VS - 32 VS - 32 , Sea Control Squadron 32 , known as the " Maulers " was commissioned as Air Anti - Submarine Squadron 32 ( VS - 32 ) in April 1950 . The squadron initially flew the Grumman TBM - 3E / - 3W Avenger and was based at Naval Air Station Norfolk , Virginia . In 1951 the squadron moved to Naval Air Station Quonset Point , Rhode Island . VS - 32 transitioned to the Grumman S2F - 1 " Tracker " in 1954 . The VS community moved in October 1973 to the homeport located at Naval Air Station Cecil Field , Florida . Since the closing of NAS Cecil Field , the East coast VS Squadrons have moved to Naval Air Station Jacksonville in 1999 . VS - 32 disestablished on 25 September 2008 . Mission . Over land employ the LANTIRN Targeting System to localize enemies and track them until given the authority to kill them . Use laser guided maverick missiles or buddy laze in order for others to use laser guided weapons on enemies . Pass precise coordinates to allied forces on the ground or in the air to deliver precision guided munitions to bear . Over the sea , use Automated Information System , Data Link , ESM , Radar , ISAR , NVDs , and Infrared systems to find ships . Pass their position to surface ships who will board and detain the enemy . Overhead the ship , use refueling stores . The maintenance team will get the Vikings airborne and the aircrew will put the jets in position for expeditious rendezvous in the tanker pattern . History . In early 1975 , VS - 32 had not transitioned to the S - 3A , but maintained the existing S2Fs in Hangar 11 at NAS Cecil Field , Jacksonville , FL . The Commanding Officer ( CO ) was CDR Ted Simpson , and the Executive Officer ( XO ) , soon to be the CO , was CDR Procter . The Squadron was being repopulated by members that would receive the transition training to the new aircraft . During the course of the year , many members received training on common systems shared with the P - 3C Orion at NAS Jacksonville , and also training on systems common to most Naval Aircraft . Many of the squadron members were chosen by the CO and XO for a particular training track . With a few exceptions , the squadron members were transported to NAS North Island in San Diego ( Coronado Island ) for transition training . There was a one week layover at NSA Fallon , Nevada , due to the aircraft being needed for the final evacuation from Viet Nam . The transition training was performed by technical representatives from Lockheed Burbank , Sperry Univac , and others . Many classes were instructed by naval personnel as well . Practical on - the - job training was with VS - 41 , the RAG ( Reserve Air Group ) squadron . The aircraft were actual S - 3As , flown by pilots in training , crewed by TACCOs ( Tactical Coordinator Officer ) , SENSOs ( Sensor Operators ) , and a copilot who was responsible for radar , FLIR , and other supplemental systems . The aircraft were maintained by members of VS - 32 with assistance from VS - 41 personnel . By the end of the summer of 1975 , many of the training tracks were complete , and many VS - 32 members continued at VS - 41 performing day - to - day operations . The first VS - 32 S3A was delivered , and subsequently ferried to NAS Cecil Field by VS - 32 personnel . The squadron returned to NAS Cecil Field en masse late 1975 , and continued to receive new aircraft regularly . Bureau numbers ( BUNOs ) began with 159700 and ended with 159711 . The purpose of having this number of aircraft , atypical for many sea going squadrons , was that one aircraft would essentially be used for parts , rather than a large purchase of spares alone . In 1976 , preparations for working up to the first cruise with the S3 were begun . The squadron sailed on the USS John F . Kennedy out of NS Norfolk , Virginia . During these work - ups , almost the entire squadron personnel , manuals , tools , test equipment , etc . were transported to Norfolk to be loaded onto the Kennedy . After a few weeks of underway training and verification , they would return in entirety to Cecil Field for a short break before returning to the ship . In August 1976 the squadron began moving members and aircraft to Norfolk for a North Atlantic cruise . From September to December 9 , they deployed to the North Atlantic for flight operations and training for winter operations . Of course , there were plenty of live opportunities to hunt for hostile submarines . There were many successful detections , tracking , identification , and recording on audio and digital tape of Soviet and other submarines . In addition there were a few visual sightings . The S - 3A was shown to be an accurate and extremely good platform for ASW . During this cruise there were flight ops north of the Arctic Circle , with flight deck personnel in extreme cold - weather gear . Aircrew members wore " poopy " suits in case of emergency ejections . These suits , worn underneath the flight suit would add just a few minutes of survival in the very cold waters . Many flight deck crew members would return to the inside after flight quarters and be forced to wait for the insulated masks to defrost from faces before being removed . On a lighter note , the VS - 32 squadron mates enjoyed a festive ceremony inducting them into the " Blue Nose Club " , receiving a Certificate of Membership , and many sported noses coated with blue indelible marker ink for some time . During the cruise , the Kennedy visited Edinburgh , Scotland ; Wilhelmshaven , Germany ; Brest , France and Portsmouth , England . On a more serious note , the USS Kennedy and the USS Bordelon had a collision at night during underway fuel replenishment , which did cosmetic damage to the Kennedy , but seriously damaged the superstructure , and port side of the ship of the Bordelon . The main mast was broken and fell onto the signal shack . The Bordelon was subsequently towed by the USS Mount Baker to port . VS - 32 suffered its first major incident when there was an explosive decompression at 24000 ft . The co - pilot broke his right arm when his side windscreen suddenly departed the aircraft . The pilot was blinded in one eye by debris , but returned his command to the ship with a near - perfect recovery . His blindness was temporary , and he returned to flight status shortly thereafter . During this final deployment in 2007 , VS - 32 aircraft flew 960 sorties , which totaled more than 2 , 200 flight hours , and included more than 950 carrier landings . Squadron VS - 32 operated at sea for 180 days with only 13 days spent in port . VS - 32 was officially disestablished on 25 September 2008 .