A BIT OF HISTORY: "...17AUG64 "They Hid Cause 'Kathy' Too Much 'Lady' For VP-17" By LTjg S. L. Childress..." Article submitted by Richard D. Hunt RRRNwestcr@aol.com

Typhoon "Kathy," which struck Okinawa repeatedly beginning August 17, set an all time record as she scattered aircraft throughout the western Pacific. Task Group 72.2, which consists of Patron Squadrons Seventeen and Six, were the two units involved in the mass evacuation.

Striking with the uncertainty of a woman, "Kathy" made three separate runs on the island. Twenty-four hours before she was to hit the Ryukyus for the first time, VP-17 and VP-6 manned their aircraft and headed for the areas of safety.

Eleven hours later their aircraft were in five separate countries and as far displaced as 2400 miles. All in all, the aircraft and men of Task Group 72.2 dispersed over an area of approximately six hundred thousand square miles - from Saigon, Viet Nam to Atsugi, Japan.

This surely was the Big Daddy of the typhoon fly-aways. In Tainan, Taiwan, just 60 miles from Communist China sat five of 72.2 aircraft. Two more were chocked 500 miles to the south at Sangley Point in the Philippines.

Two of VP-17's airplanes, which were immobile due to maintenance difficulties, rode out the typhoon at Naha Air Base, Okinawa. But, they say the best liberty was toward the north and 12 of the aircraft were flown into Japan.

Patrol Squadron Six had nine aircraft at Iwakuni, while the NAS Atsugi, Japan became home for three of VP-17's aircraft. The last two aircraft of Task Group 72.2 were temporarily based in Saigon, Viet Name, and to them the typhoon was a little concern.

If Task Group 72.2 really wanted to set a record as the most widely dispersed, the one VP-6 aircraft which is still in Periodic Aircraft Rework (PAR) at NAS Alameda, California, would surely clinch the title.

VP-6 which recently arrived from Hawaii to supplement Task Group 72.2 can well be proud of their rapid mobilization and deployment. Twenty-four hours after being notified, six Blue Shark aircraft were airborne from Barber's Point en route to Okinawa with five more following just a day behind.

By-passing all of the usual paperwork preparations required to move a deploying squadron certainly has its advantages as far as simplifying the moving process. According to squadron members it's the only way to go. Being already in a mobile state, the Typhoon Flyaway two days after arriving on Okinawa, was all in a day's work.

Circa 1962

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Record Safe Hours Flown - Page 29 - Naval Aviation News - June 1962..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1962/jun62.pdf [23AUG2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Five Squadrons Patrol China Coast - Page 15 - Naval Aviation News - January 1962..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1962/jan62.pdf [22AUG2004]

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Circa 1960

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Meritorious Unit Commendation - 01JUN1969-15NOV1969 - Submitted 30DEC1969..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [14DEC012]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...(FASRON-111, VP-6, VP-22, VP-28, VP-45 and VP-49) - Naval Aeronautical Organization OPNAV NOTICE 05400 for Fiscal Year 1960 dated 1 February 1960 is: DECLASSIFIED per Office of Chief of Naval Operations on 1 February 1965 by Op-501 - Atlantic Fleet Support Stations..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/a-record/nao53-68/fy1960-feb60.pdf [13MAR2007]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Two Log 1200 Safe Hours - Page 26 - Naval Aviation News - April 1960..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1960/apr60.pdf [18AUG2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Neptune Spots USSR Ship - Page 33 - Naval Aviation News - March 1960..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1960/mar60.pdf [17AUG2004]

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"VP-6 History Summary Page"

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