VP-66

Patrol Squadron 66
Patrol Squadron 66
	VP-66 patch
Active	1 November 1970-4 March 2006
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy Reserve
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Nickname(s)	Flying Sixes; Dicemen; Liberty Bells
Aircraft flown
Patrol	SP-2H Neptune ; P-3A/B/C Orion ; EP-3J Orion

Last updated February 20, 2023

VP-66 was a patrol squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. The squadron was established on 1 November 1970 at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, where it was based for the rest of its life. It was disestablished on 31 March 2006, after 25 years of service. The squadron's nicknames were the Flying Sixes from 1971 to 1974, the Dicemen from 1975 to 1980, and the Liberty Bells from 1981 onward. Elements of the squadron made 19 major overseas deployments.^[1]^[2]

Operational history

1 November 1970: VP-66 was established at NAS Willow Grove, as a naval reserve patrol squadron flying the SP-2H Neptune. The squadron was formed from VP-62R1-R3, VP-18R4, VP-44R5 and VP-16R6 after the closure of the facility at NARTC New York, N.Y. The new squadron came under the operational and administrative control of Commander, Naval Air Reserve Forces, Atlantic and Commander, Fleet Air Reserve Wings, Atlantic. VP-66 was established as a result of a major reorganization of Naval Air Reserve that took place in 1970. Twelve reserve squadrons were formed and structured along the lines of regular Navy squadrons with nearly identical organization and manning levels. The reorganization concept was known as 12/2/1. The 12 VP squadrons were under two commands, COMFAIRESWINGLANT and COMFAIRESWINGPAC, and they were under the control of one central authority, Commander Naval Air Reserve.
January 1971: VP-66 split into two sections, port and starboard, to facilitate crew training and aircraft maintenance with drills twice a month.
January–May 1978: A new facility, Hangar 175, was completed at NAS Willow Grove for VP-66. The squadron completed final movement into the new hangar with official acceptance ceremonies on 21 May 1978.
June 1980: VP-66 was called upon to provide support to the fleet during the Mariel Boatlift operations. Personnel deployed in the operation were given the Humanitarian Service Medal.
23 January–22 February 1982: VP-66 conducted its annual active duty training at NAS Bermuda. Upon return, the squadron began transition to the P-3A TAC/NAV MOD airframe. The TAC/NAV MOD version in 1975 replaced the ASN-42 inertial navigation system and tactical display systems with an LTN-72 inertial and Omega navigation system and digital computer. The IRDS/HACLS modifications added infrared detection and Harpoon launch capability to the aircraft.
May 1983: VP-66 received a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for its performance in tracking Soviet submarines during the 1982 active duty training at NAS Bermuda.
1–30 March 1984: VP-66 became the first reserve P-3A TAC/NAV MOD squadron to deploy in the Atlantic, operating from Lajes Field, Azores, with detachments at NAS Bermuda and NAS Keflavik, Iceland.
9–17 November 1985: A detachment from VP-66 participated in Operation Hat Trick II, operating out of Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. It was a coordinated operation with the U.S. Coast Guard in the war against illegal drug traffic, involving general area surveillance and location of suspect vessels.
February–March 1987: VP-66 deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, the first Reserve squadron to deploy to this site in over six years. Detachments were maintained during the active duty training at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, and NAF Lajes, Azores.
20 April 1990: VP-66 began transition from the P-3A TAC/NAV MOD airframe to the P-3B TAC/NAV MOD. The P-3B had more powerful engines and improved avionics.
20 February–6 April 1991: VP-66 deployed to NAS Bermuda, with remote site operations conducted at Goose Bay, Newfoundland, and Thule, Greenland, as part of Operation Icex-92. One highly unusual aspect of the deployment was the coordinated rescue effort of a French seaman by a VP-66 aircrew and the crew of a Commonwealth of Independent States Kilo-class submarine. The French sailboat Vibel had an injured crewman aboard. The VP-66 aircraft guided the former Soviet vessel to the French sailboat where medical treatment was given to the injured crewman.
1993: With the disestablishment of VAQ-33, VP-66 inherited two EP-3J aircraft, a formidable electronic warfare platform. The addition of these aircraft to the squadron resulted in a concomitant increase in manning levels to support the new mission being acquired.
1993: VP-66 deployed to NS Rota, with a detachment at NAF Sigonella. The Sigonella detachment was heavily involved in support of the UN peacekeeping forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
1994: VP-66 deployed to NS Roosevelt Roads, to provide support of UN forces during the embargo of Haiti.^[1]

Aircraft assignment

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

SP-2H Neptune – November 1970
P-3A Orion – March 1973
P-3A TAC/NAV MOD Orion – March 1982
P-3B TAC/NAV MOD Orion – April 1980
EP-3J Orion – 1993
P-3C Orion – 31 May 1994

Related Research Articles

Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) is a United States Navy Patrol Squadron based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It is nicknamed the "Red Lancers" and is equipped with the Boeing P-8A Poseidon. It is the third squadron to be designated VP-10. The first VP-10 was redesignated VP-2D15 on 21 September 1927 and the second VP-10 was redesignated VP-25 on 1 July 1939.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-94</span> Military unit

VP-94Crawfishers was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. Originally established on 1 November 1970 at NAS Belle Chase, Louisiana, it was disestablished in September 2006. It was the second squadron to be designated VP-94, the first VP-94 was redesignated VPB-94 on 1 October 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-23</span> Military unit

VP-23, Patrol Squadron 23, known as the Seahawks, was a U.S. Navy fixed-wing, anti-submarine and maritime Patrol Squadron based at Brunswick Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine, United States. It was established as Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Three (VPW-3) on 17 May 1946, redesignated as Meteorology Squadron Three (VPM-3) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) Three (VP-HL-3) on 8 December 1947, and to Patrol Squadron Twenty Three (VP-23) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 28 February 1995. It was the second squadron to be designated VP-23, the first VP-23 was redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 23 (VPB-23) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 25 January 1946.

The VP-26 Tridents are a United States Navy aircraft squadron based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida. The squadron flies Boeing P-8A patrol aircraft. It was established as Bombing Squadron 114 (VB-114) on 26 August 1943 and renamed Patrol Bombing Squadron 114 (VPB-114) on 1 October 1944; Patrol Squadron 114 (VP-114) on 15 May 1946; Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 6 (VP-HL-6) on 15 November 1946, and Patrol Squadron 26 (VP-26) on 1 September 1948. The Tridents are the third squadron to be designated VP-26; the first VP-26 was renamed VP-102 on 16 December 1940, and the second VP-26 was renamed VP-14 on 1 July 1941.

Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) is a U.S. Navy land-based patrol squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida (USA). VP-8 is tasked to undertake maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The Squadron is equipped with the Boeing P-8A Poseidon.

Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11), nicknamed Proud Pegasus, was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island on 15 May 1952 and was disestablished on 2 August 1997. It was the fourth squadron to be designated VP-11, the first VP-11 was redesignated VP-54 on 1 October 1937, the second VP-11 was redesignated VP-21 on 1 February 1941 and the third VP-11 was redesignated VPB-11 on 1 October 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-17</span> Military unit

VP-17, nicknamed the White Lightnings, was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-93</span> Military unit

VP-93, nicknamed the Executioners, was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. It was the second squadron to be assigned the VP-93 designation. The squadron was established on 1 July 1976 and disestablished 18 years later, on 30 September 1994. It flew the Lockheed P-3 Orion, and was based at NAF Detroit during its entire life. Units of the squadron made 17 major overseas deployments.

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 64 (VR-64), nicknamed the Condors, is a logistics squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve, based at Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 64 (VP-64) on 1 November 1970 and redesignated on 18 September 2004, after 34 years of service. It was based at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania until it got transferred to Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst in 2011. Units of the squadron made 26 major overseas deployments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-65</span> Military unit

VP-65, nicknamed the Tridents, was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. The squadron was established on 16 November 1970 at NAS Los Alamitos, California, and moved on 6 January 1971 to NAS Point Mugu. It was disestablished on 4 March 2006, after 35 years of service. Elements of the squadron made 22 major overseas deployments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-67</span> Military unit

VP-67 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. The squadron was established on 1 November 1970 at NAS Memphis, Tennessee, where it was based for its entire life. It was disestablished on 30 September 1994, after 24 years of service. The squadron's nickname was the Golden Hawks, also unofficially called the Thunder Chickens. Elements of the squadron made 23 major overseas deployments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-68</span> Military unit

VP-68 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. The squadron was established on 1 November 1970 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Its home port moved to Naval Air Facility Washington in 1985. The squadron was disestablished on 16 January 1997, after 26 years of service. Its nickname was the Blackhawks from 1972 onward. Elements of the squadron made 28 major overseas deployments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-44 (1951–1991)</span> Military unit

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. 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.

VP-6 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed the Blue Sharks. Originally established as Bombing Squadron VB-146 on 15 July 1943, it was redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-146 on 1 October 1944, redesignated VP-146 on 15 May 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Landplane) VP-ML-6 on 15 November 1946, redesignated VP-6 on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 31 May 1993. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-6, the first VP-6 was disestablished on 3 May 1926 and the second VP-6 was disestablished on 20 June 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-60</span> Military unit

VP-60 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve, based at NAS Glenview, Illinois. Its nickname was the Cobras. The squadron was established on 1 November 1970, and disestablished on 1 September 1994.

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

VP-56, nicknamed the Dragons, was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was originally established as Patrol Squadron VP-900 on 1 July 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Landplane) VP-ML-71 on 15 November 1946, redesignated VP-661 in February 1950, redesignated VP-56 on 4 February 1953 and disestablished on 28 June 1991. It was the second squadron to be designated VP-56, the first VP-56 was redesignated OTS on 1 July 1941.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-16</span> Military unit

VP-16, nicknamed the War Eagles, is an active Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It has been based at NAS Jacksonville, Florida since its founding in 1946. The squadron's mission is to operate Maritime patrol aircraft to the fleet in support of national interests. Originally established as Reserve Patrol Squadron 906 (VP-906) in May 1946, it was redesignated Medium Seaplane Squadron 56 (VP-ML-56) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 741 (VP-741) in February 1950 and redesignated Patrol Squadron 16 (VP-16) on 4 February 1953. It is the third squadron to be designated VP-16; the first VP-16 was redesignated VP-41 on 1 July 1939 and the second VP-16 was redesignated VPB-16 on 1 October 1944.

<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">VP-62 (1970–present)</span> Military unit

Patrol Squadron SIXTY TWO (VP-62) is a combat aviation squadron of the United States Navy Reserve. Since 31 July 2015, the squadron has been assigned to Commander, Maritime Support Wing, an Echelon IV organization under the Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. Nicknamed the Broadarrows, the squadron flies the P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft from its home station of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, deploying worldwide. The squadron's aircraft can be identified by the stylized letters "LT" on the vertical stabilizer, the letter "L" being common to all U.S. Atlantic Fleet patrol aircraft, either Regular Navy or Navy Reserve, and the letter "T" being unique to VP-62. The stylized "LT" is also incorporated in the squadron's insignia as worn as a cloth patch on flight suits and flight jackets.

VP-69 is a Patrol Squadron of the United States Navy Reserve. The squadron was established on 1 November 1970.

References

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

1 2 3 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 3, Section 11: Patrol Squadron Histories for 2nd VP-62 to VP-90 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 332–334. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
↑ "Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion Squadrons". P3 Orion Research Group. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.

External links

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[DANAS2-3-11-1] 1 2 3 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 3, Section 11: Patrol Squadron Histories for 2nd VP-62 to VP-90 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 332–334. Retrieved 25 February 2014.

[P3ResearchGroup-2] "Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion Squadrons". P3 Orion Research Group. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.

[1]

[2]