VP-68 Blackhawks Squadron Patch – Sew On <p>A 4 inch squadron patch of the VP-68 Blackhawks</p><p>VP-68 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. The squadron was established on 1 November 1970 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Its home port moved to Naval Air Facility Washington in 1985. The squadron was disestablished on 16 January 1997, after 26 years of service. Its nickname was the Blackhawks from 1972 onward. Elements of the squadron made 28 major overseas deployments.</p><p>Operational history</p><p>1 Nov 1970: VP-68 was established at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, as a Naval Air Reserve land-based patrol squadron flying the SP-2H Neptune. The new squadron came under the operational and administrative control of Commander, Naval Air Reserve Forces, Atlantic and Commander, Fleet Air Reserve Wings, Atlantic. VP-68 was established as a result of a major reorganization of Naval Air Reserves that took place in mid-1970. Under the Reserve Force Squadron concept 12 land-based naval reserve patrol squadrons were formed and structured along the lines of regular Navy squadrons with nearly identical organization and manning levels. The 12/2/1 concept had 12 VP squadrons under two commands, COMFAIRESWINGLANT and COMFAIRESWINGPAC. These two commands came under the control of one central authority, Commander Naval Air Reserve. The new squadron was composed of elements of pre-existing reserve squadrons, VP-68A1 and VP-68A2 based at NAS Anacostia, D.C.<br /> 1971: VP-68 became the first East Coast reserve squadron to transition from the SP-2H to the P-3A Orion.<br /> July–August 1973: VP-68 were deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain. VP-68 became the first P-3A reserve squadron to operate in the Mediterranean, the Bay of Cádiz and the Straits of Gibraltar.<br /> July–August 1975: VP-68 was the first reserve squadron to perform mini-det annual active duty for training while deployed to NAF Lajes, Azores. The squadron’s aircrews were assigned under the operational cont