VP-44 (1951–1991)

Last updated
Patrol Squadron 44
VP-44 Golden Pelicans.jpg
VP-44 insignia
Active29 January 1951 – 28 June 1991
CountryUnited States of America
Branch United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg United States Navy
Type squadron
Role Maritime patrol
Nickname(s)Golden Pelicans
Budmen
Engagements Korean War
Vietnam War
Aircraft flown
Patrol PBM-5 Mariner
P5M-1 Marlin
P-2 Neptune
P-3 Orion

This VP-44 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established on 29 January 1951 at NAS Norfolk, Virginia and disestablished 40 years later, on 28 June 1991, at NAS Brunswick, Maine. Units of the squadron made 40 major overseas deployments. Its nickname was the Golden Pelicans from 1961 to 1991, and it was also known as the Budmen from 1989 to 1991. The squadron had four different insignia during its lifetime, featuring a marlin, King Neptune, a cartoon pelican, and, finally, a more formal pelican design. [1] It was the fourth squadron to be designated VP-44, the first VP-44 was redesignated as VP-61 on 6 January 1941, the second VP-44 was redesignated VPB-44 on 1 October 1944 and the third VP-44 was disestablished on 20 January 1950. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Operational history

USS Greenwich Bay refuels a VP-44 Martin P5M-2 Marlin on 24 May 1955. Greenwich Bay is wearing the white paint of a Middle East Force flagship. USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41) refueling VP-44 P5M-2 1955.jpg
USS Greenwich Bay refuels a VP-44 Martin P5M-2 Marlin on 24 May 1955. Greenwich Bay is wearing the white paint of a Middle East Force flagship.
VP-44 P-3A flies over the Soviet ship Metallurg Anasov and destroyer USS Barry during the Cuban Missile Crisis P-3A VP-44 over USS Barry (DD-933) and Metallurg Anosov during Cuban Missile Crisis 1962.jpg
VP-44 P-3A flies over the Soviet ship Metallurg Anasov and destroyer USS Barry during the Cuban Missile Crisis
VP-44 P-3C flying past Mount Etna, Italy, in the 1980s. P-3C VP-44 flying past Mt Etna c1984.JPEG
VP-44 P-3C flying past Mount Etna, Italy, in the 1980s.

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown: [1]

Aircraft assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown: [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-26</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-8</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-46</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-24</span> Military unit

Patrol Squadron 24 (VP-24) was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron One Hundred Four (VB-104) on 10 April 1943, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Four (VPB-104) on 1 October 1944, redesignated as Patrol Squadron One Hundred Four (VP-104) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) Four (VP-HL-4) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron Twenty Four (VP-24) on 1 September 1948, the third squadron to be assigned the VP-24 designation, redesignated Attack Mining Squadron Thirteen (VA-HM-13) on 1 July 1956, redesignated Patrol Squadron Twenty Four (VP-24) on 1 July 1959 and disestablished 30 April 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-47</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-49</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-56</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-30</span> United States Navy aviation squadron

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-21 (1943–1969)</span> Military unit

VP-21 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Established as Bombing Squadron 111 (VB-111) on 30 July 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 111 (VPB-111) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 111 (VP-111) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 11 (VP-HL-11) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 21 November 1969. It was the fifth squadron to be designated VP-21, the first VP-21 was redesignated VP-45 on 1 July 1939, the second VP-21 was redesignated VP-1 on 30 July 1940, the third VP-21 was disestablished on 18 April 1942 and the fourth VP-21 was redesignated VPB-21 on 1 October 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-40</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-42</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VPB-125</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-40 (1951–present)</span> Military unit

VP-40 is a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established on 20 January 1951. It is the second squadron to be designated VP-40, the first VP-40 was disestablished on 25 January 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-45</span> Military unit

Patrol Squadron 45 (VP-45) is a maritime patrol squadron of the United States Navy. The squadron was established on 1 November 1942 and is based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Since 2014, VP-45 is equipped with the Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VPB-203</span> American naval unit

VPB-203 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Three (VP-203) on 1 October 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Three (VPB-203) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 30 June 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VPB-211</span> Military unit

VPB-211 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Eleven (VP-211) on 15 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Eleven (VPB-211) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 14 June 1945.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons .

  1. 1 2 3 4 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 3, Section 8: Patrol Squadron Histories for 2nd VP-30 to 3rd VP-45 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 246–252. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  2. Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 4, Section 6: Patrol Bombing Squadron Histories for VPB-121 to VPB-141 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 546–552. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  3. Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 4, Section 3: Patrol Bombing Squadron Histories for VPB-33 to VPB-54 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 462–466. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  4. Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Appendix 7: Lineage Listings for Patrol Squadrons (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. p. 772. Retrieved 27 February 2014.