VPNAVY VP-5 Mercury Capsule Recovery
http://www.vpnavy.org
VPNAVY Address

HistoryVR-22 HistoryHistory

Circa 1967

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation June 1967 "...Last Flight Made By VR-22 - Page 3 - Naval Aviation News - June 1967..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1967/jun67.pdf [10SEP2004]

VP History Thumbnail

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation April 1967 "...Air Transport Squadron 22 Phases Out - Page 17 - Naval Aviation News - April 1967..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1967/apr67.pdf [09SEP2004]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1962

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News October 1962 "...Wing Safety Awards Given - Page 10 - Naval Aviation News - October 1962..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1962/oct62.pdf [24AUG2004]

VP History Thumbnail

Circa 1961

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News August 1961 "...MATS Commends VR-22 - Page 3 - Naval Aviation News - August 1961..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1961/aug61.pdf [20AUG2004]

VP History Thumbnail

Circa 1960

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News March 1960 "...Transport Squadron Cited - Page 19 - Naval Aviation News - March 1960..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1960/mar60.pdf [17AUG2004]

VP History Thumbnail

Circa 1958

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News November 1958 "...Uniforms Flown To Icecap - Page 31 - Naval Aviation News - November 1958..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1958/nov58.pdf [14AUG2004]

VP History Thumbnail

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News January 1958 "...R6D Makes Radio Survey - Page 39 - Naval Aviation News - January 1958..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1958/jan58.pdf [12AUG2004]

VP History Thumbnail

Circa 1956

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News October 1956 "...Ice Floes Ahead! - Page 1 to 5 - Naval Aviation News - October 1956..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1956/oct56.pdf [09AUG2004]

History - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge Thumbnail

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News March 1956 "...Pilots Hit 10,000 Hours - Page 38 - Naval Aviation News - March 1956..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1956/mar56.pdf [08AUG2004]

VP History Thumbnail

Circa 1953

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News November 1953 "...Bird Nest in VR-22 Plane - Page 33 - Naval Aviation News - November 1953..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1953/nov53.pdf [31JUL2004]

VP History Thumbnail

Circa 1950

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...VR-22 History..." http://navymats.com/VR22.html [01JUN2002]

Naval Air Transport Squadron Twenty-Two (VR-22) was commissioned late in 1950 at the U.S. Naval Air Station Norfolk VA as a unit of the Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet. Based there until 1965, it operated numerous types of aircraft - from the small Grumman TBM Avenger to the large Lockheed C-130E. Its missions ranged from Fleet Logistics Support, On board carrier delivery, and scheduled Navy re-supply flights to Military Air Command mission support. This included strategic airlift support missions between the U.S. and Europe, Afica, the Mediterranian and Carribean Seas.

In 1955, the squadron received its first modern aircraft, the Douglas R6D Liftmaster and won several MATS outstanding unit awards for flying safety, placeing high in the MATS system for moving passengers and cargo to a lengthening list of exotic destinations - including Norway, Morroco and New Zealand. In 1963 they transitioned to the new troop/cargo aircraft - the C-130E Hercules.

Equipped with 10 C-130E's, and repair and maintenance facilities they were a major tenant at the NAS Norfolk VA, manned by some 140 officers and 500 men. It was headquartered in Hangar SP2 in the northwest corner of the facility. Operating schedules included frequent flights to Puerto Rico, The Azores Islands, Spain, Italy, France, W. Germany, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Labrador and New Foundland. Special missions or emergencies have taken VR-22 aircraft as far afield as Turkey, Iran and the Congo. Indeed the squadrons operations were best summed up in their motto - "Omni Tempore Ubiuis" - ANY TIME, ANY WHERE!

In 1965, the squadron was relocated from NAS Norfolk to NAS Moffett Fld. CA where it joined VR-7 and VR-8 in their missions for the Naval Air Transport Wing Pacific under MATS. This squadron had compiled enviable records for flight safety, maintenance and aircraft availability. Commitments had been met and surpassed placeing VR-22 consistently near the top of all MATS squadrons, AF or USN.

Newly assigned personel were quickly indoctrinated to the high standards established in VR-22 and its excellent moral and esprit de corps. Being assigned as the last Navy squadron to MATS it was a definite challenge to the men in the squadron, and one they accepted with vigor and enthusiasm. They wanted to show their USAF colleagues and long time Navy MATS squadrons that they "could do" - and they did. The squadron was dis-established in 1967 along with the other Navy MATS squadrons but with a real sense of pride in taking the transition to Air Force operations in stride.


Circa 1949

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News May 1949 "...Unwary Bird Batters JRB-4 - Page 14 - Naval Aviation News - May 1949..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1940s/1949/may49 [14JUL2004]

VP History Thumbnail

Return
"VR-22 Summary Page"