page_title: VP-49
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: VP-49 / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: A U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3C Orion from Patrol Squadron VP-49 Woodpeckers flying over the ocean near Iceland in 1993.
context_page_description: VP-49 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy, having held that designation for 45 years from 1948 to 1994. Its nickname was the Woodpeckers from 1973 to 1994. It was established as VP-19 on 1 February 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-19 on 1 October 1944, redesignated VP-19 on 15 May 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron VP-MS-9 on 15 November 1946, redesignated VP-49 on 1 September 1948 and disestablished 1 March 1994.
context_section_description: 1 February 1944: VP-19 was established at NAS Alameda, California, as a seaplane squadron flying the PBM-3D Mariner. Personnel were given ground and operational patrol training through July under the operational control of FAW-8.
  10 July 1944: The squadron began its transpac to NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, from NAS Alameda, Calif. The last aircraft arrived on 18 July 1944. While at Kaneohe the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-2. Operational training in the use of JATO commenced immediately after the squadron was settled into its new quarters.
  2–23 November 1944: VPB-19 flew to Parry Island, Eniwetok, based on board the tender USS St. George. On 23 November 1944, the squadron moved ashore at Parry Island. Activities consisted of daily sector searches, hunter-killer patrols, air-sea rescue and reconnaissance flights over Wake and Ponape islands. The squadron came under the operational control of Commander Shore-Based Air Force, Marshalls-Gilberts Area.
  12 February 1945: VPB-19 was transferred to Iwo Jima via Saipan, with tender support provided by USS Hamlin. Missions were flown to within 100 miles of the Japanese mainland.
  6–17 March 1945: VPB-19 was transferred back to Parry Island, Eniwetok, based ashore with a detachments aboard various tenders. The squadron returned to combat operations consisting of sector searches, hunter-killer patrols and Dumbo missions in the vicinity of Ponape and Wake Islands.
  May 1945: Squadron planes were equipped with expendable radio sonobuoys and the crews were trained in their use.
  July 1951: The squadron was transferred to a new home base at NAS Bermuda under operational control of FAW-5. Intra-service training missions were conducted in cooperation with the USAF squadrons stationed at Bermuda.
  1955: VP-49 provided support for the evaluation trials of the first nuclear submarine USS Nautilus.
  July–September 1957: VP-49 participated in evaluations using an LSD-type tender to support the operation the squadron's P5M aircraft.
  October 1962: VP-49 participated in the quarantine of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The squadron joined several other regular and reserve patrol squadrons in surveillance flights over the approaches to Cuba during the period of quarantine from 15 October to 26 November 1962.
  June 1963: A deployment to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base marked the last time the squadron operated as a seaplane squadron. From June to August 1963 the squadron turned in its SP-5B Marlin seaplanes in preparation for transition to a landplane squadron.
  August 1963 – February 1964: The squadron was transferred to NAS Patuxent River, Md. On 1 September 1963, NAS Patuxent River officially became the new home base for VP-49. However, the main body of the squadron remained at NAS Bermuda and only a detachment was maintained at NAS Patuxent River. The squadron detachment began transitioning from the SP-5B Marlin seaplane to the P-3A Orion. The main body of the squadron moved to NAS Patuxent River in February 1964.
  1964: VP-49 joined VPs 8 and 44 in alternating convoy coverage from the East Coast of the U.S. to the coast of Spain in Operation Steel Pike I. It marked the first time that land-based escorts provided complete ASW coverage for a convoy transiting the Atlantic.
  15–22 July 1966: A detachment of VP-49 aircraft deployed to Kindley Air Force Base, Bermuda, to provide air support for the Gemini 10 mission.
  6–15 September 1966: Aircraft from VP-49 deployed to Kindley AFB, Bermuda, to provide air support for the Gemini 11 mission on 12 September.
  27 May 1968: VP-49 began a split deployment with half of the squadron based at Naval Station Sangley Point, Philippines, and the other half at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand. The Philippine detachment was at Sangley Point when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the area. Personnel of the squadron volunteered hundreds of hours in support of the international relief efforts. The U-Tapao detachment flew missions for the Seventh Fleet in Operation Market Time surveillance operations in Vietnamese waters.
  17 July 1970: VP-49 deployed
caption: VP-49 P-3C near Iceland in 1993.
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