VP-11

Patrol Squadron 11
Patrol Squadron 11
	Squadron patch
Active	15 May 1952 - 2 August 1997
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Part of	United States Navy/Naval Air Forces/Patrol Wing
Garrison/HQ	Brunswick Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine
Nickname(s)	Proud Pegasus
Aircraft flown
Patrol	P4Y-2 Privateer ; P2V-5/7 SP-2H Neptune ; P-3B/C Orion

Last updated September 17, 2023

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.^[1] 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.

Operational history

15 May 1952: VP-11 was established at NAS Quonset Point, with a complement of 12 P4Y-2 Privateer patrol aircraft.
January–June 1953: VP-11 conducted its first deployment to Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland. Upon return, the squadron was assigned new P2V-5 Neptunes as replacements for the WWII vintage Privateers.
November 1960–March 1961: VP-11 participated in underwater sound tests (Project Breezeway) with the Office of Naval Research from November to December 1960. The squadron was again called upon to assist in tests of new sonobuoy equipment during January to March 1961.
8 February 1962: A detachment of VP-11 at NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, began ice reconnaissance flights over the Gulf of St. Lawrence to aid in evaluating satellite readings of the ice formations transmitted by TIROS 4 which was put into orbit the same day.
24 October–14 November 1962: VP-11 deployed to NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, on 12 hours’ notice during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Surveillance flights totaling 1,065 flying hours were conducted through 14 November 1962.
6 May–19 August 1965: VP-11 conducted around-the-clock surveillance operations with nine aircraft operating out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the Dominican Civil War. Operations ceased on 3 June 1965 and all but four aircraft returned to NAS Brunswick. The remaining four aircraft and crews continued surveillance in the Caribbean until 19 August 1965.
12 October 1967: VP-11 deployed to Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland. The squadron was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation for its Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) activities during that period of operations. It was the first time the award had been given to a patrol squadron not in a combat zone.
14–26 September 1969: Elements of VP-11 participated in a NATO exercise Operation Squeezeplay, conducted from St. Mawgan, England.
23 July 1972: VP-11 received emergency deployment orders to WestPac. The squadron departed NAS Brunswick for NAS Cubi Point, Philippines, arriving 26 July. A small detachment was maintained at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand. Upon arrival in the Philippines the squadron’s deployment was greatly impeded by record rainfall of 74.4 inches. Despite the difficulties, the squadron was able to conduct assigned sector patrols of the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin. For its humanitarian efforts during disaster relief operations in the Philippines, the squadron was awarded a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
25 October 1973: The last P-3B DIFAR upgrade on the squadron’s aircraft was completed on this date. VP-11 was the last East Coast P-3 squadron to be fitted with DIFAR, which replaced the 10-year-old JULIE system for detection and tracking of submarines.
14 Apr 1975: VP-11 conducted a split deployment to Naval Base Rota, Spain, and Lajes Field, Azores. During the deployment the squadron hosted officers from Canada, Iran and Norway to familiarize them with the P-3 and it operational capabilities.
15 October 1977: VP-11 deployed to Rota, Spain, and Lajes, Azores. On 11 December 1977, one of the squadron’ P-3Bs, BuNo. 153428, crashed into a mountain on Hierro Island, Canary Islands killing all 13 crewmembers.
26 July 1978: Squadron detachments participated in UNITAS operations and visited seven South American countries during the exercises.
23 January 1979: VP-11 conducted a split deployment to Rota, Spain, and Lajes, Azores. During the deployment the opportunity was taken to run exercise simulations against the Soviet Kiev and Minsk battle groups present in the Mediterranean Sea.
2 February 1981: Phase I in the transition from the P-3B DIFAR to the P-3C UII began with the training of the first increment of four VP-11 crews at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. VP-30 conducted the transition training for VP-11.
12 November 1981: VP-11 sent five crews to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station to participate in READEX 1-82. During the exercise the squadron had its first opportunity to fire a live Harpoon missile, successfully hitting the target.
13 December 1985 – 24 May 1986: VP-11 deployed to NS Keflavik, Iceland, returning to NAS Brunswick on 24 May 1986. During the deployment the squadron collected environmental data on the Marginal Ice Zone and tested the efficiency of ice-penetrating sonobuoys.
9 June 1987: The squadron conducted a split deployment to Rota, Spain, and Lajes, Azores. During operations in the Mediterranean Sea the squadron had numerous practice attack simulations against Iowa battle group and the Soviet Kiev battle group—the former willingly, the latter unknowingly.
10 November 1988: VP-11 deployed to NAS Keflavik. The first two months of the deployment were during the worst weather conditions on record for over a decade. By the end of the deployment 744 sorties had been flown, with 17 frontline Soviet submarines contacted.
June 1989: A detachment of eight aircraft deployed to NAS Key West, Florida, to assist in anti-drug operations with Joint Task Force Four. The detachment flew over300 hours in support of task force operations, resulting in severe disruption of the drug smuggling routes into the U.S.
10 June 1990: VP-11 deployed to Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily. During the deployment the squadron flew numerous missions in support of Operation Desert Shield, which began on 2 August 1990. Two detachments were maintained for Operation Desert Shield support, one at Souda Bay, Crete, the other at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
4 January 1992: VP-11 conducted a split deployment to NS Roosevelt Roads and NAF Rota. The detachment at Roosevelt Roads flew many missions in support of national drug control strategy. As the lead squadron, the detachment was responsible for the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs into the U.S. The detachment’s participation in the operation resulted in the seizure of 10,000 kilos of cocaine and 20 tons of marijuana.
1993: VP-11 conducted another split deployment with detachments at Sigonella, Sicily, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The squadron flew over 250-armed sorties in the Adriatic Sea in support of UN resolutions against the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The squadron was the first to carry the new AGM-65 Maverick missile on patrol aircraft.
17 June 1994: VP-11 deployed to NS Roosevelt Roads. During the deployment the squadron flew numerous missions in support of the United States Coast Guard and United States Customs Service. Operations resulted in 29 interdictions, 13 vessels seized and 77 narcotics traffickers arrested. A total of 12,000 kilos of cocaine and 45,000 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of over $1 billion was destroyed.
12 January 1996--1 June 1996. VP-11 deployed to Sigonella, Sicily. For this deployment the squadron was awarded the Navy's Meritorious Unit Commendation for over 4,500 hours of air support to Joint and US commanders throughout the Mediterranean Region and Africa. In specific, the MUC cites aircrews and maintenance for achievements in armed undersea warfare, combat tactical reconnaissance support overland the former Yugoslavia (Operations: Joint Endeavor, Sharp Guard, and Decisive Enhancement) and direct overhead support to special operations units while conducting the evacuation of the US embassy and American citizens in Liberia (Operation: Assured Response).
15 January–2 August 1997: VP-11 was disestablished. The disestablishment ceremony was held at NAS Brunswick, Maine, on 2 August 1997.^[1]

Home port assignments

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

NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island - 15 May 1952
NAS Brunswick, Maine - 1954

Aircraft assignment

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

P4Y-2 Privateer – May 1952
P2V-5 Neptune – June 1953
P2V-7 Neptune – 1956
SP-2H Neptune – December 1962
P-3B Orion – January 1967
P-3B DIFAR Orion – October 1973
P-3C UII Orion – 1981
P-3C UII.5 Orion – 1993

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.

<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.

Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) is a U.S. Navy land-based patrol squadron based at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington, which is tasked to undertake maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions flying the Boeing P-8 Poseidon.

Patrol Squadron 9 (VP-9) is a U.S. Navy patrol squadron with its homeport located at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. As of 2018, VP-9 is part of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Ten, Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific.

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 64 (VR-64), nicknamed the Condors, is a logistics squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve, based at the Fort Dix entity of 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 was transferred to the Fort Dix element of Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst in 2011. Units of the squadron made 26 major overseas deployments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-66</span> Patrol squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve

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.

<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.

Patrol Squadron FIVE (VP-5) is a long-lived maritime patrol squadron of the United States Navy. It is the second squadron to bear the VP-5 designation. VP-5 is the second oldest patrol squadron, the fourth oldest in the United States Navy, and the 33rd oldest squadron in the United States military. As of 2019, VP-5 is still active and is based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.

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-22 (1943–1994)</span> Military unit

VP-22 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed the Dragons from 1944 to 1950, and the Blue Geese from 1951 to 1994. It was established as Bombing Squadron VB-102 on 15 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-102 on 1 October 1944, redesignated VP-102 on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) VP-HL-2 on 15 November 1946, redesignated VP-22 on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 31 March 1994. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-22, the first VP-22 was disestablished, merged with VP-101 on 18 April 1942 and the second VP-22 was redesignated VPB-22 on 1 October 1944.

<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. The squadron's radio callsign is "Talon," and their tailcode is "LF." 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.

Uninhabited Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19) is an unmanned patrol squadron of the United States Navy, nicknamed the "Big Red" and established on 1 October 2013.

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-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.

References

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

1 2 3 4 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 3, Section 3: Patrol Squadron Histories for 2nd VP-9 to Third VP-17. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 86–90. Retrieved 1 June 2016.

External links

Unofficial squadron website

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.

[DANAS2-3-1] 1 2 3 4 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 3, Section 3: Patrol Squadron Histories for 2nd VP-9 to Third VP-17. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 86–90. Retrieved 1 June 2016.

[1]