page_title: VP-11
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: VP-11 / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: A U.S. Navy Lockheed SP-2H Neptune (BuNo 135596, named "Pegasus") of Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11) in flight over Mount Etna, Italy, circa 1965.
context_page_description: Patrol Squadron 11, nicknamed Proud Pegasus, was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island on 15 May 1952 and was disestablished on 2 August 1997. It was the fourth squadron to be designated VP-11, the first VP-11 was redesignated VP-54 on 1 October 1937, the second VP-11 was redesignated VP-21 on 1 February 1941 and the third VP-11 was redesignated VPB-11 on 1 October 1944.
context_section_description: 15 May 1952: VP-11 was established at NAS Quonset Point, with a complement of 12 P4Y-2 Privateer patrol aircraft.
  January–June 1953: VP-11 conducted its first deployment to Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland. Upon return, the squadron was assigned new P2V-5 Neptunes as replacements for the WWII vintage Privateers.
  November 1960–March 1961: VP-11 participated in underwater sound tests (Project Breezeway) with the Office of Naval Research from November to December 1960. The squadron was again called upon to assist in tests of new sonobuoy equipment during January to March 1961.
  8 February 1962: A detachment of VP-11 at NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, began ice reconnaissance flights over the Gulf of St. Lawrence to aid in evaluating satellite readings of the ice formations transmitted by TIROS 4 which was put into orbit the same day.
  24 October–14 November 1962: VP-11 deployed to NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, on 12 hours’ notice during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Surveillance flights totaling 1,065 flying hours were conducted through 14 November 1962.
  6 May–19 August 1965: VP-11 conducted around-the-clock surveillance operations with nine aircraft operating out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the Dominican Civil War. Operations ceased on 3 June 1965 and all but four aircraft returned to NAS Brunswick. The remaining four aircraft and crews continued surveillance in the Caribbean until 19 August 1965.
  12 October 1967: VP-11 deployed to Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland. The squadron was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation for its Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) activities during that period of operations. It was the first time the award had been given to a patrol squadron not in a combat zone.
  14–26 September 1969: Elements of VP-11 participated in a NATO exercise Operation Squeezeplay, conducted from St. Mawgan, England.
  23 July 1972: VP-11 received emergency deployment orders to WestPac. The squadron departed NAS Brunswick for NAS Cubi Point, Philippines, arriving 26 July. A small detachment was maintained at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand. Upon arrival in the Philippines the squadron’s deployment was greatly impeded by record rainfall of 74.4 inches. Despite the difficulties, the squadron was able to conduct assigned sector patrols of the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin. For its humanitarian efforts during disaster relief operations in the Philippines, the squadron was awarded a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
  25 October 1973: The last P-3B DIFAR upgrade on the squadron’s aircraft was completed on this date. VP-11 was the last East Coast P-3 squadron to be fitted with DIFAR, which replaced the 10-year-old JULIE system for detection and tracking of submarines.
  14 Apr 1975: VP-11 conducted a split deployment to Naval Base Rota, Spain, and Lajes Field, Azores. During the deployment the squadron hosted officers from Canada, Iran and Norway to familiarize them with the P-3 and it operational capabilities.
  15 October 1977: VP-11 deployed to Rota, Spain, and Lajes, Azores. On 11 December 1977, one of the squadron’ P-3Bs, BuNo. 153428, crashed into a mountain on Hierro Island, Canary Islands killing all 13 crewmembers.
  26 July 1978: Squadron detachments participated in UNITAS operations and visited seven South American countries during the exercises.
  23 January 1979: VP-11 conducted a split deployment to Rota, Spain, and Lajes, Azores. During the deployment the opportunity was taken to run exercise simulations against the Soviet Kiev and Minsk battle groups present in the Mediterranean Sea.
  2 February 1981: Phase I in the transition from the P-3B DIFAR to the P-3C UII began with the training of the first increment of four VP-11 crews at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. VP-30 conducted the transition training for VP-11.
  12 November 1981: VP-11 sent five crews to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station to participate in READEX 1-82. During the exercise the squadron had its first opportunity to fire a live Harpoon missile, successfully hitting the target.
  13 December 1985 – 24 May 1986: VP-11 deployed to NS Keflavik, Iceland, returning 
caption: VP-11 SP-2H over Mount Etna c.1965
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