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

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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2003. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  2. "Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion Squadrons". P3 Orion Research Group. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.