 VP-16 History
Circa 1999
A BIT OF HISTORY: Commodore Frocks VP-16 Sailors at 29,000 Feet by Lt.jg Billy Ray Davis, Jr...VP-16 Public Affairs Officer...Jax Air News - June 24, 1999 Page 18 [06JUN99]
Capt. Alex Hill, Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 recently frocked two VP-16 Sailors to their new pay grades while on a transatlantic flight. Aviation Electronics Technician Neil Spoentgen and Aviation Structural Mechanic Leroy Daul were both frocked to the new rank of petty officer first class by the commodore, who took great pleasure in recognizing the accomplishments of these Sailors.
The unique atmosphere of an airborne P-3 gave the ceremony a special and lasting memory for all those involved, even the crewmembers who assembled to witness the auspicious event.
Daul commented, "seeing the commodore take time, while in flight, to recognize our achievements makes this a memory that will last a lifetime."
Spoentgen stated, "Getting frocked by Commodore Hill while in-flight made this a doubly memorable occasion"
While Daul and Spoentgen had the special distinction of getting frocked in flight; the remainder ofVP-16 personnel were recognized by Cmdr. Chuck Martello, VP-16 commanding officer, and their shipmates at a frocking ceremony held on June 9. Martello recognized each individual by taking the opportunity to emphasize the importance of reaching one's fullest potential in the naval service. He frocked 27 squadron personnel, of which 12 were third class petty officers.
Joining the petty officer ranks is a significant career milestone, and a special congratulations goes out to the following newly frocked third class petty officers:
AMH3 Daniel Amold
AMS3 Joel Bagayaua
AE3 Bradley Baxter
AT13 Daniel Bradberry
AD3 Sabrina Harrison
AE3 Randald Johnson
AE3 Mesada Jordan
AWA3 Ramon Morales
AMH3 Jason Mowery
AT13 Harold Stephens
PN3 Jennifer Tagoai
YN3 Robbin Thomas
AD3 Jeff Tomaszewski
AT13 Randolph Wemer
Frocked to the rank of petty office second class were:
AWA2 Jason Clark
AT12 Jeffrey Davis
AT02 Graham Ginn
YN2 Tennil Hairston
AT02 Davis Leung
PR2 Heather Long
AZ2 Jeremy Nieman
AE2 Micheal Nichols
AWA2 Jason Orcutt
AMS2 Stephen Pelgar
AT12 Robert Peloquin
AT02 Terry Trayer
AMS2 Robert White
Frocked to the rank of petty officer first class were AWAI Curtis O'Neal, and ADI BruceWolfe.[06JUL99]
Circa 1998
A BIT OF HISTORY: Contributed by STRINGER, AW1(AW) Kenneth W. ken.stringer@outlook.com [15MAY2003]
Crew Flag - This was the ideal of our flight engineer, who told us crews used to make their own flags as well as patches. This was the flag our crew made and we displayed it proudly in the plane during every mission we flew.
Crew Cook - This was AT1 Cole, a man of many hats on the crew. He was one of the best in-flight cooks, crew ordancemen, and I think he also fixed things from time to time.
Kef Spool-O-Meter: This was just a little comic-relief that found its way onto the duty office board near the end of a long deployment. It was mostly poking fun at an OPS-O and a long winded AWCS. They would frequently call from our second site down south to make much-a-do about nothing at our otherwise quite and peaceful DET site in Kef.
Crew-3
IFT
1998 | 
Crew-3
Flag
1998 | 
Crew-3
Cook
1998 | 
Keflavik
Spool-O-Meter
1998 |
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN Change-of-Command - 20 March 1998 NS Roosevelt Roads, PR..." Contributed by STRINGER, AW1(AW) Kenneth W. ken.stringer@outlook.com [13MAY2003]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...A July sunrise at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, July `98. Foreground is 163292, background is 158920..." Patch Contributed by AW1(AW) Kenneth W. Stringer ken.stringer@outlook.com [12SEP99]
Circa 1997
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...04MAR97 - NWSA2505. Association names top pilots and naval flight officers (VP-16, VP-45, and VP-62)..." http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/navywire/nwsa97/nwsa0304.txt [09JUL2003]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NWSA) -- The Bald Eagle Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviation named its top pilots and naval flight officers for 1996 during a banquet at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, Feb. 27.
Six pilots and three naval flight officers were selected from among 50 finalists from the five air wings and the Naval Air Reserve at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Station Mayport. More than 1,000 area pilots and naval flight officers were eligible.
Winners of Pilot of the Year honors are: LT Greg C. Huffman, of Strike Fighter Squadron 83, NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida; LT Mike Ruth, of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 7, NAS Jacksonville, Florida; LT Temijuiin H. Glass, of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 46, Naval Station Mayport; LT Gregory J. Schmeiser, of VP-16, NAS Jacksonville, Florida; LT Brian M. Sauter, of Air Antisubmarine Squadron 24, NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida; and LCDR John A. Bullock III, of Fleet Tactical Support Squadron 58, NAS Jacksonville, Florida.
Top Naval Flight Officers of the Year are: LT Sean R. Liedman, of VP-45, NAS Jacksonville, Florida; LCDR Timothy W. Summers, of Air Antisubmarine Squadron 22, NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida; and LT Guy D. Jackson, of VP-62, NAS Jacksonville, Florida.
A BIT OF HISTORY: "03FEB97--NWSB421. VP-16 supports refugee operation By JO2 David Crenshaw, Navy Public Affairs Center, Norfolk JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NWSB) -- Navy LTJG Jace Dasenbrock, son of Fred Dasenbrock of Bloomington, Minn., is serving with Navy VP-16 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. VP-16 flies the P-3C Orion which has a primary mission of anti-submarine warfare. Infrared, acoustic and magnetic detection devices are used to find and track submarines, and the P-3C has bombing and mining capabilities. The squadron's most recent mission used some of their capabilities to locate and document refugees and their movements in Zaire. "Helping reestablish a sense of normalcy' to their lives is very rewarding," said the 25-year-old pilot who flew the "Orion" from a base at Entebbe, Uganda. "I'm responsible for putting the aircraft into position and sighting the camera onto the proper target," he said. "This allows our operators to use electro-optical gear and obtain the images." From the air, crew members noted locations of several large refugee tent sites which easily stood out from the lush, green, mountainous countryside near Lake Kivu, the border between Zaire and Rwanda. They also observed large groups traveling along the road to Goma, Zaire. Dasenbrock doesn't take the significance of VP-16's involvement in Zaire lightly, noting how it provided information to decision makers. Several crew members described the nine-hour flights as "an aerial obstacle course," dodging seasonal thunderstorms while trying to document refugee locations and movements below. There was additional excitement when, flying high above Goma, crew members witnessed "puffs of smoke," characteristic of antiaircraft fire bursting well below the aircraft. The aircraft left the area to continue the mission elsewhere. "There was no damage to the aircraft or injuries to the crew as the aircraft were operating well above the range of the expected threat for the area," said CDR. William P. Nash Jr., VP-16's commanding officer. However, the incident drew worldwide attention as it was reported by several news agencies. Dasenbrock is married to the former Sherry Rhodes. He's a 1989 graduate of Rushford Central High School in Rushford, N.Y., and a 1993 graduate of the University of Arizona with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics..." http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/navywire/nwsb97/nwsb0203.txt
Circa 1996
A BIT OF HISTORY:   KefTacEx 96 "...All of the participants in KefTacEx 96 lined up on the transient ramp at NAS Keflavik, Iceland..." Contributed by Baldur Sveinsson BALDUR@verslo.is WebSite: http://www.verslo.is/baldur/ [24DEC2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...P-3 Crew Returns From African Mission - By LT Barbara Burfeind, NAS Sigonella PAO...(Mentioned: VP-16, VP-66, TSC and MOCC )" WebSite: The Navy Public Affairs Library http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/eurnews/eur96/eur96049.txt [04DEC2005]
SIGONELLA, Sicily - (NENS) -- Pilots and crew members from VP-16 returned last Friday following four weeks in Entebbe, Uganda, with two flight crews alternating daily surveillance flights over Zaire, Africa. The maritime patrol aircraft located and documented numbers of refugees and their movements in Zaire.
"We've gone into the painting business, and we're covering the world," said CDR William P. Nash Jr., VP-16's commanding officer, while briefing his squadron before departing for Entebbe. He noted how the squadron being forward deployed allowed them to be in both hemispheres, with crews flying in Bosnia, Iceland and Uganda.
The NAS Jacksonville, Florida, based squadron is at NAS Sigonella, Sicily for a five-month Mediterranean deployment under Commander, Task Force Sixty-Seven. Augmenting VP-16's operations was VP-66, a reserve P-3 squadron based in NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The reservists flew logistics and supply runs to and from Entebbe.
While based in Entebbe, the P-3 squadron gave the world a rare glimpse of its operations -- historically used for anti-submarine warfare over water -- with VP-16 adapting its aircraft capabilities to an "overland" mission of locating refugees.
During the deployment, squadron crew members were interviewed and taped by CNN television, Stars & Stripes, American Forces Network (AFN), BBC and various stateside and international media.
The squadron provided critical information to the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) for their assessment of the humanitarian situation in Central Africa, CDR Nash said. Tactical Support Center (TSC) NAS Sigonella, Sicily supplied the crews with the required intelligence and charts for the region and detached one officer and two enlisted Sailors with the Mobil Operational Control Center (MOCC).
From the air, crew members noted locations of several large refugee tent cities which easily stood out from the lush, green, mountainous countryside near Lake Kivu. The crew members also observed large groups traveling along the road to Goma, Zaire.
Several crew members described the nine-hour flights as "an aerial obstacle course," dodging seasonal thunderstorms while trying to document the various refugee locations and movements in Zaire.
"We've seen thousands of people and tents. It's very easy to see the tent cities with the naked eye," said AME1 William Liening of St. Henry, Ohio. "They're just a blanket of white."
"This is a standard Navy P-3 day," said AW2 Gina Mahoney, of Thompson Falls, Mont. "This is exactly what we're trained to do; it feels good to know that we're prepared and can help."
The flights were not without excitement. Wednesday, Nov. 20, about midday, above Goma, Zaire several crew members witnessed "puffs of smoke," characteristic of anti-aircraft fire, which burst well below the aircraft. The P-3 left the area and continued the mission at other locations.
There was no damage to the aircraft or injuries to the crew, as the aircraft was operating above the range of the expected threat for the area, said CDR Nash. However, the incident drew worldwide attention as it appeared in news coverage on CNN, in the Associated Press, and on the Internet that same evening.
Although Zairian refugee assessment continues, VP-16's two aircraft and crew have returned to Sigonella. Two West coast P-3 squadron crews relieved the VP-16 crews. From here, VP-16 contiues to "paint the world."
Circa 1995
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Deployments, Change-Of-Command, Awards, Records, Etc. - Naval Aviation News - July - August 1995.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1995/ja95.pdf [12NOV2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Change-Of-Command - Naval Aviation News - May - June 1995.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1995/mj95.pdf [12NOV2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Records and Awards - Naval Aviation News - March - April 1995.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1995/ma95.pdf [12NOV2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-16 Patch "...Naval Air Force Commander Atlantic Fleet - VP-16 1995..." Contributed by Timothy M Walker AW1(AW/NAC) USN Retired tmwalker@bellsouth.net [02JAN98]
Circa 1994
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...NAVY NEWS SERVICE - 09 NOV 94 - NAVNEWS 066/94 - NNS748. Sailor Saves Heart Attack Victim's Life..." http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/navnews/nns94/nns94066.txt [26MAR2005]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- A Navy petty officer battled nearly 30 minutes to save the life of a heart attack victim recently while on emergency leave in Hammond, Ind.
Yolanda Stigger had stopped her car on the street after her husband, August Stigger, slumped over in the passenger seat. Her granddaughter, about 15 years old, began screaming in horror. Upon hearing the screams, VP-16's Aviation Electronic's Technician 3rd Class Georgia Mercer rushed out of her house and saw two men attempting CPR on Stigger.
"They didn't have his head tilted to open up the airway, and they were not actually at the end of his sternum. They were in the mid-part of his chest pumping into his rib cage which could have caused a lot of damage," said Mercer.
Mercer checked for Stigger's pulse, but could not find one. She immediately began breathing into his lungs and pumping his heart. When the paramedics arrived, they applied a defibrillator that gave him the shock needed to get his heart beating on its own.
Acting on a phone call from the paramedics in Indiana, VP-16's commanding officer, CDR Andy Andersen, surprised Mercer with a Navy Achievement Medal
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Records (Safe Flying) - Naval Aviation News - November - December 1994.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1994/nd94.pdf [12NOV2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...NAVY NEWS SERVICE - 13 JUL 94 - NAVNEWS 043/94 - Jacksonville Sailor Saves Drowning Victim..." http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/navnews/nns94/nns94043.txt [26MAR2005]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- A Sailor assigned to Patrol Squadron Sixteen, at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, applied his CPR skills to save a neighbor from drowning July 11.
Alerted by a neighbor, Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Jesse Davis, hurried to the backyard pool where a man lay unconscious on the bottom. Davis immediately pulled the man out of the pool and began administering first aid. Unassisted, Davis conducted CPR for four minutes while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
"I didn't have time to think about what to do," Davis said. "I just reacted to the situation at hand, and relied on my Navy training and gut instincts. I'm glad I was able to make a difference."
The following morning, Davis was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal by his commanding officer, CDR Andy Anderson, for "his heroism and fundamental lifesaving knowledge."
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Awards, Major Deployments, Etc. - Naval Aviation News - July - August 1994.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1994/ja94.pdf [12NOV2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Awards, Records, Etc. - Naval Aviation News - May - June 1994.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1994/mj94.pdf [12NOV2004]
Circa 1993
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...VP Deployments, Change-Of-Command, Etc. - Naval Aviation News - July - August 1993.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1993/ja93.pdf [12NOV2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: " OPNAVNOTE 1650...VP-16 (01FEB93 - 01FEB94 / 09FEB95 - 09AUG95) AWARDED THE MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION" http://www.navy.mil/homepages/bupers/uniform/muc.txt
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-16 Logo "...Puerto Rico/Panama/Key West/Honduras Winter '93 - '94..." Contributed by Timothy M Walker AW1(AW/NAC) USN Retired tmwalker@bellsouth.net [13FEB98]
Circa 1992
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Patrol Aviation In The Pacific In WWII - Naval Aviation News - July-August 1992.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1992/ja92.pdf [11NOV2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Squadron Deployments, Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Disestablishment, etc. - Naval Aviation News - July-August 1992.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1992/ja92.pdf [11NOV2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Change-Of-Command - Naval Aviation News - March-April 1992.." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1992/ma92.pdf [11NOV2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-16 Patch "...It was designed by a VP-16 crew in '92 or '93. It says it all!..." Contributed by Timothy M Walker AW1(AW/NAC) USN Retired tmwalker@bellsouth.net [02JAN98]
Circa 1990
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...1990 Patrol Squadron Major Deployments - Page 19 - Naval Aviation News - July-August 1991..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1991/ja91.pdf [23OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Modernization Under Way - Page 8 to 9 - Naval Aviation News - March-April 1990..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1990/ma90.pdf [22OCT2004]
"VP-16 History Summary Page"
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