squadron Orion, BuNo. 151380,<br />
crashed at Bermuda with four crew casualties.<br />
15 Feb 1966: A detachment<br />
of three aircraft was sent to<br />
Ascension Isl<strong>and</strong> in support of<br />
the project Apollo-Saturn 201,<br />
Task Force 140. This operation<br />
was the first unmanned spacecraft<br />
of the Apollo series to be<br />
fired into suborbital flight by a<br />
Saturn rocket.<br />
2 Dec 1966: <strong>VP</strong>-17 deployed<br />
to NS Sangley Point, R.P., with a<br />
detachment at NAF U-Tapao,<br />
Thail<strong>and</strong>. During the deployment<br />
the squadron missions in-
CHAPTER 3 93<br />
cluded Market Time patrols <strong>and</strong><br />
Yankee Team patrols, Ocean<br />
Surveillance Air Patrol,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Special Ocean<br />
Surveillance Air<br />
Patrols. Patrols<br />
were often conducted<br />
within<br />
12 miles of the<br />
coasts of North<br />
Vietnam <strong>and</strong><br />
throughout the<br />
Gulf of Tonkin.<br />
The squadron<br />
completed over<br />
500 missions during<br />
its only tour in the<br />
Vietnam zone of operations.<br />
12 Dec 1967: The Eagles deployed<br />
to NS Rota, Spain, as the<br />
first P-3 Orion detachment to<br />
operate from a Mediterranean<br />
base.<br />
Jan 1971: <strong>VP</strong>-16 retrofitted all of its P-3A aircraft<br />
with the DIFAR advanced submarine detection system.<br />
In July, the Eagles deployed to NAF Sigonella, Sicily,<br />
to test their newly outfitted DIFAR aircraft. The<br />
squadron conducted extensive testing of the new<br />
A <strong>VP</strong>-16 P-3C(U2) at NAS Keflavik in June 1984<br />
(Courtesy Rick R. Burgress Collec-tion via D. Jay).<br />
equipment during numerous exercises<br />
in the Mediterranean<br />
Sea.<br />
25 Oct–2 Nov 1983:<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-16 provided several<br />
aircraft <strong>and</strong><br />
crews for patrols<br />
in the vicinity of<br />
Grenada during<br />
Operation<br />
Urgent Fury, in<br />
which U.S. forces<br />
were deployed<br />
to Grenada to<br />
protect the lives of<br />
Americans on the<br />
isl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
Aug 1985: <strong>VP</strong>-16 deployed<br />
to NAS Bermuda.<br />
During the deployment three-aircraft<br />
detachments were maintained<br />
at NS Roosevelt Roads,<br />
P.R., to participate in Operation<br />
Hat Trick II, drug interdiction patrols in the Caribbean.<br />
10 Aug 1988: <strong>VP</strong>-16 deployed to NAS Bermuda, relieving<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-24. The squadron participated in Operation<br />
Checkmate 7, interdicting suspected drug trafficking in<br />
the Caribbean.<br />
A squadron P-3C in flight, 1990.
94 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Home Port Assignments<br />
Location<br />
Date of Assignment<br />
NAS Jacksonville, Fla. May 1946<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
Unknown 1946–1950<br />
CDR Charles W. Rodgers Jan 1951<br />
CDR James W. Hardy 6 Dec 1952<br />
CDR Paul J. Bruneau Feb 1954<br />
CDR P. Bazier Feb 1955<br />
CDR M. A. Piper Feb 1956<br />
CDR E. B. Abrams Mar 1957<br />
CDR J. W. Clark 9 Jul 1958<br />
CDR L. T. Barco, Jr. 3 Sep 1959<br />
CDR R. F. Bishop 13 May 1960<br />
CDR R. G. Bagby 31 May 1961<br />
CDR C. E. Rodgers 9 Apr 1962<br />
CDR L. H. Boutte 30 Apr 1963<br />
CDR William Vaught 6 Mar 1964<br />
CDR Charles Eadie 1 May 1965<br />
CDR D. D. Spoon 29 Apr 1966<br />
CDR D. C. Carruth 28 Apr 1967<br />
CDR T. H. Ross Apr 1968<br />
CDR R. H. Schulze 30 Apr 1969<br />
CDR E. R. Nordtvedt 2 Apr 1970<br />
CDR J. F. Wetzel 29 Apr 1971<br />
CDR K. W. Mirise 21 Apr 1972<br />
CDR R. G. Castle Apr 1973<br />
CDR L. L. Maloy 30 Apr 1974<br />
CDR C. C. Pease Apr 1975<br />
CDR Richard Silverman Apr 1976<br />
CDR Austin W. Rehfield Apr 1977<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers—Continued<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
CDR G. F. Wright 12 May 1978<br />
CDR R. F. Testa 15 Jun 1979<br />
CDR C. T. Moyer III 12 Jun 1980<br />
CDR Daniel Oliver Jun 1981<br />
CDR J. E. Mutty 11 Jun 1982<br />
CDR J. L. Harford Jun 1983<br />
CDR James V. Qurollo, Jr. 6 Jul 1984<br />
CDR James R. Love 31 Aug 1985<br />
CDR James M. Piotrowski 5 Dec 1986<br />
CDR Ernest L. Morris, Jr. 4 Dec 1987<br />
CDR Gregory P. Harper 9 Dec 1988<br />
CDR Greg L. Wedding 15 Dec 1989<br />
CDR John L. Bohn II 7 Dec 1990<br />
CDR David K. Oliveria 6 Dec 1991<br />
CDR Christopher C. Ames 14 Jan 1993<br />
CDR Robert W. Andersen 25 Feb 1994<br />
CDR James J. Cardosi 20 Jan 1995<br />
Aircraft Assignment<br />
Type of Aircraft<br />
Date Type First Received<br />
PV-2/PBY-5A/PBY-6A May 1946<br />
P2V-2/3 1950<br />
P2V-5 Feb 1955<br />
P2V-5F Mar 1956<br />
SP-2E Dec 1962<br />
P-3A Jul 1964<br />
P-3A DIFAR Jan 1971<br />
P-3C Aug 1973<br />
P-3C UII.5 Jun 1983<br />
P-3C UIIIR Oct 1990<br />
A squadron P-3C carrying a Harpoon missile en route to Viegues Isl<strong>and</strong>, Puerto Rico for a test launch, February 1996.
CHAPTER 3 95<br />
Major Overseas Deployments<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
1 Mar 1952 * Jul 1952 FAW-11 Fr. Morocco P2V-2/3 Med<br />
1 Mar 1952 * Jul 1952 FAW-11 Lajes P2V-2/3 Lant<br />
1 Mar 1953 Aug 1953 FAW-11 Port Lyautey P2V-2/3 Med<br />
May 1954 Sep 1954 FAW-11 Keflavik P2V-2/3 NorLant<br />
Jul 1955 10 Dec 1955 FAW-11 Port Lyautey P2V-5 Med<br />
10 Nov 1956 1 Apr 1957 FAW-11 Keflavik P2V-5F NorLant<br />
Feb 1958 * Jul 1958 FAW-11 Port Lyautey P2V-5F Med<br />
Feb 1958 * Jul 1958 FAW-11 Keflavik P2V-5F NorLant<br />
4 May 1959 5 Oct 1959 FAW-11 Argentia P2V-5F NorLant<br />
Mar 1960 May 1960 FAW-11 Roosevelt Rds. P2V-5F Carib<br />
12 Dec 1960 8 May 1961 FAW-11 Sigonella P2V-5F Med<br />
3 Jul 1961 Sep 1961 FAW-11 Roosevelt Rds. P2V-5F Carib<br />
9 Dec 1961 * 13 Feb 1962 FAW-11 Rota P2V-5F Med<br />
9 Dec 1961 * 13 Feb 1962 FAW-11 Keflavik P2V-5F NorLant<br />
10 Sep 1962 Feb 1963 FAW-11 Keflavik SP-2E NorLant<br />
3 Jun 1963 Aug 1963 FAW-11 Roosevelt Rds. SP-2E Carib<br />
29 Nov 1963 2 Mar 1964 FAW-11 Guantanamo SP-2E Carib<br />
1 Dec 1964 1 Sep 1965 FAW-11 Bermuda P-3A Lant<br />
18 Jan 1966 1 Mar 1966 FAW-8 Ascension Is. P-3A SoLant<br />
2 Dec 1966 2 Jun 1967 FAW-8 Sangley Pt. P-3A WestPac<br />
18 Jan 1967 * 18 Feb 1967 FAW-8 U-Tapao P-3A WestPac<br />
12 Dec 1967 25 May 1967 FAW-11 Rota P-3A Med<br />
Oct 1968 * Jan 1969 FAW-11 Bermuda P-3A Lant<br />
Oct 1968 * Jan 1969 FAW-11 Argentia P-3A NorLant<br />
Oct 1969 Feb 1970 FAW-11 Bermuda P-3A Lant<br />
Jun 1970 27 Oct 1970 FAW-11 Bermuda P-3A Lant<br />
Jul 1971 Dec 1971 FAW-11 Sigonella P-3A DIFAR Med<br />
9 Aug 1972 Jan 1973 FAW-11 Bermuda P-3A DIFAR Lant<br />
Nov 1973 May 1974 PatWing-11 Sigonella P-3C Med<br />
A squadron P-3C in the snow, most likely Keflavik, 1984.
96 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Major Overseas Deployments—Continued<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
Apr 1975 Sep 1975 PatWing-11 Keflavik P-3C NorLant<br />
Jun 1976 Nov 1976 PatWing-11 Sigonella P-3C Med<br />
Nov 1977 May 1978 PatWing-11 Keflavik P-3C NorLant<br />
14 Dec 1978 15 May 1979 PatWing-11 Sigonella P-3C Med<br />
6 Apr 1980 6 Sep 1980 PatWing-11 Sigonella P-3C Med<br />
Aug 1981 Feb 1982 PatWing-11 Bermuda P-3C Lant<br />
Jan 1983 * Jun 1983 PatWing-11 Rota P-3C Med<br />
Jan 1983 * Jun 1983 PatWing-11 Lajes P-3C Lant<br />
12 Mar 1984 Aug 1984 PatWing-11 Keflavik P-3C NorLant<br />
Aug 1985 4 Feb 1986 PatWing-11 Bermuda P-3C Lant<br />
2 Jan 1987 2 Jun 1987 PatWing-11 Sigonella P-3C Med<br />
10 Aug 1988 Feb 1989 PatWing-11 Bermuda P-3C UII.5 Lant<br />
1 Jan 1990 Jun 1990 PatWing-11 Sigonella P-3C UII.5 Med<br />
1 Aug 1991 * Mar 1992 PatWing-11 Keflavik P-3C UII.5 NorLant<br />
1 Aug 1991 * Mar 1992 PatWing-11 Bermuda P-3C UIIIR Lant<br />
1 Jul 1992 Sep 1992 PatWing-11 Rota P-3C UIIIR Med<br />
21 Jul 1993 * 31 Dec 1993 PatWing-11 Roosevelt Rds. P-3C UIIIR Carib<br />
21 Jul 1993 * Jan 1994 PatWing-11 Panama P-3C UIIIR Carib<br />
Feb 1995 Aug 1995 PatWing-11 Keflavik P-3C UIIIR NorLant<br />
Aug 1996 Feb 1997 PatWing-11 Sigonella P-3C UIIIR Med<br />
*<br />
The squadron conducted split deployment to two sites during the same dates.<br />
Wing Assignments<br />
Wing Tail Code Assignment Date<br />
FAW-11/PatWing-11 § HH † /LF ‡ May 1946<br />
†<br />
The squadron remained a part of FAW-11, but was assigned tail<br />
code HH when called to active duty in 1951.<br />
‡<br />
The squadron’s tail code was changed from HH to LF in 1957. The<br />
effective date for this change was most likely the beginning of FY<br />
1958 (1 July 1957).<br />
§<br />
FAW-11 was redesignated Patrol Wing 11 (PatWing-11) on 30 June<br />
1973.<br />
Unit Awards Received<br />
Unit Award<br />
Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award<br />
NUC 1 Jan 1967 31 Mar 1968<br />
9 Jun 1976 6 Nov 1976<br />
MUC 11 Mar 1981 10 Feb 1982<br />
29 Dec 1982 1 Jun 1983<br />
15 Mar 1984 15 Aug 1984<br />
NAVE 1 Jan 1983 31 Dec 1983<br />
RVNGC 1 Dec 1966 31 May 1967<br />
AFEM (Grenada) 23 Oct 1983 21 Nov 1983<br />
NEM (Lebanon) 3 Jan 1983 31 May 1983<br />
A couple of squadron P-3Cs<br />
fly over Jacksonville, Fla.,<br />
December 1994.
CHAPTER 3 97<br />
Third <strong>VP</strong>-17<br />
Lineage<br />
Established as Reserve Patrol Squadron NINE HUN-<br />
DRED SIXTEEN (<strong>VP</strong>-916) on 1 July 1946.<br />
Redesignated Medium Patron SIXTY SIX (<strong>VP</strong>-ML-66)<br />
on 15 November 1946.<br />
Redesignated Patrol Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED<br />
SEVENTY TWO (<strong>VP</strong>-772) in February 1950.<br />
Redesignated Patrol Squadron SEVENTEEN (<strong>VP</strong>-17) on<br />
4 February 1953, the third squadron to be assigned the<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-17 designation.<br />
Redesignated Heavy Attack Mining Squadron TEN<br />
(VA-HM-10) on 1 July 1956.<br />
Redesignated Patrol Squadron SEVENTEEN (<strong>VP</strong>-17)<br />
on 1 July 1959.<br />
Disestablished on 31 March 1995.<br />
Squadron Insignia <strong>and</strong> Nickname<br />
The squadron’s second insignia was<br />
a cartoon designed eagle.<br />
The first insignia was submitted by the squadron for<br />
approval shortly after <strong>VP</strong>-916 had been redesignated<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-ML-66. It was approved by CNO on 25 September<br />
1947. The design was circular<br />
with an Indian chief central,<br />
carrying a large<br />
bomb under his arm.<br />
The Indian’s left h<strong>and</strong><br />
was raised over his<br />
eyes as if seeking the<br />
enemy. The subject<br />
of the design, the<br />
American Indian, was<br />
symbolic of the tactical<br />
mission of the squadron,“...scouting<br />
<strong>and</strong><br />
search with ordnance<br />
participation.” The<br />
squadron designation was inscribed inside the design<br />
below the Indian. Colors: Indian, red brown flesh; tan<br />
leggings; dark brown moccasins; white feather headdress;<br />
rising sun, yellow with purple rays; bomb, blue<br />
with white stripes; squadron letters, brown. A photo<br />
copy of this design was not available in the squadron<br />
records.<br />
The second squadron insignia was approved by<br />
CNO on 11 April 1951, shortly after <strong>VP</strong>-ML-66 had<br />
been redesignated <strong>VP</strong>-772. The American Indian was<br />
replaced with a nautical-looking eagle wearing a petty<br />
officer third class uniform. The bomb was under the<br />
eagle’s left wing pointing to a submarine periscope.<br />
The eagle, perched on the periscope, was giving a big<br />
wink with the left eye. The insignia was based on one<br />
of the primary missions for the squadron, antisubmarine<br />
warfare. The white-hat eagle represents an aircraft<br />
that had made contact with a submarine <strong>and</strong> was prepared<br />
to release a bomb to complete the mission.<br />
Colors: eagle, tan; beak, yellow; suit, blue; hat, white;<br />
bomb, yellow; periscope, black; water, blue; border,<br />
red; background, white.<br />
A third insignia was submitted to CNO for approval<br />
after <strong>VP</strong>-772 was redesignated <strong>VP</strong>-17. CNO approved<br />
the design with minor changes on 11 May 1955. The<br />
insignia featured an eagle with raised wings, clutching<br />
a submarine in one claw <strong>and</strong> a<br />
bomb in the other. Three<br />
small white lightning bolts<br />
were highlighted on the<br />
wings <strong>and</strong> a large lightning<br />
bolt slanted<br />
downward between<br />
the upthrust wings.<br />
The new squadron<br />
designation, Patron<br />
Seventeen was enclosed<br />
in a scroll at the<br />
bottom of the design.<br />
The significance of<br />
the eagle was unchanged,<br />
with the<br />
bomb <strong>and</strong> submarine<br />
The squadron’s third insignia kept<br />
the eagle theme but dropped the cartoon<br />
style.<br />
symbolizing the squadron’s primary assignment of<br />
ASW. Colors: eagle, brown body with white head;<br />
eyes <strong>and</strong> tongue, red; beak <strong>and</strong> claws, yellow; bomb,<br />
black; submarine, gray with black trim outline; sea,<br />
blue; small lightning bolts, white; large lightning bolt,<br />
yellow; background, white; trim around patch <strong>and</strong><br />
scroll, red; letters of squadron designation, yellow.<br />
The fourth squadron insignia of <strong>VP</strong>-17 was approved<br />
by CNO on 22 December 1989. The new design<br />
featured a surface vessel <strong>and</strong> a submarine, joined<br />
The fourth insignia<br />
dropped the eagle theme<br />
<strong>and</strong> more accurately represented<br />
the squadron’s<br />
mission of antisubmarine<br />
<strong>and</strong> antisurface<br />
warfare.<br />
overhead by two white lightning bolts. The top of the<br />
design was a rainbow. The two vessels typify the dual<br />
mission of the patrol squadrons of antiship <strong>and</strong> antisubmarine<br />
warfare. The rainbow symbolized the<br />
squadron’s affiliation with the “Rainbow Fleet” of<br />
PatWing-2 at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. Colors: rain-
98 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
bow, red, yellow, green <strong>and</strong> blue; lightning bolts,<br />
white; surface ship, gray; submarine, black; sea, bluegreen;<br />
border of design, blue; letters of squadron at<br />
bottom, white on background of light blue.<br />
The fifth <strong>and</strong> final insignia of the squadron was a<br />
return to the third, more historic version originally approved<br />
after the squadron became <strong>VP</strong>-17 in 1953. The<br />
A squadron P4Y-2 (PB4Y-2) in flight.<br />
The squadron’s fifth insignia<br />
reverted back to<br />
the third insignia design.<br />
design <strong>and</strong> colors remained essentially unchanged<br />
from the earlier version. The request for the reversion<br />
to the earlier design was approved by CNO on 26<br />
March 1993.<br />
Nickname: White Lightnings, 1959–1995.<br />
Chronology of Significant Events<br />
May 1946: <strong>VP</strong>-916 was established at NAS Los<br />
Alamitos, Calif. The squadron came under the operational<br />
control of FAW-4 <strong>and</strong> administrative control by<br />
<strong>Naval</strong> Air Reserve Training (NARTU). It was another of<br />
the 21 naval reserve squadrons established after the<br />
war to accommodate the large number of aircrews recently<br />
released from active duty <strong>and</strong> utilize the enormous<br />
stocks of aircraft on the inventory. The squadron<br />
flew the Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon <strong>and</strong> the amphibious<br />
Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina.<br />
15 Nov 1946: All patrol squadrons were redesignated.<br />
Regular <strong>Navy</strong> patrol squadron designation numbers<br />
began with 1 <strong>and</strong> reserve squadron numbers<br />
began with 5. <strong>VP</strong>-916 was redesignated <strong>VP</strong>-ML-66. The<br />
ML designation, medium patrol squadrons, included<br />
twin-engine medium amphibious seaplanes, as well as<br />
twin-engine l<strong>and</strong>-based bombers. Regular <strong>Navy</strong> patrol<br />
squadrons with the ML designation were for twin-engine<br />
medium l<strong>and</strong>-based bombers only. The amphibious<br />
medium seaplanes like the PBY-5A used the AM,<br />
amphibian designation for regular <strong>Navy</strong> squadrons.<br />
Feb 1950: <strong>VP</strong>-ML-66 was redesignated <strong>VP</strong>-772 during<br />
the reorganization of <strong>Naval</strong> Aviation reserve units<br />
in 1949, but the change did not take effect until<br />
February 1950. During this period the number of<br />
<strong>Naval</strong> Aviation reserve squadrons was reduced from<br />
the 1949 total of 24 to 9.<br />
1 Sep 1950: <strong>VP</strong>-772 was called to active duty by the<br />
president for service during the Korean War. The<br />
squadron relocated from its home base at Los<br />
Alamitos, Calif., to NAS Whidbey Isl<strong>and</strong>, Wash.<br />
Aircrews were given transition training for conversion<br />
to the Consolidated P4Y-2/2S (a redesignated PB4Y-2)<br />
Privateer. The 2S version of this aircraft featured surface<br />
search radar. A brief lull occurred in the intensive<br />
training cycle when the squadron paid a visit to the<br />
fighting French in Saigon. The squadron left several<br />
Privateers for use by the French in the Indochina war.<br />
1–31 Jan 1951: <strong>VP</strong>-772 deployed to Iwakuni, Japan,<br />
where <strong>VP</strong>-772 became the first activated naval reserve<br />
squadron to participate in the Korean conflict. On 31<br />
January 1951, the squadron began combat operations<br />
from NAS Atsugi, Japan, flying missions over Korea,<br />
the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea <strong>and</strong> the Tsushima<br />
Straits.<br />
Jun–Aug 1951: From 12 June through the end of<br />
August several of the squadron’s aircraft were detached<br />
in two-aircraft elements for operations with the<br />
night attack aircraft of the 1st Marine Air Wing at K-1<br />
Pusan, South Korea. The detachment provided direct<br />
support for ground operations by dropping MK-6<br />
flares at night to provide illumination for USMC<br />
ground attack aircraft. Although initially an experiment,<br />
the operations proved so successful they were<br />
continued by other similarly equipped patrol<br />
squadrons.<br />
1 Jan–Feb 1953: <strong>VP</strong>-772 deployed to NAS Barbers<br />
Point, Hawaii, in preparation for duty in the Korean<br />
combat zone. On 1 February 1953, the squadron<br />
began combat operations from Iwakuni, Japan, flying<br />
missions over the Sea of Japan, Tsushima Straits <strong>and</strong><br />
the Yellow Sea. The squadron was the last to fly the<br />
P4Y-2/2S in combat. No losses in personnel or equipment<br />
were incurred in 435 combat missions.<br />
4 Feb 1953: <strong>VP</strong>-772 was augmented into the regular<br />
<strong>Navy</strong> <strong>and</strong> redesignated <strong>VP</strong>-17. Toward the end of the<br />
Korean War the decision was made to augment all of<br />
the nine reserve patrol squadrons activated during the<br />
1950 to 1951 time period as part of the regular <strong>Navy</strong>.<br />
The redesignations did not require changes in tail<br />
codes or home bases.
CHAPTER 3 99<br />
1 Aug 1953: The squadron returned from its Korean<br />
deployment to a new home base at NAS Whidbey<br />
Isl<strong>and</strong>. Immediately upon return, the squadron began<br />
conversion to the Lockheed P2V-6 Neptune. <strong>VP</strong>-17 was<br />
the last West Coast patrol squadron to fly the P4Y-2.<br />
Apr 1956: <strong>VP</strong>-17 deployed to Naha, Okinawa.<br />
During this deployment the squadron was redesignated<br />
<strong>VP</strong>(HM)-10 on 1 July 1956, one of only two<br />
such squadrons in the <strong>Navy</strong>. <strong>VP</strong>(HM)-10 was the only<br />
Heavy Attack Mining squadron on the West Coast.<br />
Shortly after its return from Okinawa, the aircrews<br />
began transition training to the P2V-6M, which was<br />
configured for firing the Petrel air-to-surface turbojet<br />
missile.<br />
Apr 1957: The squadron’s P2V-6M aircraft were<br />
transferred to the reserves <strong>and</strong> replaced with P2V-5Fs.<br />
Transition training commenced immediately in preparation<br />
for the pending WestPac deployment.<br />
19 Aug 1960: The squadron deployed to NAS<br />
Kodiak, assisting the <strong>Navy</strong> Hydrographic Office in<br />
compiling information on the Arctic Ocean <strong>and</strong> conducting<br />
ASW training in an adverse weather operational<br />
environment.<br />
20 Oct 1961: <strong>VP</strong>-17 deployed to NAS Kodiak,<br />
Alaska, with a detachment at Adak. During this period<br />
the squadron participated in tests of the Regulus missile<br />
with Grayback (SS 208).<br />
9 Jan–May 1963: <strong>VP</strong>-17 returned to NAS Kodiak,<br />
Alaska, for joint exercises with Sea Frontier forces <strong>and</strong><br />
the Canadian Maritime Air Comm<strong>and</strong>. On 10 January<br />
1963, the squadron incurred it first aircraft accident in<br />
over eight years. A squadron SP-2H crashed into a<br />
mountainside while attempting a wave-off at Kodiak.<br />
Five of the crew survived but seven lives were lost. In<br />
May 1963, the squadron was called upon to assist in<br />
breaking up an ice jam in the Yukon <strong>and</strong> Kuskokwim<br />
Rivers which was causing a great deal of flooding.<br />
Several planes were sent to bomb the jam with 500-<br />
pound bombs.<br />
27 Apr–Aug 1964: <strong>VP</strong>-17 relieved <strong>VP</strong>-6 at NAF<br />
Naha, Okinawa. In August the squadron provided<br />
ASW coverage for the task groups moving into the<br />
South China Sea after the Gulf of Tonkin Crisis.<br />
Dec 1964: The squadron began rotations of threeaircraft<br />
detachments to Kodiak, Alaska. In that same<br />
month, Detachment 2 assisted the Army Corps of<br />
Engineers in breaking up ice jams on the Klatina <strong>and</strong><br />
Copper rivers during subzero weather conditions.<br />
Mar 1965: <strong>VP</strong>-17 received a new look. A white<br />
lightning bolt on a blue background was painted on<br />
top of the vertical fin <strong>and</strong> propeller spinner domes on<br />
all squadron aircraft.<br />
9 Jul 1965: The squadron deployed to MCAS<br />
Iwakuni, Japan, maintaining a detachment at NAF Tan<br />
Son Nhut. The deployment marked the first deployment<br />
of the squadron to a combat zone since the<br />
Korean Conflict.<br />
A squadron SP-2H in flight, 1966.<br />
15 Sep–Dec 1966: <strong>VP</strong>-17 deployed to MCAS<br />
Iwakuni, Japan, for two <strong>and</strong> one-half months’ of duty<br />
in support of operations interdicting gun runners off<br />
South Vietnam coastal waters. On 5 December 1966,<br />
the squadron relocated from Iwakuni to Sangley Point,<br />
R.P., with a detachment at Tan Son Nhut airfield, South<br />
Vietnam, for support of Market Time missions with the<br />
Seventh Fleet. <strong>VP</strong>-17 was relieved at Sangley Point,<br />
R.P., by <strong>VP</strong>-42.<br />
9 Nov 1967–Mar 1968: <strong>VP</strong>-17 deployed to NS<br />
Sangley Point, R.P., with a detachment in Cam Ranh<br />
Bay, South Vietnam. Following the seizure of the intelligence<br />
ship Pueblo (AGER 2) by the North Koreans,<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-17 participated in a mission from 14 January to 11<br />
February 1968 to provide an ASW patrol net for elements<br />
of the Seventh Fleet in the Sea of Japan. On 4<br />
March 1968, a Vietcong unit mortared the detachment<br />
at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base. One squadron aircraft was<br />
heavily damaged, but no <strong>VP</strong>-17 personnel were injured.<br />
The squadron was relieved at the end of its tour<br />
by <strong>VP</strong>-50.<br />
19 Jul 1969: <strong>VP</strong>-17 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni,<br />
Japan, relieving <strong>VP</strong>-1. During the deployment<br />
squadron detachments flew from bases at NAS Atsugi,<br />
Japan; Misawa AFB, Japan; NAS Agana, Guam; NS<br />
Sangley Point, R.P.; NAF Cam Ranh Bay, RVN; <strong>and</strong> U-<br />
Tapao AFB, Thail<strong>and</strong>. The squadron was relieved by<br />
<strong>VP</strong>-1.<br />
3 Aug 1970: A squadron P-3A, ZE-06, BuNo.<br />
152159, exploded in flight after takeoff from Nellis<br />
AFB, Calif. The plane crashed near Searchlight,<br />
Nev., with 10 crew members aboard. There were<br />
no survivors. The cause of the accident was never<br />
determined.<br />
24 Oct 1970: <strong>VP</strong>-17 deployed to NS Sangley Point,<br />
R.P., under the operational control of FAW-10 <strong>and</strong> TU<br />
72.3.2. Detachments were maintained at U-Tapao,
100 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
A squadron P-3B flying over Brewton (DE 1086) during an antisubmarine exercise, 1974.<br />
Thail<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Taipei, Taiwan. Ninety-three Market<br />
Time patrols were flown along the coast of South<br />
Vietnam. The squadron was relieved by <strong>VP</strong>-48.<br />
13 Jan–Apr 1972: The squadron deployed to NAF<br />
Naha, Okinawa, with a detachment maintained at NAS<br />
Cubi Point, R.P., from 9 April through 23 April.<br />
Numerous Market Time patrols were flown during the<br />
deployment.<br />
19 Apr–2 Oct 1973: The squadron deployed to<br />
NAS Cubi Point, R.P. On 2 October 1973, <strong>VP</strong>-17 flew<br />
the final Market Time combat support patrol, which<br />
marked the end of over 10 years of daily surveillance<br />
flights by patrol squadrons in the South China Sea during<br />
the Vietnam conflict.<br />
10 Dec 1974: <strong>VP</strong>-17 became the last patrol<br />
squadron to deploy to Naha Air Base, Okinawa.<br />
29 Apr 1975: <strong>VP</strong>-17 provided operational support<br />
in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of<br />
Americans from Saigon, South Vietnam.<br />
May 1975: The squadron became the first patrol<br />
squadron to operate from the newly constructed facilities<br />
at Kadena Air Base, Koza, Okinawa. Their relocation<br />
to the new base took less than two weeks without disruption<br />
to the squadron’s operational mission. During<br />
the deployment the squadron conducted operations<br />
throughout the western Pacific, the South China Sea <strong>and</strong><br />
the Indian Ocean. These operations included surveillance<br />
patrols for Vietnam refugees <strong>and</strong> support in the recapture<br />
of the hijacked merchant ship SS Mayaguez. On<br />
12 May 1975, elements of the Khmer Rouge seized the<br />
cargo ship Mayaguez in international waters. One <strong>VP</strong>-17<br />
aircraft suffered slight damage from enemy fire during<br />
the successful action to rescue the crew.<br />
12 Jul 1976: A <strong>VP</strong>-17 P-3 aircraft visiting Nairobi<br />
demonstrated U.S. friendly ties <strong>and</strong> support for Kenya<br />
during her crisis with Ug<strong>and</strong>a. Ranger (CV 61) <strong>and</strong> her<br />
escort ships of Task Force 77.7 operated off the coast<br />
of Kenya to deter military operations by Ug<strong>and</strong>a<br />
against Kenya.<br />
Mar 1977: Three aircraft <strong>and</strong> four aircrews deployed<br />
to NAF Midway Isl<strong>and</strong> to participate in Pony<br />
Express operations in conjunction with the U.S. Air<br />
Force, an intelligence gathering operation on Soviet<br />
missile launches.<br />
May 1990: During deployment to Adak, Alaska, the<br />
White Lightnings sent a detachment on a SAR mission<br />
to locate a str<strong>and</strong>ed Norwegian expedition at the<br />
North Pole. After locating the group, food <strong>and</strong> medical<br />
supplies were dropped.<br />
Aug 1990: <strong>VP</strong>-17 deployed detachments to Panama<br />
to take part in drug interdiction operations called<br />
Operations 90-43 <strong>and</strong> 90-46.<br />
10 May 1991: <strong>VP</strong>-17 deployed to NAF Diego<br />
Garcia, B.I.O.T., with a detachment at NAF Kadena,<br />
Okinawa, <strong>and</strong> Masirah, Oman, to support UN maritime<br />
sanctions against Iraq following Operation Desert<br />
Storm.<br />
Jun–Nov 1993: The squadron began to transition<br />
from the P-3C UI Orion to the P-3C UIII. During the<br />
squadron’s September to November drug interdiction<br />
deployment to Panama, the squadron’s acoustic operators<br />
were given ample opportunity to test their new<br />
equipment on the P-3CUIII.<br />
31 Mar 1995: <strong>VP</strong>-17 was disestablished after compiling<br />
a record of 24 years <strong>and</strong> 161,000 mishap-free<br />
flight hours.
CHAPTER 3 101<br />
A squadron P-3B in flight off the coast of Hawaii, 1978.<br />
Home Port Assignments<br />
Location<br />
Date of Assignment<br />
NAS Los Alamitos, Calif. May 1946<br />
NAS Whidbey Isl<strong>and</strong>, Wash. 1 Sep 1950<br />
NAS Seattle, Wash. 3 Aug 1951<br />
NAS Whidbey Isl<strong>and</strong>, Wash. 1 Aug 1953<br />
NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii 1 Dec 1968<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
CDR Richard Gilman 1946<br />
Unknown 1948–1950<br />
LCDR Donald D. Nittinger 1950<br />
LCDR James F. Hayward 9 Jun 1952<br />
CDR Robert L. Dahllof 11 Aug 1952<br />
CDR F. W. Snyder Jul 1953<br />
CDR A. A. Allem<strong>and</strong> Jan 1955<br />
CDR E. L. Plowman Aug 1956<br />
CDR J. P. Wheatley 19 Apr 1958<br />
CDR R. Larson 24 Apr 1959<br />
CDR C. B. McKinney 29 Apr 1960<br />
CDR W. J. Pressler, Jr. 21 Apr 1961<br />
CDR D. E. McKinley Apr 1962<br />
CDR W. O. McLean 18 Feb 1963<br />
CDR Robert H. Lenson 3 Feb 1964<br />
CDR Robert J. Sadler 10 Dec 1964<br />
CDR Lel<strong>and</strong> A. Holdren 5 Aug 1965<br />
CDR Milton O. Paul 14 Dec 1966<br />
CDR Don L. Wuethrich 13 Dec 1967<br />
CDR C. R. Behnken Sep 1968<br />
CDR Robert E. May 21 Nov 1969<br />
CDR John M. Quin 4 Dec 1970<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ing Officers—Continued<br />
Date Assumed Comm<strong>and</strong><br />
CDR Harley L. Stuntz III 3 Dec 1971<br />
CDR Willaim H. Ketchum 8 Dec 1972<br />
CDR Godfrey A. Rettig 10 Jan 1974<br />
CDR Earl T. Maurer 8 Nov 1974<br />
CDR Russell K. Schulz 12 Dec 1975<br />
CDR John C. Murphy 15 Dec 1976<br />
CDR Robert S. Richmond 16 Dec 1977<br />
CDR Ronald W. Martin 3 Nov 1978<br />
CDR Gene M. Bowman 16 Nov 1979<br />
CDR Richard P. Munro 16 Nov 1980<br />
CDR Francis J. Ferry Dec 1981<br />
CDR Dunbar Lawson, Jr. 30 Nov 1982<br />
CDR Thomas T. Verhoef 10 Mar 1984<br />
CDR Richard McAdoo 14 Jun 1985<br />
CDR Robert White 23 Jun 1986<br />
CDR Daniel L. Baas 17 Jul 1987<br />
CDR Hugh N. McWilliams 15 Jul 1988<br />
CDR John E. Fink 6 Jul 1989<br />
CDR Charles A. Jedlicka 18 Jul 1990<br />
CDR Gerald K. Stair 30 Jul 1991<br />
CDR James J. O’Rourke 29 Jul 1992<br />
CDR George G. Brown 14 Jul 1993<br />
CDR Robert J. Quinn 10 Jun 1994<br />
Aircraft Assignment<br />
Type of Aircraft<br />
Date Type First Received<br />
PV-2/PBY-5A May 1946<br />
P4Y-2/2S 1949<br />
P2V-6 Aug 1953<br />
P2V-6M Sep 1956
102 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume 2<br />
Aircraft Assignment—Continued<br />
Type of Aircraft<br />
Date Type First Received<br />
P2V-5F Apr 1957<br />
P2V-7S (SP-2H) Dec 1959<br />
P2V-7 Dec 1960<br />
P-3A Dec 1968<br />
P-3A DIFAR Sep 1972<br />
P-3B TAC/NAV MOD Jun 1978<br />
P-3C (MOD) Jan 1986<br />
P-3C UI Nov 1990<br />
P-3C UIIR Jun 1993<br />
A <strong>VP</strong>-17 P-3A at NAS Moffett Field in November 1975 (Courtesy Rick<br />
R. Burgress Collection via Michael Grove).<br />
Major Overseas Deployments<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
Oct 1950 Oct 1950 FAW-4 Saigon P4Y-2S WestPac<br />
1 Jan 1951 * 3 Aug 1951 FAW-6 Atsugi P4Y-2S WestPac<br />
12 Jun 1951 * 3 Aug 1951 FAW-6 Pusan P4Y-2S WestPac<br />
1 Jan 1953 10 Feb 1953 FAW-2 Barbers Pt. P4Y-2S WestPac<br />
Feb 1953 1 Aug 1953 FAW-6 Iwakuni P4Y-2S WestPac<br />
Sep 1954 May 1955 FAW-6 Iwakuni P2V-6 WestPac<br />
Apr 1956 Sep 1956 FAW-1 Naha P2V-6 WestPac<br />
1 Sep 1957 11 Mar 1958 FAW-6 Iwakuni P2V-5F WestPac<br />
18 May 1959 20 Nov 1959 FAW-4 Kodiak P2V-5F NorPac<br />
19 Aug 1960 16 Dec 1960 FAW-4 Kodiak P2V-5F NorPac<br />
20 Oct 1961 16 Mar 1962 FAW-4 Kodiak P2V-5F NorPac<br />
9 Jan 1963 15 Jun 1963 FAW-4 Kodiak SP-2H NorPac<br />
27 Apr 1964 1 Oct 1964 FAW-1 Naha SP-2H WestPac<br />
9 Jul 1965 * 1 Feb 1966 FAW-6 Iwakuni SP-2H WestPac<br />
9 Jul 1965 * 1 Feb 1966 FAW-8 Tan Son Nhut SP-2H WestPac<br />
15 Sep 1966 5 Dec 1966 FAW-6 Iwakuni SP-2H WestPac<br />
5 Dec 1966 * 1 Apr 1967 FAW-8 Sangley Pt. SP-2H WestPac<br />
5 Dec 1966 * 1 Apr 1967 FAW-8 Tan Son Nhut SP-2H WestPac<br />
9 Nov 1967 * 29 Apr 1968 FAW-8 Sangley Pt. SP-2H WestPac *<br />
9 Nov 1967 * 29 Apr 1968 FAW-8 Cam Rahn B. SP-2H WestPac<br />
19 Jul 1969 20 Jan 1970 FAW-6 Iwakuni P-3A WestPac<br />
24 Oct 1970 * 29 Apr 1971 FAW-8 Sangley Pt. P-3A WestPac<br />
29 Oct 1970 * 29 Apr 1971 FAW-8 U-Tapao P-3A WestPac<br />
24 Oct 1970 * 29 Apr 1971 FAW-8 Taipei P-3A WestPac<br />
13 Jan 1972 1 Aug 1972 FAW-1 Naha P-3A WestPac<br />
19 Apr 1973 1 Nov 1973 PatWing-1 Cubi Point P-3 DIFAR WestPac<br />
10 Dec 1974 10 Jun 1975 PatWing-1 Naha P-3 DIFAR WestPac<br />
2 May 1976 10 Nov 1976 PatWing-1 Cubi Point P-3 DIFAR WestPac<br />
Mar 1977 * Dec 1977 PatWing-1 Midway P-3 DIFAR WestPac<br />
Jul 1977 * Dec 1977 PatWing-1 Agana P-3 DIFAR WestPac<br />
15 Nov 1978 30 May 1979 PatWing-1 Cubi Point P-3B MOD WestPac<br />
9 Jan 1980 * 10 Jun 1980 PatWing-1 Agana P-3B MOD WestPac<br />
8 May 1980 * 10 Jul 1980 PatWing-2 Barbers Pt. P-3B MOD NorPac<br />
10 May 1981 10 Nov 1981 PatWing-1 Cubi Point P-3B MOD WestPac<br />
5 Aug 1982 1 Feb 1983 PatWing-1 Agana P-3B MOD WestPac<br />
1 Feb 1983 22 Apr 1983 PatWing-10 Adak P-3B MOD NorPac<br />
1 Nov 1983 May 1984 PatWing-1 Cubi Point P-3B MOD WestPac<br />
10 May 1985 10 Nov 1985 PatWing-1 Cubi Point P-3B MOD WestPac<br />
4 Dec 1986 10 Jun 1987 PatWing-10 Adak P-3C (MOD) NorPac
CHAPTER 3 103<br />
Major Overseas Deployments—Continued<br />
Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of<br />
Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations<br />
10 May 1988 10 Nov 1988 PatWing-1 Cubi Point P-3C (MOD) WestPac<br />
10 Dec 1989 10 Jun 1990 PatWing-10 Adak P-3C (MOD) NorPac<br />
Aug 1990 Aug 1990 PatWing-2 Panama P-3C (MOD) Carib<br />
10 May 1991 10 Nov 1991 PatWing-1 Diego Garcia P-3C UI IO<br />
1 Nov 1992 15 May 1993 PatWing-1 Misawa P-3C UI WestPac<br />
Sep 1993 Nov 1993 PatWing-2 Panama P-3C UIIIR Carib<br />
5 May 1994 10 Nov 1994 PatWing-1 Diego Garcia P-3C UIIIR IO<br />
*<br />
The squadron conducted split deployment to two sites during the same dates.<br />
Wing Assignments<br />
Wing Tail Code Assignment Date<br />
FAW-4 BH † /ZE ‡ May 1946<br />
FAW-2/PatWing-2 § ZE 1 Dec 1968<br />
COMPATWINGSPAC ZE Jun 1993<br />
†<br />
The squadron was assigned the tail code BH when it was called to<br />
active duty on 1 September 1950.<br />
‡<br />
The squadron’s tail code was changed from BH to ZE in 1957. The<br />
effective date for this change was most likely the beginning of FY<br />
1958 (1 July 1957).<br />
§<br />
FAW-2 was redesignated Patrol Wing 2 (PatWing-2) 30 June 1973.<br />
Unit Awards Received<br />
Unit Award<br />
Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award<br />
NUC 1 Jan 1967 31 Mar 1968<br />
MUC 1 Nov 1970 20 Apr 1971<br />
17 Nov 1970 22 Nov 1970<br />
2 Mar 1972 15 Dec 1972<br />
8 Dec 1981 8 Jan 1982<br />
(Det) Spring 1970<br />
(Element) 22 Apr 1975 7 May 1975<br />
Unit Awards Received—Continued<br />
Unit Award<br />
Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award<br />
12 May 1975 16 May 1975<br />
RVNGC 8 Mar 1965 25 May 1967<br />
1 Aug 1969 30 Sep 1969<br />
2 Nov 1969 31 Jan 1970<br />
3 Sep 1970 21 Nov 1970<br />
VNSM 28 Sep 1966 1 Mar 1967<br />
9 Nov 1967 29 Apr 1968<br />
(Det) 13 Jul 1965 3 Oct 1965<br />
NEM 8 Dec 1978 6 Jun 1979<br />
21 Nov 1979 10 Jun 1980<br />
10 May 1981 20 Oct 1981<br />
AFEM 4 Aug 1964 1 Oct 1964<br />
1 Oct 1966 6 Dec 1966<br />
1 Jan 1968 28 Feb 1968<br />
(Element) 29 Apr 1975 30 Apr 1975<br />
NAVE 1 Jul 1974 1 Apr 1976<br />
KSM 1 Feb 1951 3 Aug 1951<br />
HSM (Crew 17) 6 Aug 1981<br />
(Element) 29 Apr 1975 30 Apr 1975<br />
A squadron P-3 in flight.