Third VP-18 Lineage Established as Reserve Patrol Squadron NINE HUNDRED FOURTEEN (VP-914) in May 1946. Redesignated Medium Patron SIXTY FOUR (VP-ML-64) on 15 November 1946. Redesignated Patrol Squadron EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTY ONE (VP-861) in February 1950. Redesignated Patrol Squadron EIGHTEEN (VP-18) on 4 February 1953, the third squadron to be assigned the VP-18 designation. Disestablished on 10 October 1968. Squadron Insignia and Nickname The squadron's first insignia was approved for VP-861. It was a black and white design depicting Neptune riding a dolphin. CNO approved the squadron's second insignia on28 April 1954. The central figure of the design was a hooded horseman spearing a submarine with a lightning-likelance.Thesignificance was in keeping with the primary ASW role of the squadron. Colors:background, blue; horse and rider, black with white highlights; lance, white; submarine, black with white highlights; patch border, red. In 1961, colors of the insignia were modified to: patch border, blue; lance, gold. N i c k n a m e :Flying Phantoms, 1953-1968 . Chronology of Significant Events May 1946: VP-914 was established at NAS Norfolk, Va. The squadron came under the operational control of FAW-11 and administrative control by Naval Air Reserve Training (NART). Another of the 21 reserve squadrons established after the war to accommodate the large number of aircrews recently released from active duty and utilize the enormous stocks of aircraft in the inventory. The squadron flew the Lockheed PV- 2 Harpoon. 15 Nov 1946: All patrol squadrons were redesignated. Regular Navy patrol squadron designation numbers began with 1 and reserve patrol squadrons began with 5. VP-914 was redesignated VP-ML-64. The ML designation, medium patrol squadrons, included twin-engine medium amphibious seaplanes, as well as twin-engine land-based bombers. Regular Navy patrol squadrons with the ML designation were for twin-engine medium land-based bombers only. The amphibious medium seaplanes like the PBY-5A were in the AM, amphibian designation for regular Navy squadrons. Feb 1950: VP-ML-64 was redesignated VP-861 during the reorganization of Naval Aviation reserve units in 1949, but the change did not take effect until February1950. During this period the number of Naval Aviation reserve squadrons was reduced from the 1949 total of 24 to nine. 1 Sep 1950: VP-861 was among the first of the reserve patrol squadrons called to active duty by the president for service during the Korean War. The squadron had by this date converted to the Lockheed P2V-2 and P2V-3 Neptunes. None of the recalled reserve squadrons of the Atlantic Fleet Command served in Korea. Jan - Jun 1953: The squadron deployed to Luqa Airfield, Malta. In June, the squadron flew two P2V-3s on a 12,000-mile familiarization flight to acquaint allies with the new patrol bomber. 4 Feb 1953: The decision was made to augment all of the recalled reserve patrol squadrons to regular Navy patrol squadrons. VP-861 was redesignated VP- 18. The conversions did not necessitate changes in tail codes or home ports. Apr 1954: VP-18 began a five-month deployment to NS Argentia, Newfoundland. During this period, a VP- 18 aircraft became the first P2V-5 and first FAW-11 aircraft to fly over the North Pole. 1 MarApr 1955: VP-18 received the first of its new P2V-7 aircraft with improved electronics, cockpit, enlarged bomb bays and jet engine auxiliaries. In April a detachment of six of the squadron aircraft made several public relations stops along the East Coast to display the new bomber while en route to their deployment site at San Juan, P.R. 15 Sep 1955: VP-18 deployed to Keflavik, Iceland. The Icelandic government requested assistance in ridding its fishing fleet of killer whale attacks on their herring drift nets. Permission was obtained, and three squadron aircraft destroyed approximately 40 to 50 whales in less than 25 minutes with depth bomb and strafing attacks. The new Neptunes maintained a 92 percent availability rate during this period, despite bad weather conditions and only four hours of daylight. Nov 1957: VP-18 participated in the recovery effort in the Caribbean of an Army Jupiter missile nose cone. This nose cone later appeared on a nationwide telecast as President Eisenhower explained how the U.S. had solved the space reentry problem. AprJun 1958: VP-18 participated in the pre- Mercury primate space program recovery missions in the Caribbean. May 1959: The Flying Phantoms deployed two aircraft to Panama to help the Organization of American States (OAS) counter an invasion by Cuban guerrilla forces. During the same period a second detachment of three aircraft participated in the recovery of two primates, Able and Baker, that had reentered the atmosphere after being rocketed into space. The capsule was recovered from the Atlantic east of Puerto Rico. 1 Sep 1960: VP-18 established new airborne endurance record of 20 hours and 33 minutes for the P2V-7 Neptune in the Caribbean. Jan 1961: VP-18 participated in the search for the hijacked Portuguese cruise liner Santa Maria in the Caribbean area. Later that same month, squadron aircraft participated in the successful recovery of the space capsule containing the monkey Ham. 24 May 1962: VP-18 participated in the space program recovery mission for the (Click on link) AURORA 7 Mercury flight piloted by Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. A VP 18 aircraft was the first to spot the capsule, directing helicopters from Intrepid (CV 11) to the scene. 21 Oct 1962: VP-18 was one of several patrol squadrons deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and remained deployed during the entire Cuban Quarantine operation. 30 Nov 1962: One of the squadron's aircraft was the first to spot the missing Nina II approximately 800 miles east of Puerto Rico. The vessel, a reproduction of one of Columbus' original three sailing ships, became the subject of an international search after it failed to arrive at its destination of San Salvador as scheduled. The crew of the Neptune aircraft dropped emergency supplies, including a new sextant, enabling the vessel to complete its journey. 30 Apr26 May 1965: VP-18 provided patrol coverage and surveillance flights of the waters around the island of Hispaniola during the Dominican Republic Crisis. Continuous coverage was given through 26 May 1965. 10 Oct 1968: VP-18 was disestablished at NAS Roosevelt Roads, P.R. Home Port Assignments Location Date of Assignment NAS Norfolk, Va. May 1946 NAS Jacksonville, Fla. 1 Sep 1950 NAS Roosevelt Roads, P.R. 1 Nov 1964 Commanding Officers Date Assumed Command Unknown 1946-1950 LCDR George H. Wilson 15 May 1950 CDR Edward A. Rodgers 4 May 1951 CDR W. D. Bonvillian 6 Jun 1952 CDR W. H. Ruth Sep 1953 CDR J. T. Straker Oct 1954 CDR J. A. Cooper Jan 1956 CDR Robert H. Gillock May 1957 CDR Curtis J. Zane 24 Apr 1958 CDR J. H. McGhee May 1959 CDR R. A. Sampson 31 May 1960 CDR W. W. Honour 1 May 1961 CDR R. F. Lyons Jan 1962 CDR V. F. Anderson Jan 1963 CDR S. K. Mansfield Jan 1964 CDR A. J. Carneghi Dec 1964 CDR R. M. Deffenbaugh 1 Dec 1965 CDR A. L. Zicht 1 Nov 1966 CDR R. H. Wagner 24 Oct 1967 Aircraft Assignment Type of Aircraft Date Type First Received PV-2 May 1946 P2V-2/P2V-3 Sep 1950 P2V-5 Mar 1954 P2V-7/SP-2H* Mar 1955 * The P2V-7 was redesigned SP-2H in 1962. Major Overseas Deployments Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations Jan 1953 Jun 1953 FAW-11 Malta P2V-2/3 Med Apr 1954 Oct 1954 FAW-11 Argentia P2V-5 NorLant Apr 1955 Apr 1955 FAW-11 San Juan P2V-7 Carib 15 Sep 1955 15 Feb 1956 FAW-11 Keflavik P2V-7 NorLant Aug 1956 Jan 1957 FAW-11 Pt. Lyautey P2V-7 Med Jul 1957 Sep 1957 FAW-11 San Juan P2V-7 Carib Apr 1958 Jun 1958 FAW-11 Key West P2V-7 Carib May 1959* Jun 1959 FAW-11 Panama P2V-7 Carib May 1959* Jun 1959 FAW-11 San Juan P2V-7 Carib 1 Oct 1959* Mar 1960 FAW-11 Keflavik P2V-7 NorLant 1 Oct 1959* Mar 1960 FAW-11 Sigonella P2V-7 Med May 1961 Sep 1961 FAW-11 Sigonella P2V-7 Med 21 Oct 1962 Nov 1962 FAW-11 Guantanamo SP-2H Carib 1 Jul 1963* Dec 1963 FAW-11 Rota SP-2H Med 1 Jul 1963* Dec 1963 FAW-11 Keflavik SP-2H NorLant 1 Apr 1965 30 Sep 1965 FAW-11 Roosevelt Rds.SP-2H Carib * The squadron conducted split deployment to two sites during the same dates. Wing Assignments Wing Tail Code Assignment Date FAW-11 HF/LG May 1946 The squadron was assigned the tail code HF when it was called to active duty on 1 September 1950. The squadron's tail code was changed from HF to LG in 1957. The effective date for this change was most likely the beginning of FY 1958 (1 July 1957). Unit Awards Received Unit Award Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award AFEM 28 Apr 1965 16 Dec 1965 Reference: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS, Vol. 2, pp 104-106 |
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Names visible on photo: LT G.W. DONALD CP (PPC) LTJG J.B. DE FRANCESCO NAV |
Third VP-18 Lineage Established as Reserve Patrol Squadron NINE HUNDRED FOURTEEN (VP-914) in May 1946. Redesignated Medium Patron SIXTY FOUR (VP-ML-64) on 15 November 1946. Redesignated Patrol Squadron EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTY ONE (VP-861) in February 1950. Redesignated Patrol Squadron EIGHTEEN (VP-18) on 4 February 1953, the third squadron to be assigned the VP-18 designation. Disestablished on 10 October 1968. Squadron Insignia and Nickname The squadron's first insignia was approved for VP-861. It was a black and white design depicting Neptune riding a dolphin. CNO approved the squadron's second insignia on28 April 1954. The central figure of the design was a hooded horseman spearing a submarine with a lightning-likelance.Thesignificance was in keeping with the primary ASW role of the squadron. Colors:background, blue; horse and rider, black with white highlights; lance, white; submarine, black with white highlights; patch border, red. In 1961, colors of the insignia were modified to: patch border, blue; lance, gold. N i c k n a m e :Flying Phantoms, 1953-1968 . Chronology of Significant Events May 1946: VP-914 was established at NAS Norfolk, Va. The squadron came under the operational control of FAW-11 and administrative control by Naval Air Reserve Training (NART). Another of the 21 reserve squadrons established after the war to accommodate the large number of aircrews recently released from active duty and utilize the enormous stocks of aircraft in the inventory. The squadron flew the Lockheed PV- 2 Harpoon. 15 Nov 1946: All patrol squadrons were redesignated. Regular Navy patrol squadron designation numbers began with 1 and reserve patrol squadrons began with 5. VP-914 was redesignated VP-ML-64. The ML designation, medium patrol squadrons, included twin-engine medium amphibious seaplanes, as well as twin-engine land-based bombers. Regular Navy patrol squadrons with the ML designation were for twin-engine medium land-based bombers only. The amphibious medium seaplanes like the PBY-5A were in the AM, amphibian designation for regular Navy squadrons. Feb 1950: VP-ML-64 was redesignated VP-861 during the reorganization of Naval Aviation reserve units in 1949, but the change did not take effect until February1950. During this period the number of Naval Aviation reserve squadrons was reduced from the 1949 total of 24 to nine. 1 Sep 1950: VP-861 was among the first of the reserve patrol squadrons called to active duty by the president for service during the Korean War. The squadron had by this date converted to the Lockheed P2V-2 and P2V-3 Neptunes. None of the recalled reserve squadrons of the Atlantic Fleet Command served in Korea. Jan - Jun 1953: The squadron deployed to Luqa Airfield, Malta. In June, the squadron flew two P2V-3s on a 12,000-mile familiarization flight to acquaint allies with the new patrol bomber. 4 Feb 1953: The decision was made to augment all of the recalled reserve patrol squadrons to regular Navy patrol squadrons. VP-861 was redesignated VP- 18. The conversions did not necessitate changes in tail codes or home ports. Apr 1954: VP-18 began a five-month deployment to NS Argentia, Newfoundland. During this period, a VP- 18 aircraft became the first P2V-5 and first FAW-11 aircraft to fly over the North Pole. 1 MarApr 1955: VP-18 received the first of its new P2V-7 aircraft with improved electronics, cockpit, enlarged bomb bays and jet engine auxiliaries. In April a detachment of six of the squadron aircraft made several public relations stops along the East Coast to display the new bomber while en route to their deployment site at San Juan, P.R. 15 Sep 1955: VP-18 deployed to Keflavik, Iceland. The Icelandic government requested assistance in ridding its fishing fleet of killer whale attacks on their herring drift nets. Permission was obtained, and three squadron aircraft destroyed approximately 40 to 50 whales in less than 25 minutes with depth bomb and strafing attacks. The new Neptunes maintained a 92 percent availability rate during this period, despite bad weather conditions and only four hours of daylight. Nov 1957: VP-18 participated in the recovery effort in the Caribbean of an Army Jupiter missile nose cone. This nose cone later appeared on a nationwide telecast as President Eisenhower explained how the U.S. had solved the space reentry problem. AprJun 1958: VP-18 participated in the pre- Mercury primate space program recovery missions in the Caribbean. May 1959: The Flying Phantoms deployed two aircraft to Panama to help the Organization of American States (OAS) counter an invasion by Cuban guerrilla forces. During the same period a second detachment of three aircraft participated in the recovery of two primates, Able and Baker, that had reentered the atmosphere after being rocketed into space. The capsule was recovered from the Atlantic east of Puerto Rico. 1 Sep 1960: VP-18 established new airborne endurance record of 20 hours and 33 minutes for the P2V-7 Neptune in the Caribbean. Jan 1961: VP-18 participated in the search for the hijacked Portuguese cruise liner Santa Maria in the Caribbean area. Later that same month, squadron aircraft participated in the successful recovery of the space capsule containing the monkey Ham. 24 May 1962: VP-18 participated in the space program recovery mission for the (Click on link) AURORA 7 Mercury flight piloted by Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. A VP 18 aircraft was the first to spot the capsule, directing helicopters from Intrepid (CV 11) to the scene. 21 Oct 1962: VP-18 was one of several patrol squadrons deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and remained deployed during the entire Cuban Quarantine operation. 30 Nov 1962: One of the squadron's aircraft was the first to spot the missing Nina II approximately 800 miles east of Puerto Rico. The vessel, a reproduction of one of Columbus' original three sailing ships, became the subject of an international search after it failed to arrive at its destination of San Salvador as scheduled. The crew of the Neptune aircraft dropped emergency supplies, including a new sextant, enabling the vessel to complete its journey. 30 Apr26 May 1965: VP-18 provided patrol coverage and surveillance flights of the waters around the island of Hispaniola during the Dominican Republic Crisis. Continuous coverage was given through 26 May 1965. 10 Oct 1968: VP-18 was disestablished at NAS Roosevelt Roads, P.R. Home Port Assignments Location Date of Assignment NAS Norfolk, Va. May 1946 NAS Jacksonville, Fla. 1 Sep 1950 NAS Roosevelt Roads, P.R. 1 Nov 1964 Commanding Officers Date Assumed Command Unknown 1946-1950 LCDR George H. Wilson 15 May 1950 CDR Edward A. Rodgers 4 May 1951 CDR W. D. Bonvillian 6 Jun 1952 CDR W. H. Ruth Sep 1953 CDR J. T. Straker Oct 1954 CDR J. A. Cooper Jan 1956 CDR Robert H. Gillock May 1957 CDR Curtis J. Zane 24 Apr 1958 CDR J. H. McGhee May 1959 CDR R. A. Sampson 31 May 1960 CDR W. W. Honour 1 May 1961 CDR R. F. Lyons Jan 1962 CDR V. F. Anderson Jan 1963 CDR S. K. Mansfield Jan 1964 CDR A. J. Carneghi Dec 1964 CDR R. M. Deffenbaugh 1 Dec 1965 CDR A. L. Zicht 1 Nov 1966 CDR R. H. Wagner 24 Oct 1967 Aircraft Assignment Type of Aircraft Date Type First Received PV-2 May 1946 P2V-2/P2V-3 Sep 1950 P2V-5 Mar 1954 P2V-7/SP-2H* Mar 1955 * The P2V-7 was redesigned SP-2H in 1962. Major Overseas Deployments Date of Date of Base of Type of Area of Departure Return Wing Operations Aircraft Operations Jan 1953 Jun 1953 FAW-11 Malta P2V-2/3 Med Apr 1954 Oct 1954 FAW-11 Argentia P2V-5 NorLant Apr 1955 Apr 1955 FAW-11 San Juan P2V-7 Carib 15 Sep 1955 15 Feb 1956 FAW-11 Keflavik P2V-7 NorLant Aug 1956 Jan 1957 FAW-11 Pt. Lyautey P2V-7 Med Jul 1957 Sep 1957 FAW-11 San Juan P2V-7 Carib Apr 1958 Jun 1958 FAW-11 Key West P2V-7 Carib May 1959* Jun 1959 FAW-11 Panama P2V-7 Carib May 1959* Jun 1959 FAW-11 San Juan P2V-7 Carib 1 Oct 1959* Mar 1960 FAW-11 Keflavik P2V-7 NorLant 1 Oct 1959* Mar 1960 FAW-11 Sigonella P2V-7 Med May 1961 Sep 1961 FAW-11 Sigonella P2V-7 Med 21 Oct 1962 Nov 1962 FAW-11 Guantanamo SP-2H Carib 1 Jul 1963* Dec 1963 FAW-11 Rota SP-2H Med 1 Jul 1963* Dec 1963 FAW-11 Keflavik SP-2H NorLant 1 Apr 1965 30 Sep 1965 FAW-11 Roosevelt Rds.SP-2H Carib * The squadron conducted split deployment to two sites during the same dates. Wing Assignments Wing Tail Code Assignment Date FAW-11 HF/LG May 1946 The squadron was assigned the tail code HF when it was called to active duty on 1 September 1950. The squadron's tail code was changed from HF to LG in 1957. The effective date for this change was most likely the beginning of FY 1958 (1 July 1957). Unit Awards Received Unit Award Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award AFEM 28 Apr 1965 16 Dec 1965 Reference: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS, Vol. 2, pp 104-106 |
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VP-18 HISTORY |
