VP-44

Fourth VP-44's fourth insignia, 1984

This VP-44 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was the fourth squadron to be assigned the VP-44 designation. This article is about the fourth VP-44, but includes the lineages of the others.

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 1961-1991, and it was also known as the Budmen from 1989-1991. The squadron had four different insignia during its lifetime, featuring a marlin, King Neptune, a cartoon pelican, and, finally, a more formal pelican design.[1]

Previous VP-44 Squadrons

The first VP-44 held that designation for five months in 1940-1941, in a squadron that ultimately became VPB-125. Its history is as follows:[2]

The second VP-44 held that designation for 40 months in 1941-1944, in a squadron that ultimately became VPB-44. It was established as VP-44 on 3 June 1941, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-44 on 1 October 1944, and disestablished on 20 June 1945.[3]

The third VP-44 held the designation for 16 months in 1948-1950. Its history is as follows:[4]

Significant events

A U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3C Orion of Patrol Squadron VP-44 Golden Pelicans flying past Mount Etna, Italy, in the 1980s.
The U.S. Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41) refueling a Martin P5M-2 Marlin seaplane of Patrol Squadron VP-44 Golden Pelicans on 24 May 1955. Greenwich Bay is wearing the white paint of a Middle East Force flagship.
A U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3A-20-LO Orion (BuNo 150497) of Patrol Squadron VP-44 flies over the Soviet ship Metallurg Anasov and destroyer USS Barry (DD-933) during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Home port assignments

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

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 4 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 3, Section 8: Patrol Squadron Histories for 2nd VP-30 to 3rd VP-45 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 246–252. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  2. Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 4, Section 6: Patrol Bombing Squadron Histories for VPB-121 to VPB-141 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 546–552. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  3. Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 4, Section 3: Patrol Bombing Squadron Histories for VPB-33 to VPB-54 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 462–466. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  4. Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Appendix 7: Lineage Listings for Patrol Squadrons (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. p. 772. Retrieved 2014-02-27.

External links

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