 VP-45 History
Circa 1959
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...VP-45 Demonstrates Mobility - Page 33 - Naval Aviation News - August 1959..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1959/aug59.pdf [15AUG2004]
 
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...BACK IN HUMID BERMUDA - ...OUR NAVY 15 Oct. 1959 Page 18..." [21FEB2002]
The Naval Base, Bermuda, is again bustling with activity with the welcoming home of the men of VP-45 from their seven week deployment at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. During this stay in Texas, the squadron was responsible for training 1,200 Midshipmen from 52 leading colleges and universities in all aspects of seaplane operations.
The three week indoctrination cruise is designed to give a basic and inclusive picture of aviation to the Midshipmen. VP-45, with twelve aircraft and nearly three hundred men, set up a ground school training program which showed the Middies the mission, need and capabilities of a seaplane squadron.
This ground school training prepared the Midshipmen for their indoctrination flights in the Martin P5M Marlin seaplane. In giving these flights the squadron flew some 1,400 hours. During the flight each student was allowed to operate the many various pieces of complicated equipment in the aircraft as well as get the feel of the big boats by actually handling the controls in the cockpit.
It was the aim of the officers and men of the Squadron to present fully this aspect of aviation to these future officers and to influence them towards a Naval flying career.
Circa 1958
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Icebound In The Frozen Waters - Page 32 - Naval Aviation News - May 1958..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1958/may58.pdf [13AUG2004]
Circa 1957
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Operation 'Springboard' - Page 30 - Naval Aviation News - March 1957..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1957/may57.pdf [10AUG2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...VP-45 Moves With No Strain - Page 12 - Naval Aviation News - January 1957..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1957/jan57.pdf [10AUG2004]
Circa 1956
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 History "...Four FAW-11 Squadrons Hunt 'Enemy' - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 13 - NO 44 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 16 FEB 1956..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [14FEB2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...VP-45's Sustained Flight - Page 37 - Naval Aviation News - April 1956..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1956/apr56.pdf [09AUG2004]
 "...NARMID 1956 NAS Corpus Christi, Texas Summer Deployment Cruise Book [19FEB2002]
Patrol Squadron Forty-Five for the second consecutive year was selected to train midshipmen at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. The NARMID operation is part of a three year program to acquaint naval officer trainees with all phases of naval life so they will be prepared to select a branch of the navy when they are graduated. VP-45 was assigned the task of indoctrinating the "Middies" in all aspects of seaplane operation.
A total of 1600 midshipmen from 52 colleges and universities throughout the United States took part in the summer cruise. Our squadron was responsible for setting up a ground school training program which would show the students the mission, need and capabilities of a seaplane squadron. In addition the ground work prepared them for their indoctrination flight in the Martin "Marlin." During the flight each student was allowed to take actual control of the aircraft for approximately 30 minutes and "get the feel" of flying the big boats. Each midshipman was allowed to make either a rocket run or a low altitude bombing run during his time in the seat.
Over 20,000 hours of classroom instruction covering courses in Maintenance, Aerology, Flight Principles, Safety, Indoctrination to Anti-Submarine Warfare and Operations were given by squadron pilots.
During the NARMID operation the aircraft of VP-45 were flown approximately 1200 hours, a sure indication that a lot of work was involved.
Now that NARMID 1956 operation has been completed, Patrol Squadron Forty-Five can return to Fleet operations with the knowledge and satisfacti~on that a most efficient and thorough indoctrination of VP operations was available to the NROTC Midshipmen.
The particular benefit accruing to the NROTC Midshipmen was in being able to see in operation, and at its best, the proudest and most efficient squadron in the Navy.
Circa 1955
A BIT OF HISTORY:  Squadron History "...FAW-11 Sets 10-Day ASW Exercise (Mentioned: FAW-11, VP-5, VP-34 and VP-45) - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 13 - NO 26 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 22 SEP 1955..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [09FEB2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 History "...Jax Units Cited For "Lantminex" - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 12 - NO 51 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 31 MAR 1955..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [05FEB2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 History "...Five Patrol Squadrons In A-S Exercise - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 12 - NO 46 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 24 FEB 1955..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [04FEB2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 History "...Air Wing Eleven Squadrons Hunt Subs In Test - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 12 - NO 40 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 13 JAN 1955..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [03FEB2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...VP-45 Speeds Rocket Loads - Page 30 - Naval Aviation News - March 1955..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1955/mar55.pdf [03AUG2004]
Circa 1954
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 History "...FAW-11 Units Hold AS Exercise - JAX AIR NEWS (FASRON-109, FAW-11, VP-16, VP-18, VP-34 and VP-45) - VOL 12 - NO 31 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 28 OCT 1954..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [01FEB2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 History "...Submarine Killer - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 12 - NO 24 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 09 SEP 1954..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [31JAN2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 History "...Patrol Units Wind Up Exercise - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 12 - NO 01 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 1 APR 1954..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [26JAN2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 History "...Patrol Squadrons Convene Here For Anti-Sub Exercise - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 11 - NO 50 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 25 MAR 1954..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [25JAN2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 P5M "...A P5M from VP-45 launches from the NAS Jacksonville, Florida pier in 1954. Thursday, April 5, 2007 Vol. 65 - No. 14..." WebSite: JaxAirNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [06APR2007]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-54 History "...P5M of VP-45 prepares for launch in 1954..." WebSite: EBay http://cgi.ebay.com/ P5M-of-VP-45-prepares-for-launch-Photo-8x10_W0QQitemZ6569533561QQcategoryZ104061QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem [13NOV2005]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Hart Memorial Award Made - Page 34 - Naval Aviation News - June 1954..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1954/jun54.pdf [02AUG2004]
Circa 1953
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-45 History "...FAW-11 Units Conducting A-S Maneuvers (VP-34 and VP-45) - JAX AIR NEW - VOL 11 - NO 24 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 24 SEP 1953..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Rockets Probe Upper Region - Page 24 - Naval Aviation News - October 1953..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1953/oct53.pdf [31JUL2004]
Circa 1952
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...FAETULAN, FAW-3, FAW-5, FAW-11, VP-3, VP-5, VP-7, VP-8, VP-10, VP-11, VP-21, VP-23, VP-24, VP-26, VP-34, VP-44, VP-45, VP-49, VP-661, VP-741 and VP-861) - Naval Aeronautical Organization OPNAV NOTICE 05400 for Fiscal Year 1953 dated 1 October 1952 is: DECLASSIFIED per Office of Chief of Naval Operations on 1 February 1965 by Op-501..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/a-record/nao53-68/fy1953-oct52.pdf [14MAR2007]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...3 Squadrons Safety Leaders - Page 35 - Naval Aviation News - May 1952..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1952/may52.pdf [26JUL2004]
Circa 1951
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...Winning Squadrons Selected - Page 31 - Naval Aviation News - December 1951..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1951/dec51.pdf [25JUL2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...1951 Jacksonville, Florida Local Newspaper - Airmen Score Twelve 'Kills' On Submarine..." Contributed by Gerald Novak novakgt@att.net [12MAY2001]
Airmen Score Twelve 'Kills' On Submarine
 Crew Photo
Receiving the latest information concerning the "friendly enemy" submarine they are to attack from Comdr. George Chesquiere, skipper of the Jacksonville-based VP-3, are squadrom members (left to right) Aquilla Parker, AL2; LT(jg) Thomas Davies; Gerald T. Novak, AT2; LT James Zowarka; Ervin Parker, ALC; James Hodgins, AO3; Comdr. Chesquiere; LT Aage Schou; and Warren Lathrop, AD3.
"Sighted sub, sank same 12 times," reported the Jacksonville based FAW-11 during its anti-submarine exercises off the Florida East Coast last week.
The dozon "kills" claimed by the wing were all on the same under-water vessel, the USS Grampus, which was working in co-ordination with the aircraft during anti-submarine practice.
Nineteen "attacks" were made on the sub and the number of "kills" made were recorded by aerial photographs made during the operations. Lt. Comdr. Eugene C. Barnhart Jr., skipper of the "friendly enemy" submarine, called the recent training exercises one of the most successful in which he has participated.
Capt. Arthur S. Born, commander of the FAW-11, reported that most effective of the four squadrons participating was VP-3 of the local air station with five successful attacks out of siz attempts.
Three kills were made by both VP-18 and NAS Coco Solo, Panama, Canal Zone VP-45 with the NAS Trinidad, British West Indies VP-34 making one successful attack.
During the practice operations, the pilots and crew members rose at 2 a.m. and were briefed on the mission, last reported position of the submarine, tactics they were to employ, and weather information.
The photographs taken during the exercise are now being used to improve anti-submarine methods and techniques employed by FAW-11.
Circa 1950
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...College Men See Aviation - Page 24 - Naval Aviation News - October 1950..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1950/oct50.pdf [22JUL2004]
"VP-45 History Summary Page"
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