VP-66

Last updated
Patrol Squadron 66
VP-66.jpg
VP-66 patch
Active1 November 1970-4 March 2006
CountryUnited States of America
Branch US Navy Reserve Crest 2017.svg 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

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]

Contents

Operational history

VP-66 P-3B in 1990 P-3B Orion VP-66 in flight in 1990.jpeg
VP-66 P-3B in 1990
VP-66 P-3C at RAF Fairford in July 2002 Lockheed P-3C Orion, USA - Navy AN1281225.jpg
VP-66 P-3C at RAF Fairford in July 2002

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-94</span> Military unit

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

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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-11</span> Military unit

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

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VR-64</span> Military unit

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

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<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

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<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-6</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-69</span> Military unit

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