Medium Patrol Squadron ( Landplane ) 4 ( VP-ML-4 )
Patrol Squadron 4 (United States Navy) was officially named what from Nov 1946 to Sep 1948?
Patrol Squadron 4 ( United States Navy ) 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 . The squadron was originally established as Bombing Squadron 144 ( VB-144 ) on 1 July 1943 , redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 144 ( VPB-144 ) on 1 October 1944 , redesignated Patrol Squadron 144 ( VP-144 ) on 15 May 1946 , redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron ( Landplane ) 4 ( VP-ML-4 ) on 15 November 1946 and redesignated Patrol Squadron FOUR ( VP-4 ) on 1 September 1948 . It is the second squadron to be designated VP-4 , the first VP-4 was redesignated VP-22 on 1 July 1939 . History . VB-144 was established at NAS Alameda , California on 1 July 1943 , as a squadron flying the PV-1 Ventura , by 14 August The squadron completed training and boarded for transport to NAS Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii . Upon arrival the squadron began an intensive period of combat training and operational patrols over the ocean near the Hawaiian Islands . On 9 January 1944 VB-144 was transferred to Hawkins Field , Tarawa , where combat patrols commenced as soon as the squadron was checked in and assigned space for the crews and aircraft . On 1 February 1944 , the squadron was relocated to Dyess Field , Roi Island , from which bombing missions were carried out against Japanese installations in the Gilbert , Marshall and Eastern Caroline island chains . On 30 March 1944 VB-144 was transferred back to Tarawa , leaving a three-aircraft detachment at Dyess Field , which was engaged in strikes on 1 April 1944 against enemy positions at Wotje Atoll and Jaluit Atoll that continued through June . On 4 April 1944 , the increasing tempo of operations at Dyess Field resulted in the deployment of a second detachment of VB-144 aircraft to Roi Island and by 1 September the remainder of the squadron was transferred to Dyess . On 30 September 1944 VB-144 was transferred to NAS Kaneohe Bay and was redesignated VPB-144 while preparing for return to the continental United States . On 1 November 1944 VPB-144 was reformed for training at NAS Whidbey Island , Washington . The squadron was reequipped with the newer PV-2 Harpoon . On 3 March 1945 , the squadron commenced training in air-to-ground attack continued at NAS Moffett Field , California . From 8–15 April 1945 VPB-144 squadron personnel and equipment were loaded aboard for transport to Naval Base Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , arriving on 15 April . Upon arrival , the squadron was based at NAS Kaneohe Bay , where a combat training syllabus of several weeks was undertaken . From 11–23 May 1945 a detachment of squadron aircraft and crews was flown to Midway Island to provide combat air patrol coverage . On 23 May 1944 , the detachment was increased to nine aircraft . On 24 May 1945 two of the crews sent to Midway earlier returned to NAS Kaneohe Bay . The remainder of the detachment followed , rejoining the rest of the squadron on 12 June 1944 . On 27 June 1945 VPB-144 was transferred to Eniwetok , via Johnston Atoll and Majuro . The squadron was placed under the operational control of TF 96.1 . Sector and photographic reconnaissance patrols were conducted over Wake and Ponape islands . By 12 September 1945 , problems with malaria on Wake Island became so severe that the aircraft of VPB-144 were fitted with sprayers to cover the island with DDT . On 15 September 1945 flights were conducted over Kusaie , Ponape and the Caroline Islands as a show of force to the remaining Japanese troops who had not yet surrendered . By 15 May 1946 : Squadron assets remained at NAB Tinian but all personnel were rotated back to the U.S. , leaving the squadron in a caretaker status . In September 1946 the squadron was retained on the Navy roster , but was placed in an inactive status at NAS North Island , California , under FAW-14 . In Nov 1947 the squadron was reactivated as VP-ML-4 at NAS Miramar , California , with a complement of 14 officers and 59 enlisted men . An SNB-5 was utilized for flight training until the arrival of the squadrons first operational aircraft , the P2V-1 Neptune , in mid-December 1947 . VP-4 conducted an aerial photographic survey of Southeastern Alaska from Annette Island and began regular rotation tours to NAS Kodiak , Alaska from NAS Whidbey Island . Following the start of the Korean War , the squadron was deployed to NAS Barbers Point , Hawaii . in July , 1950 , developing aerial mining capabilities and remained there until its return to Whidbey Island in January , 1951 . During this deployment , Aircraft BuNo 39340 , SC-3 was lost with five crewmen during a rocket firing training exercise off Kaena Point . The squadron was redeployed to NAS Barbers Point in mid 1951 and from there to NAS Kodiak in September , returning to NAS Whidbey Island in late December of that year . In April 1952 , VP-4 again was deployed to NAS Barbers Point and from there to NAS Agana , Guam in September . The squadron returned to NAS Whidbey Island in January 1953 , having turned in its P2V-2s and receiving P2V-5s in February . VP-4 remained in NAS Whidbey Island until November 1953 and was then transferred to Kadena Air Base and subsequently to NAF Naha , Okinawa , where the squadron flew shipping patrols in the vicinity of Taiwan . The squadron returned to NAS Whidbey Islandin mid-1954 . In 1956 , VP-4 was relocated to NAF Naha , from this base , the squadron flew reconnaissance and Anti-submarine warfare ( ASW ) missions to counter the Communist Chinese threat to the islands of Matsu and Quemoy . In 1964 , the squadron marked its fourth year of operational excellence with three Commander , Naval Air Forces Pacific ( COMNAVAIRPAC ) Navy Battle E Awards , three Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ) Safety Awards , and four Arnold J . Isbell ASW Awards . In April 1964 , VP-4 returned to NAS Barbers Point , from there , the squadron made numerous deployments to Southeast Asia in support of the Vietnam War . It was on one of these deployments in 1965 when the squadron logo was changed from the Okinawa-era Neptune design to a Hawaiian-inspired Black Griffin . The logo caused some confusion on the part of waitresses in the local Officers Club , who remarked that it more closely resembled a Skinny Dragon and the new nickname was quickly adopted . In 1966 , the VP-4 began transitioning from the SP-2H Neptune to the P-3A Orion . Following completion of the transition , VP-4 became the first Hawaii-based squadron to deploy P-3As to NAS Adak , Alaska in 1969 . In 1972 , VP-4 was awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for its efforts during Operations Market Time and Yankee Team . During the 1975 deployment to NAS Cubi Point , Philippines VP-4 participated in the Operation Frequent Wind , the evacuation of South Vietnam and the Mayaguez recovery operation , and in 1976 saw detachment operations to NAS Agana , Guam during which the squadron participated in Australias Kangaroo II fleet exercise . In July 1978 , VP-4 assumed the Guam Detachment and simultaneously conducted operations that stretched around the world including locations as distant as : NAS Cubi Point ; NAS Barbers Point ; NAS Moffett Field , California ; NAS Brunswick , Maine and NAS Sigonella , Italy . VP-4 finished transitioning to the P-3B ( MOD ) , or SUPER BEE in May 1979 . The squadron then started a work up period for its next NAS Cubi Point deployment , which began in November 1979 . While assigned to COMNAVAIRPAC , VP-4 was awarded the Navy Battle E Award for operational excellence for the cycle from 1 January 1979 to 30 June 1980 . During the height of the Cold War , VP-4 fought on the front lines . Making numerous deployments to NAS Cubi Point ; Diego Garcia ; Kadena Air Base and Misawa Air Base , Japan ; NAS Adak , Alaska and numerous other remote detachment sites , the squadron located , tracked and collected vital intelligence on Soviet ballistic missile and attack submarines . This era in VP-4s history is marked by a number of firsts including becoming the first squadron at NAS Barbers Point to transition to the P-3C , the first NAS Barbers Point squadron to deploy to Diego Garcia ( May 1980 ) , and the first Hawaii squadron to deploy with P-3Cs to NAS Adak . VP-4s operational excellence and contributions to the Cold War were recognized in 1987 in once again earning the Navy Battle E Award . Additionally , during this time , the squadrons concern for the safety and welfare of its Sailors was marked by surpassing 100,000 hours of mishap-free flying and earning back-to-back Golden Anchor Retention Excellence awards in 1987 and 1988 . In 1988 VP-4 returned to Hawaii where they participated in numerous exercises , including Exercise RIMPAC . In 1989 VP-4 completed a highly deployment to NAS Adak , conducting numerous ASW operations and participating in PACIFIC EXERCISE-89 , the largest Naval exercise since World War II . Deploying to Diego Garcia in November 1990 , VP-4 quickly established a detachment at RAFO Masirah , Oman to enforce the United Nations Embargo against Iraq during Operation Desert Shield . By early January 1991 , 179 missions had challenged 3,669 merchant vessels . The embargo gave way to Battle Force Protection as war was declared on 17 January 1991 . Flying 279 combat missions and 2,779 flight hours in the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm , VP-4 provided detection and targeting , resulting in the total destruction of the Iraqi Navy . Upon returning home to Hawaii , VP-4 learned that it had again received the Chief of Naval Operations Golden Anchor and the Commander , Patrol Wings Pacific ( COMPATWINGSPAC ) Golden Orion for retention excellence . In November 1993 , VP-4 deployed to Misawa AB , Japan , and established a permanent detachment at Kadena AB , Okinawa . While on deployment , VP-4 received the 1993 Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award for a Pacific Fleet Maritime Patrol Squadron , the Commander , US 7th Fleet Award and the Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophy , both for Anti-Submarine Warfare ( ASW ) excellence . After completing a home training cycle , VP-4 conducted a split-site deployment to Misawa AB and Kadena AB in 1995 . During this deployment the squadron flew around the clock for seventeen straight days during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis , providing intelligence support and protection against anti-surface and subsurface threats to both the and carrier battle groups . In early 1997 , VP-4 completed a quad-site deployment to Diego Garcia ; Masirah , Oman ; Manama , Bahrain , and Kadena AB , Japan . While on deployment , VP-4 aircrew and maintenance personnel conducted the first permanent detachment in the Persian Gulf . In addition , VP-4 acted as the armed patrol aircraft detachment from Doha , Qatar , flying 21 straight days with weapons and exercised the first 24-hour armed ready alert Maritime Patrol Aviation ( MPA ) posture in the Persian Gulf . VP-4 acted as the fleets eyes in the sky in support of Maritime Interdiction Operations ( MIO ) , enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolutions ( UNSCRs ) and the Iraqi Oil for Food program . In 1998 , pursuant to the BRAC decision to close NAS Barbers Point , VP-4 relocated to NAS Kaneohe Bay , now known as Marine Corps Base Hawaii . In December 1998 , VP-4 again deployed to six sites around the Middle East , during their deployment , the squadron participated in three combat operations : Operation Desert Fox , where they were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation ; Operation Southern Watch , where VP-4 triggered the initial strike and delivered pre and post-strike imagery ; and Operations Allied Force/Noble Anvil in Kosovo , which resulted in VP-4s Combat Air Crew 10 being awarded eleven ( 11 ) Air Medals . In home waters that same year , VP-4 also hosted 35 countries during RIMPAC 98 . VP-4 was the first VP squadron to introduce the P-3C Anti-Surface Warfare Improvement Program ( P-3C AIP ) aircraft to the Fleet . VP-4 proved AIPs power during deployment by supporting three aircraft carrier battle groups in the Persian Gulf and becoming the first squadron to achieve reliable AIP imagery transfer . VP-4 was also the first squadron in the US 7th Fleet to fire the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile from a P-3C AIP aircraft . In November 1999 , VP-4 flew to NAS North Island , California to participate in Joint Fleet Exercise ( JTFEX/FLEETEX ) . While at JTFEX/FLEETEX , the squadron participated in 23 events , including AIP and AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile ( SLAM ) demo flights . In June 2000 , VP-4 conducted a WESTPAC deployment with detachments in 13 countries and participating in 27 multi-national exercises . The squadron also saved 22 lives in various Search and Rescue ( SAR ) operations within the Seventh Fleet’s Area of Responsibility ( AOR ) . The squadron was again honored with the Navy Battle E Award in 2000 , the third such award in five years . Following the September 11 attacks , VP-4 deployed to the US Central Command ( USCENTCOM ) AOR under Commander , Task Force 57 ( CTF 57 ) , a subordinate element of US Naval Forces Central Command ( USNAVCENT ) /US 5th Fleet . VP-4 conducted overland operations above Afghanistan flying armed reconnaissance missions and over the waters of the Middle East conducting Leadership Interdiction Operations in the first days of Operation Enduring Freedom . Over Afghanistan , VP-4 aircraft provided commanders a birds eye view of the terrain where US special operations forces ( SOF ) were operating to dislodge Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters from their mountainous hideouts . VP-4 also played a pivotal role in Operation Anaconda , the largest land battle in Afghanistan to that date . Over water , aircrews were instrumental in operations to intercept and cut-off fleeing Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters . For their efforts , VP-4 was once again recognized with the 2002 Commander , Naval Air Force Pacific Battle E Award as the top P-3 squadron in the Pacific Fleet . During their 2003 deployment , VP-4 continued to support Operation Enduring Freedom against terrorist factions in the Philippines , providing critical real-time intelligence . These missions highlighted the expanse of Coalition operations against Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda backed terrorists . VP-4 also had the opportunity to conduct the P-3Cs primary mission , ASW , against diesel and nuclear powered submarines , completing this deployment by flying over 4,000 mishap-free flight hours and completing over 800 missions . In 2005 , VP-4 successfully completed a wartime deployment to the Middle East and Western Pacific , carrying out a wide variety of missions ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support missions to the Indian Ocean tsunami victims , to direct support of ground combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan . In December 2006 , the squadron deployed to Misawa AB and Kadena AB , and to the Philippines , in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines . This was followed by a return to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in November 2008 . On this deployment , VP-4 supplied detachments in support of numerous joint and multinational exercises at RAF Lakenheath , United Kingdom ; RAF Kinloss , Scotland ; and NAS Sigonella , Sicily . This experience proved invaluable during the ensuing interdeployment readiness cycle , when VP-4 successfully planned , hosted , and executed the worlds largest joint , multinational military exercise , RIMPAC 2010 . Following completion of a series of detachment operations , VP-4 departed MCB Kaneohe Bay for a split site deployment in November 2010 , supporting assets in both the US 5th Fleet and US 7th Fleet AORs . Following the catastrophic 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 , VP-4 forward-deployed to Misawa AB in fewer than 24 hours and re-established CTG 72.4 as an operational entity and the first US aviation unit on station for Operation Tomodachi , with VP-4 subsequently providing 254 flight hours of humanitarian and disaster relief support to the Japanese people . In November 2012 , VP-4 was deployed to the US 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean , operating from NAS Sigonella , NS Rota , Spain and numerous other locations in support of US Naval Forces Europe , US Naval Forces Africa , NATO and Unified Combatant Commanders . As of 2013 , the squadron has surpassed over 40 years of mishap-free flying , with over 254,000 flight hours . VP-4 deployed in the Fifth and Sixth fleet from June 2014 to February 2015 . The squadron began deployment with an operational detachment to Keflavik , Iceland , in support of emergent Theater ASW tasking . Additionally , VP-4 provided support to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons , enabling the safe destruction of chemical weapons in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea . VP-4 simultaneously took part in 5 exercises located in Bulgaria , Finland , Spain and Turkey . VP-4 returned home in February 2015 to prepare for what would be their final P-3C Orion deployment . In March 2016 , VP-4 departed Oahu for the last time as a Hawaii squadron . Their Aloha Deployment was a busy one that saw personnel spread across three continents and twelve different countries . While on deployment , VP-4 executed a Permanent Duty Station Change ( PDSC ) to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island , returning home in September . VP-4 become the first squadron at NAS Whidbey Island to covert to the P-8 Poseidon in October 2016 . On April 2 , 2018 the squadron departed for Kadena Air Base , Okinawa , Japan for its inaugural deployment . Operations . Vietnam War . Starting 26 March 1965 , the squadron began a split-site deployment to MCAS Iwakuni , Japan , with detachments at various dates located at Naval Air Facility Tan Son Nhut Air Base , South Vietnam ; Naval Station Sangley Point and NAS Cubi Point , Philippines . 31 January 1967 : The squadron again deployed to WestPac at Iwakuni , Japan , and provided support to Task Force 72 during Operation Market Time ( coastal patrols off the coasts of South Vietnam ) . Detachments were maintained at NS Sangley Point and NAF Naha , Okinawa . Upon completion of deployment , Commander Patrol Forces , Seventh Fleet presented the squadron a letter of commendation for its support of operations and assistance in the destruction of an enemy trawler carrying arms destined for the Viet Cong . 17 April 1967 : A VP-4 P-3A Orion flying patrol off the coast of Korea was fired upon by an infiltrating North Korean speedboat . The damaged aircraft landed safely after reporting the vessels location . South Korean forces sank the intruder shortly thereafter . Lieutenant Commander C . W . Larzelere III , the PPC , received a Navy Commendation Medal for his handling of the emergency while under fire . 28 April 1967 : A VP-4 P-3A Orion ( BuNo . 151365 ) flown by Lieutenant C . D . Burton was lost at sea with all hands off the coast of Tsushima Island , Japan . 1 August 1968 : VP-4 was deployed to WestPac under FAW-6 at Iwakuni , Japan . Patrols were conducted in the South China Sea , Sea of Japan , Korea , the Philippine Islands and Guam . Detachments were sent to Cam Ranh Bay , in support of Yankee Team and Market Time operations . Yankee Team was a joint U.S . Air Force and U.S . Navy operation begun in 1963 that provided low-level aerial reconnaissance of suspected Communist infiltration routes in eastern and southern Laos . Desert Shield/Desert Storm . On 10 November 1990 , as a normal rotation , NAS Barbers Point based VP-4 ( with P-3C Update Is ) relieved VP-1 at Diego Garcia and RAFO Al Masirah . VP-4 C.O . Commander Bob Cunningham , took over CTG 72.8 and his X.O . Commander Carlos Badger , assumed the detachment ( det ) . at RAFO Al Masirah . During one 34-hour period , P-3s provided the detection and target locating information that resulted in a substantial reduction in the Iraqi Navys offense of capability . A group of 15 Iraqi vessels heading for Maridim Island , an outpost in Kuwaiti hands was detected by VP-4s Crew Five , who vectored strike aircraft against the force , resulting in five ships sunk and seven more damaged . This effort ended what would be Iraqis last seaborne assault . Hours later , VP-4s Crew 2 detected a group of Iraqi vessels attempting a rapid transit from Iraqi ports around Bubiyan Island , apparently trying to reach the safety of Iranian territorial waters . P-3s from VPs 4 , 19 , and 45 provided the target locations for the strike aircraft which destroyed 11 Iraqi vessels in what has been named the Battle of Bubiyan . Between 25–27 March 2006 , a series of anti-submarine warfare exercises were held in Hawaiian waters that included Carrier Strike Group Nine , the nuclear-powered attack submarines , , , , and , as well as land-based P-3 Orions from patrol squadrons VP-9 , and VP-47 , and VP-4 . Aircraft assignments . The squadron was assigned the following aircraft , effective on the dates shown : - PV-1 – July 1943 - PV-2 – July 1945 - P2V-1 – September 1947 - P2V-2 – January 1948 - P2V-5 – March 1953 - P2V-5F – March 1956 - P2V-7/SP-2H – September 1962 - P-3A – October 1966 - P-3B-MOD ( Super Bee ) – February 1979 - P-3C – March 1984 - P-3C UI – November 1989 - P-3C UIIIR – 1992 - P-8A – October 2016 Home port assignments . The squadron was assigned to these home ports , effective on the dates shown : - NAS Alameda , California – 1 July 1943 - Naval Air Station Whidbey Island , Washington – 1 November 1944 - NAB Eniwetok – 27 June 1945 - NAB Tinian – 1946 - NAS North Island , California – September 1946 - NAS Miramar , California – November 1947 - Naval Air Station Whidbey Island – January 1948 - NAF Naha , Okinawa – 13 August 1956 - NAS Barbers Point , Hawaii – November 1963 - Marine Corps Base Hawaii – 1998 - Naval Air Station Whidbey Island – September 2016