page_title: VP-44 (1951-91)
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: VP-44 (1951-91) / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: A U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3A-20-LO Orion (BuNo 150497) of Patrol Squadron VP-44 flies over the Soviet ship Metallurg Anosov and destroyer USS Barry (DD-933) during the Cuban Missile Crisis.Barry had been ordered to investigate a Soviet merchantman, proceeded to her station on 9 November 1962 and sighted the merchant ship that evening. She closed to within 370 m on the merchantman's starboard quarter, illuminated the ship's quarter and bow, and identified her as the Soviet-registry Metallurg Anosov. Trailing astern, Barry followed the merchant ship, heading east away from the quarantine zone, until morning. After dawn, the destroyer closed the merchant, to "obtain photographs of deck cargo", until late morning when Barry shaped course for the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CVS-9) for refueling and transfer of photographic personnel. It is maden voyage of turbine dry cargo vessel Metallurg Anosov (delivery date of the vessel 29/09/1962).
context_page_description: This VP-44 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. 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. It was the fourth squadron to be designated VP-44, the first VP-44 was redesignated as VP-61 on 6 January 1941, the second VP-44 was redesignated VPB-44 on 1 October 1944 and the third VP-44 was disestablished on 20 January 1950.
context_section_description: 29 January 1951: VP-44 was established at Breezy Point, NAS Norfolk, Va., as a seaplane squadron equipped with nine Martin PBM-5 Mariners, under the operational control of FAW-5. Upon arrival, new aircrews were sent to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, for flight training.
  May–August 1951: VP-44 deployed to Naval Air Station Bermuda to fly patrol and convoy flights during Convex Two fleet exercises. When the exercises concluded in June, the squadron proceeded to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where it received seaplane tender support from USS Timbalier. A detachment of six aircraft was maintained at Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland, through August 1951, when the squadron returned to NAS Norfolk, Va.
  January–March 1952: VP-44 deployed to Bermuda for advanced base operations. During the deployment crews were sent to Baltimore, Md., for training on the P5M-1 Marlin. In March, a detachment was sent to Cuba for operations supported by USS Duxbury Bay. The squadron returned to NAS Norfolk in March 1952.
  23 April 1952: VP-44 received its first P5M-1 Marlin, becoming the first squadron to operate the aircraft. It had a better turning circle, newer antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and radar equipment, sturdier hull design, and more powerful engines than the PBM series.
  13 July 1953: The squadron experienced its first casualties when Crew 10 crashed at sea after developing engine trouble. Seven out of the aircraft’s eleven crewmembers were lost in the crash.
  15 July–September 1954: VP-44 deployed to Pembroke Dock, Wales, for 15 days of operations supported by USS Currituck. The squadron departed Britain for the Mediterranean Sea in early August. After visiting numerous ports in the Mediterranean the squadron returned to NAS Norfolk on 6 September 1954. This deployment marked the first occasion that the P5M Marlin had been flown "across the pond" to Europe.
  January–June 1955: VP-44 received the first of its new T-tail P5M-2 Marlins, so named due to the placement of the horizontal stabilizer at the top of the vertical tailplane instead of the base as in earlier models. In addition to improved power and endurance, the new aircraft were supplied with magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) gear to round out the electronic capabilities of the squadron. The squadron received its full complement of aircraft by 1 June.
  February 1955: VP-44 conducted experiments in refueling from a submarine while underway. The tests, in which a specially equipped P5M-1 was towed by a moving submarine tanker, were judged highly successful.
  February 1955: VP-44 made nationwide television news when the media learned that the squadron had been alerted to investigate a submarine contact off Nags Head, N.C. The sighting stirred public fears generated by the developing Cold War. The 30-minute response from the squadron in getting airborne and its 24-hour readiness made a positive impression on the public.  The initial contact was made by a VP-44 P5M during a training flight about 50–100 miles off the Virginia coast.  The sub was running with its snorkel exposed while moving slowly north.  It was immediately reported to VP-44 base .  Other VP-44 aircraft were sent to track the sub as it moved north.  When it moved out of the area other east coast squadrons continued the track.  The sub reportedly disappeared somewhere off New England.
  7–11 May 1956: Four P5Ms formed a test detachment to operate in open sea using a submarine as a floating base. The Marlins refueled from the tanker submarine USS Guavina off Dry Tortugas Island, Key West, and Tampa, Florida. The exercise was designed to give seaplanes mobility in areas where bases were not established, and to allow the squadron’s tender to stay submerged to avoid enemy detection. Guavina carried aviation fuel in her stern tanks, berthed the aircrews on board, fed them, provided logistical support, and carried a limited supply of spare parts and ordnance.
  1 May 1959: Under the terms of the still existing lend-lease agreement, the French Navy was leased a full squadron of ten P5M Marlins. VP-44 was tasked with training the officers and enli
caption: VP-44 P-3A flies over the Soviet ship Metallurg Anasov and destroyer USS Barry during the Cuban Missile Crisis
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