VP-16 History
Circa 1989
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 29, 31 and 33 - Naval Aviation News - November-December 1989..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1989/nd89.pdf [22OCT2004]
Circa 1987
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Tracing Squadron Lineage - Page 22 to 26 - Naval Aviation News - January-February 1987..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1987/jf87.pdf [20OCT2004]
Circa 1985
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Reserves - Change-Of-Command - Page 27 to 29 - Naval Aviation News - November-December 1985..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1985/nd85.pdf [18OCT2004]
Circa 1984
A BIT OF HISTORY: "00XXX84--This information is taken from a cruise book from an Iceland cruise in 1984... Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN, known as the "War Eagles," has the primary mission of detecting, tracking and if necessary, destroying hostile submarines. Secondary missions include mine laying, shipping surveillance, reconnaissance, and search and rescue. The squadron was commissioned in May 1946 at NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida, as VP-ML-56operating six amphibious PBY "Catalinas." Redesignated Patrol Squadron 741 in 1949, the squadron continued to operate in reserve status until the commencement of hostilities in Korea in 1951. At that time the "Catalinas" were replaced with Lockheed P2A-2 "Neptune" patrol bombers. In February 1953, VP-741 was made part of the regular Navy with the new designation of Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN. During their colorful history, the Eagles have participated in activities and exercises on both the east and west coasts, and throughout the world including Springboard Operations, UNITAS XI, XIII, and XX(exercises around the South American continent). In 1961, VP-16 commenced "Project Mercury" as part of the space capsule recovery force. The first aircraft over the "Friendship Seven" capsule of LTCOL JOHN H. GLENN belonged to Patron SIXTEEN. During their deployment to Sicily in 1973 the Eagles were awarded the Battle "E" for outstanding performance with the new P3C in the Mediterranean theater and in 1974 received the Battle "E" for the second consecutive year. In 1976, the Eagles completed their third highly successful deployment to Sicily in one of the most active operational environments in the world, and received the Navy Unit Commendation for this outstanding deployment. Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN deployed to Keflavik, Iceland in November 1977, and returned to NAS Jacksonville, Florida in April 1978. The squadron deployed to Sigonella, Sicily until May of 1979 and once again had an outstanding operation in the Mediterranean theater. Returning from deployment the Eagles kept alive the 20 year tradition of Patrol Squadron involvement in the annual joint North/South American exercise, UNITAS. 1980 found Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN back in Sigonella for yet another Mediterranean deployment. On returning in 1981, the Eagles received the Isbell Trophy for ASW Excellence. The squadron deployed in August 1981 to Bermuda with two detachments to Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines. The squadron returned to the Eagle's Nest in Jacksonville in late February 1982 and received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for ASW excellence. In November 1982, in preparation for a split deployment to Lajes, Azores and Rota, Spain, Patron SIXTEEN won the Top Bloodhound Award for torpedo placement accuracy and set new Wing records in the Operational Readiness Evaluation. In addition to achieving the highest overall grade in WING ELEVEN history, individual records were set in seven of the ten graded categories. Setting a standard for retention excellence, PATRON SIXTEEN also won the COMPATWING ELEVEN Retention Cup for both halves of FY-82; the COMPATWING ELEVEN Bronze Anchor Award; and the COMNAVAIRLANT Silver Anchor Award. The Squadron also received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for ASW prosecutions conducted in the Lajes ASW sector, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal for support of U.S. forces in Lebanon. Returning to Jacksonville in June of 1983, VP-16 had accumulated over 134,000 hours in 18 years of accident free flying. The return also marked a first at NAS Jacksonville, Florida with the transition to the P-3C UPDATE 11.5 aircraft. Completing two of the most successful ASW operations ever against forward deployed Soviet nuclear submarines during the at-home Ready Alert Cycle, Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN was nominated by COMPATAWING ELEVEN and received the Battle Efficiency "E" for excellence during CY 1983. Other awards received during 1983 include the Golden Wrench Award for Maintenance Excellence, the COMINEWARCOM "Miner of the Year" designation, the COMPATWING ELEVEN "Top Gun" award for all the facets of weapon loading and delivery excellence, and the Combined Federal Campaign "Silver Award" for achieving over 180 percent of assigned goal...Lance Collins..."
A BIT OF HISTORY: 1984 Winners of the AVCM Donald M. Neal Aircraft Maintenance Award...VP-16, VP-19, and VP-66..." Contributed by Paul J. Waeghe, AFCM Retired pjwaeghe@bellsouth.net [27FEB98]
Circa 1983
A BIT OF HISTORY: P-3 Line-up! "...VP-5, VP-16, VP-24, VP-45, VP-49 and VP-56 P-3 aircraft lined up in NAS Jacksonville, Florida Circa 1986..." Contributed by NICKLAW, Jeffrey aswoc88@gmail.com [07JUN2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 29 - Naval Aviation News - November-December 1983..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1983/nd83.pdf [17OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Grenada Combat Operations 25 October–2 November 1983...Squadrons Mentioned: VP-10, VP-16, VP-23, VR-56, VR-58, VR-59, and VS-28...Naval Historical Center ADOBE Download File: http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP27.PDF [27MAY2003]
Grenada Combat Operations 21KB
A BIT OF HISTORY: [31AUG99]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-16 Patch Contributed by Jay Broze vjb2@classic.msn.com
Circa 1982
A BIT OF HISTORY: ID: DNST8601683 "...A Navy SH-3G Sea King helicopter from Fleet Composite Squadron Five (VC-5) prepares to take off. In the background (left) a Navy VP-16 P-3 Orion aircraft is visible. Location: NAS Cubi Point, Philippines (PHL) - Camera Operator: PH1 DAVID C. MACLEAN Date Shot: 14 Jan 1982..." WebSite: Defense Visual Information Center http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/ [07FEB2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: ID: DNST8601684 "...A Navy SH-3G Sea King helicopter from Fleet Composite Squadron Five (VC-5) prepares to take off. In the background (left) a Navy VP-16 P-3 Orion aircraft is visible. Location: NAS Cubi Point, Philippines (PHL) - Camera Operator: PH1 DAVID C. MACLEAN Date Shot: 14 Jan 1982..." WebSite: Defense Visual Information Center http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/ [07FEB2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: ID: DNST8601685 "...A Navy SH-3G Sea King helicopter from Fleet Composite Squadron Five (VC-5) takes off. Below (left) four P-3 Orion aircraft (VP-16 and VP-22) and (background) F-4 Phantom II aircraft are visible. Location: NAS Cubi Point, Philippines (PHL) - Camera Operator: PH1 DAVID C. MACLEAN Date Shot: 14 Jan 1982..." WebSite: Defense Visual Information Center http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/ [07FEB2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...The Great Seal Of The United States - Naval Aviation News - August 1982..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1982/aug82.pdf [15OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Squadron Insignia - Naval Aviation News - January 1982..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1982/jan82.pdf [15OCT2004]
Circa 1981
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 4, 44 and 47 - Naval Aviation News - August 1981..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1981/aug81.pdf [14OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Circa early August 1981. VP-16 detachment leaving NAS Jacksonville, Florida going to NAS Cubi Point, Philippines..." Contributed by Jim Murta murtajim@hotmail.com [16DEC2001]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Circa early August 1981. VP-16 detachment leaving NAS Jacksonville, Florida going to NAS Cubi Point, Philippines..." Contributed by Jim Murta murtajim@hotmail.com [16DEC2001]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Circa 1981. Leaving for NAS Cubi Point, Philippines..." Contributed by Jim Murta murtajim@hotmail.com [16DEC2001]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Circa 1981. NAS Jacksonville, Florida..." Contributed by Jim Murta murtajim@hotmail.com [16DEC2001]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Circa May 1981..." Contributed by Jim Murta murtajim@hotmail.com [16DEC2001]
Circa 1980
A BIT OF HISTORY: "... NAS Sigonella, Sicily 1980-1981 pictures - http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2134192336&code=13417831&mode=invite&DCMP=isc-email-AlbumInvite..." Contributed by Jim Murta murtajim@hotmail.com [13DEC2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-16 History "...LF 7 with ordnance at NAS Sigonella, Sicily May 1980..." Contributed by Jim Murta murtajim@hotmail.com [05MAY2003]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-16 business card from 1980..." Contributed by Jim Murta murtajim@hotmail.com [02MAR2001]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "00XXX80--I was on board the daylight crew that flew and photographed the stranded russian sub back in the early 80's it was the one off the Atlantic coast too close for comfort, that had got entangled with a sonar towed cable of one of our navy asw ships..." Contributed by Lance Collins lcollins@CSWNET.COM
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Designed by the ordies during the NAS Sigonella, Sicily deployment 1980. it was designed by AO1 Eckard. I do not know why..." Contributed by Jim Murta murtajim@hotmail.com [12MAR2001]
"VP-16 History Summary Page"
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