VPNAVY VP-5 Mercury Capsule Recovery
http://www.vpnavy.org
VPNAVY Address

HistoryVP-26 HistoryHistory

Circa Unknown
Can you identify the Month and or Year?

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: History ThumbnailCameraVP-26 P2 "...VP-26 P2 in Hanger - U. S. Official Photograph..." [26DEC2009]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VP-26 History Thumbnail Contributed by John Lucas john.lucas@netzero.net [30JUL2002]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "......VP-26 was the first U. S. Navy patrol squadron assigned airborne electronic intelligence missions on a routine basis, used the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer aircraft...to eavesdrop on Soviet emissions..." [FOUNDATION Volume 18 Number 2 Fall 1997 Page 9] WEBSITE: http://www.naval-air.org/

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Mentions VPB-19 and VPB-26, both PBM squadrons..." NARA - Record Group 9NS-313-94-01 32175? Box 6 of 21, Folder 126 http://www.pby.com

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "..We had the P2V-4 models when I first reported aboard, then swapped them in for newer P2V-5Fs when we relieved another squadron in Iceland. Glad to see the recent safety record for the squadron as they had lost a couple just before I reported aboard, and we crashed two on landings while I was in the squadron. The Buro Nos for the 12 original P2V-4s in the squadron were: EB-1 - 124218, EB-2 - 124232, EB-3 - 124238, EB-4 -124213, EB-5 - 124231, EB-6 - 124233, EB-7 - 124217, EB-8 - 124230, EB-9 - 124221, EB-10 - 124237, EB-11 - 124220, and EB-12 - 124224. I understand that Lockheed only produced a total of 52 of the P2V-4s. The replacement P2V-5Fs we acquired in Iceland were: EB-1 - 131534, EB-2 - 131528, EB-3 - 131533, EB-4 - 131531, EB-5 - 131525, EB-6 - 131527, EB-7 - 131532, EB-8 - 131529, EB-9 - 131523, EB-10 - 131526, EB-11 - 131530, and EB-12 - 131524. I understand Lockheed produced 424 of this model. We later got 131457 to replace one of the lost aircraft, I don't have a record for the 2nd replacement, or which of the originals were written off. I also have some 35mm negatives of most of the crews taken at the nose of their aircraft in Iceland if these are of any interest. Norman Kratfel" nkratfel@enter.net

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Another history note: VP-23 was the second squadron to transition from P-3B to P-3C Update II following VP-44 who was first. VP-23 was the first Harpoon equipped squadron in the Navy as the Harpoon gear was not ready in time for VP-44 when they made the first Update II deployment to Keflavik, Iceland in 1979. As a result of all this, when VP-23 relieved VP-44 in Keflavik in September '79 they were still the only Harpoon equipped squadron of any kind in the Navy. On New Year's Eve the squadron was tasked to provide a four-crew, three-plane detachment to NSF Diego Garcia as a result of the Iranian hostage crisis and the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. We were extended on deployment for a month and made the remainder of the deployment a split Keflavik - NSF Diego Garcia deployment! We used to say: "If they were any farther away they'd be closer." In the end VP-26 relieved the Diego detachment while VP-46 came over and relieved the Keflavik portion. Oh by the way, we smashed all previous sub contact records with only 2/3 of a squadron in Keflavik!" Contributed by AWCS(AW/NAC) Jeffrey S. Morris 2yankeesfan15@comcast.net

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VP-26 Patch ThumbnailCameraVP-26 Patch Tom Grannis grannis1@earthlink.net [05SEP2003]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VP-26 Patch ThumbnailCameraVP-26 Patch "...NAF Kadena, Okinawa, Japan made version..." Tom Grannis grannis1@earthlink.net [14JUL2003]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Logo Thumbnail [23NOV99]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VP-26 Patch ThumbnailCameraVP-26 Patch Tom Grannis grannis1@earthlink.net [05SEP2003]


Return
"VP-26 History Summary Page"

Selection Page

VPNAVY Copyrighted © 1996 - 2023