VR-51 History
Circa 2005
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...//NO1650// - MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO N09F/10A/APR// - SUBJ/CNO ANNUAL AVIATION SAFETY AWARDS// - REF/A/DOC/OPNAVINST 1650.28// - NARR/REF A IS CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS AVIATION-RELATED SAFETY AWARDS// - POC/E. K. THOMPSON/CIV/NAVSAFECEN 10A/LOC:NORFOLK - /TEL:DSN 564-3520 X7226// - GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PER REF A THE FOLLOWING COMMANDS HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS WINNERS OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2005 CNO - AVIATION SAFETY AWARD (Few Squadrons Mentioned: VP-10, VP-92, VPU-2, VQ-1, VQ-2 and VX-1)..." WebSite: Safety Center http://safetycenter.navy.mil/awards/CNO_SafetyMsg05.txt [05JUN2006]
A. COMNAVAIRLANTB. COMNAVAIRPACC. COMMARFORCOMMARINE TRANSPORTATION SQUADRON 1 MARINE LIGHT/ATTACK HELICOPTER SQUADRON 167 MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUADRON 264 MARINE TACTICAL ELECTRONIC WARFARE SQUADRON 1 MARINE FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON 251 MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUADRON 266 MARINE LIGHT/ATTACK HELICOPTER SQUADRON 269 MARINE FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON 115 MARINE AERIAL REFUELER TRANSPORT SQUADRON 252 MARINE ALL WEATHER FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON 533 D. COMMARFORPACMARINE LIGHT ATTACK HELICOPTER SQUADRON 369 MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUADRON 364 MARINE HEAVY HELICOPTER SQUADRON 465 MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUADRON 262 MARINE ALL WEATHER FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON 242 MARINE AERIAL REFUELER TRANSPORT SQUADRON 152 MARINE HEAVY HELICOPTER SQUADRON 363 MARINE HEAVY HELICOPTER SQUADRON 466 MARINE FIGHTER ATTACK TRAINING SQUADRON 101 MARINE ATTACK SQUADRON 211 MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER TRAINING SQUADRON 164 MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUADRON 161 MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA E. COMNAVAIRFORESF. CG FOURTH MAWMARINE LIGHT ATTACK HELICOPTER SQUADRON 773 MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUADRON 774 MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUADRON 764 MARINE FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON 142 MARINE AERIAL REFUELER TRANSPORT SQUADRON 452 G. NATRACOMH. COMNAVAIRSYSCOMAIR TEST AND EVALUATION SQUADRON 20 2. REQUEST CONTROLLING CUSTODIANS DISSEMINATE INFO TO ALL WINNERS. CITATIONS AND PLAQUES WILL BE FORWARDED TO COGNIZANT CONTROLLING CUSTODIANS FOR PRESENTATION.
3. THESE AWARD WINNERS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONALISM, SOLID LEADERSHIP AND COMPETENT RISK MANAGEMENT THAT LEAD TO SAFE AND EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS. VERY WELL DONE TO ALL HANDS.//
Circa 2004
A BIT OF HISTORY: 040421-N-3228G-008 Marine Corps Air Base Kaneohe, Hawaii (Apr. 21, 2004) "...A C-20G Gulfstream aircraft attached to the "Windjammers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Five One (VR-51) taxis to the runway for a local training flight while a P-3C Orion prepares to land. Since February 2003, VR-51 has deployed C-20G Gulfstream aircraft to the Persian Gulf region in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The primary mission of the squadron is to transport the staff of U. S. Central Command (CENTCOM) around the region. VR-51 completed 183 missions, flying 1826 hours while transporting 2595 passengers and 117,250 pounds of cargo during that time spent in the Persian Gulf region. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin. (RELEASED)..." Navy News Stand http://newshome.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=13549 [04MAR2005]
Circa 1995
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Deployments, Change-Of-Command, Awards, Records, Etc. - Naval Aviation News - July - August 1995.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1995/ja95.pdf [12NOV2004]
Circa 1991
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Naval Aviation Units Involved in the Persian Gulf War (16 January–27 February 1991)...This Squadron Mentioned...Naval Historical Center ADOBE Download File: http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP29.PDF [27MAY2003]
Persian Gulf War 20KB
Circa 1990
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History and Change-Of-Command - Page 6, 29 and 31 - Naval Aviation News - May-June 1990..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1990/mj90.pdf [22OCT2004]
Circa 1988
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 28 to 30 - Naval Aviation News - September-October 1988..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1988/so88.pdf [21OCT2004]
Circa 1986
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 36 and 39 - Naval Aviation News - May-June 1986..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1986/ja86.pdf [19OCT2004]
Circa 1984
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...We Deliver - Page 22 to 25 - Naval Aviation News - January-February 1984..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1984/jf84.pdf [17OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VR-51 History "...I've attached a scan of a VR-51 sticker I picked up at NAS Glenview, Illinois about 20 years ago when the squadron was there. I flew many times on their old C-118s. Once when the engines were firing up for take off, one on the starboard wing burst into flames on turnover. I brought it to the crew's attention, but they said to keep watching. The engine 'caught', fired up and the prop wash blew out the flames. We took off and flew from NAS Glenview, Illinois to NAS Twin Cities, Minnesota, without incident. My eyes still bug out when I tell this story to my kids..." Contributed by M. J. "Doc" Sanchez docsanchez@juno.com, HM2 (FMF), NAS Glenview, IL 1980 to 1982 [22SEP2004]
Circa 1982
A BIT OF HISTORY: VR-51 Patch "...Squadron sticker from VR-51 Det. Glenview, aka "Flaming Hookers". I met several VR-51 members and each had a story about the squadron's official drink which was made with Bacardi 151 Rum, SET ON FIRE, and then drank while burning. One squadron member I know of was hospitalized at the Naval Hospital Great Lakes, IL, in 1982 when his beard caught fire while drinking a Flaming Hooker..." Contributed by FORT, HM2 FMF Michael J. "Doc" Fort (Sanchez) docsanchez@yahoo.com [20FEB2005]
A BIT OF HISTORY: NAS Glenview, Illinois "...NAS Glenview, Illinois base newspaper (GLENVIEWS feature) called "HELLO AND GOODBYE" showing personnel changes from January 1982..." Contributed by FORT, HM2 FMF Michael J. "Doc" Fort (Sanchez) docsanchez@yahoo.com [20FEB2005]
A BIT OF HISTORY: NAS Glenview, Illinois "...NAS Glenview, Illinois base newspaper (GLENVIEWS feature) June 1981 shows Base Commander Capt. Eskew giving VR-51 their intramural basketball trophy..." Contributed by FORT, HM2 FMF Michael J. "Doc" Fort (Sanchez) docsanchez@yahoo.com [19FEB2005]
A BIT OF HISTORY: NAS Glenview, Illinois "...NAS Glenview, Illinois base newspaper (GLENVIEWS feature) called "HELLO AND GOODBYE" showing personnel changes from June 1982..." Contributed by FORT, HM2 FMF Michael J. "Doc" Fort (Sanchez) docsanchez@yahoo.com [19FEB2005]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 5, 44 and 45 - Naval Aviation News - December 1982..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1982/dec82.pdf [16OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 5 and 46 - Naval Aviation News - June 1982..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1982/jun82.pdf [15OCT2004]
Circa 1981
A BIT OF HISTORY: NAS Glenview, Illinois "...NAS Glenview, Illinois base newspaper (GLENVIEWS feature) called "HELLO AND GOODBYE" showing personnel changes from February 1981..." Contributed by FORT, HM2 FMF Michael J. "Doc" Fort (Sanchez) docsanchez@yahoo.com [20FEB2005]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Reserved At Glenview - Page 16 - Naval Aviation News - December 1981..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1981/dec81.pdf [14OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 42, 44, and 45 - Naval Aviation News - July 1981..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1981/jul81.pdf [14OCT2004]
Circa 1976
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...CNO Safety Awards - Page 5 - Naval Aviation News - December 1976..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1976/dec76.pdf [07OCT2004]
Circa 1971
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...FY-1971 Safety Awardees Named - Naval Aviation News - November 1971..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1971/nov71.pdf [25SEP2004]
Circa 1970
A BIT OF HISTORY: VR-51 Cruise Patch "...VR-51 Detachment NAS Glenview, Illinois Circa Early 1970's..." Contributed by Michael Varga mikey1010@msn.com [22JUL2012]
Circa Unknown
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...NAVY AIR TRANSPORT OPERATIONS - (A Historical Perspective) - by RADM Philip W. Smith, USNR (Ret) - with additional updates by PO1 Mark W Felhofer, USN (Ret) (Only VR Related Information Posted Below)..." WebSite: VRC-50 Association http://www.vrc-50.org/ [10NOV2006]
Naval Air Reserve VR
The post-WW-II Naval Air Reserve was organized 1 July 1946 with R4D VR mini-squadrons at some 25 of the over 50 initial Naval Air Reserve training sites. These VR aircraft were assigned to and maintained primarily by station active duty personnel with reservists training and flying some missions on the week-ends. With the transition of fleet VR squadrons to the R6Ds (C-118s) the Naval Air Reserve squadrons transitioned from R4Ds to R5Ds (C-54s) in the 1950s. With the termination of Navy MATS participation, C-118s became available and were assigned to the Naval Air Reserve starting in 1964.
The Naval Air Reserve force was reorganized into self sufficient Force Squadrons in 1970. The initial VR C-118 force squadrons were VR-50 NAS Jacksonville, Florida with a detachment at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, VR-51 NAS Alameda, California with detachments at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington and NAS Glenview, Illinois, and VR-52 at NAS Dallas, Texas with a detachment at NAS Memphis, Tennessee. In 1972, VR-50 moved to NAS Atlanta, Georgia becoming VR-54 with a detachment at NAS New Orleans, Louisiana, VR-52 at NAS Dallas, Texas became VR-53 retaining the NAS Memphis, Tennessee detachment, the former VR-50 NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania detachment became VR-52 with detachments at NAF Detroit, Michigan and NAF Andrews, Maryland, VR-51 moved to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington and later to NAS Glenview, Illinois, the prior detachment sites. These squadrons essentially remained intact until the introduction of the C-9Bs into the Naval Air Reserve in 1978. Fleet Tactical Support Wing (now Fleet Logistic Support Wing) was established at NAS New Orleans, Louisiana in 1974 following the consolidation of the Navy Air and Surface Reserve headquarters organizations into the office of the Chief of Naval Reserve at the Naval Support Activity, NAS New Orleans, Louisiana in 1973.
"VR-51 Summary Page"
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