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

HistoryVP-94 HistoryHistory

Circa 2007

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...COMRESPATWING Disestablishment Ceremony - June 23, 2007 - Flyer (Squadrons: VP-60, VP-62, VP-64, VP-65, VP-66, VP-67, VP-68, VP-69, VP-90, VP-91, VP-92, VP-93 and VP-94)..." Contributed by ROBIDEAU, AWCS Larry Retired larobidoo@comcast.net [30JAN2008]

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY COMMANDER RESERVE PATROL WING NAVAL AIR STATION
JOINT RESERVE BASE
WILLOW GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA 19090-5010

June 23, 2007

Dear Reserve VP Alumni,

It is a distinct pleasure to welcome you to the Reserve VP reunion. Many of you have traveled great distances and arranged your busy schedules to attend this celebration with your shipmates; your presence truly makes this a memorable occasion. Thank you for coming.

This evening's event is a commemoration of our service to country, and the camaraderie we have attained through our common experiences. I'm confident it will afford each of you the opportunity to rekindle and share memories of times gone by, with much fondness and laughter.

Since their inception in 1970, Reserve Patrol Wing squadrons have played a significant role in the United States Navy's maritime strategies. You, the Citizen Sailors of yesterday and today, were and continue to be an indispensable component of our Navy. From both coasts of our great nation and everywhere in between, you and your shipmates left homes and careers behind, answering America's call. You flew and maintained the venerable P2 Neptune and P-3 Orion aircraft, training for missions and detaching worldwide. You leave behind a proud legacy. I congratulate each of you and I'm honored to call all of you "shipmates."

We must also remember to pay tribute to our families, for their sacrifice has been great. They, too, have borne the burden of service, and are most deserving of our gratitude. If your family is not present this evening, please pass to them my sincere thanks and admiration.

As this chapter in the annals of the United States Navy closes, let us remember that the legacy continues. The Navy you helped build remains strong, proud, and incredibly capable. Fair Winds and Following Seas!

Christopher A. Patton
CAPT USN

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...COMRESPATWING Disestablishment Ceremony - June 23, 2007 - Brochure (Squadrons: VP-60, VP-62, VP-64, VP-65, VP-66, VP-67, VP-68, VP-69, VP-90, VP-91, VP-92, VP-93 and VP-94)..." Contributed by ROBIDEAU, AWCS Larry Retired larobidoo@comcast.net [30JAN2008]

COMRESPATWING SQUADRONS

COMMANDER RESERVE PATROL WING SENDS ITS SINCERE THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO ALL WHO HAVE SERVED, AND IS GRATEFUL TO ALL THOSE CIVILIANS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THEIR CITIZEN SOLDIERS/SAILORS FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES.

The following squadrons and command were assigned to Commander Reserve Patrol Wing:
               SQUADRON  NICKNAME                  LOCATION
                VP-60 	"Cobras"              NAS Glenview, Illinois
                VP-62 	"Broadarrows"         NAS Jacksonville, Florida
                VP-64 	"Condors"             NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
                VP-65 	"Tridents"            NAS Point Mugu, California
                VP-66 	"Liberty Bells"       NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
                VP-67 	"Golden Hawks"        NAS Memphis, Tennessee
                VP-68 	"Black Hawks"         NAF Washington, D.C.
                VP-69 	"Totems"              NAS Whidbey Island, Washington
                VP-90 	"Lions"               NAS Glenview, Illinois
                VP-91 	"Black Cats"          NAS Moffett Field, California
                VP-92 	"Minutemen"           NAS Brunswick, Maine
                VP-93 	"Executioners"        NAF Detroit, Michigan
                VP-94 	"Crawfishers"         NAS New Orleans, Louisiana
                Reserve ASW Training Center   NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

Commander Reserve Patrol Wing
Command History

Commander Reserve Patrol Wing (COMRESPATWING) became the Navy's largest Patrol Wing in January 1999 following the consolidation of the former COMRESPATWINGPAC located at Moffett Federal Airfield, CA and COMRESPATWINGLANT located at NAS Norfolk, Virginia. Commander Reserve Patrol Wing became responsible for the training, readiness and oversight of seven assigned Maritime Patrol Aviation (MP A) Squadrons, the Reserve Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center (RA TCEN), three Weapons System Trainer detachments, and two Mobile Operations Command Centers (MOCCs). The Wing was an Echelon IV command under the administrative and operational control of Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. The Command's mission served two primary purposes 1) achieve and sustain combat readiness ensuring the availability of combat ready units capable of immediate employment in the event of war or national emergency; and 2) provide operational support during peacetime. At its pinnacle, COMRESPATWING included over 2,500 Drilling Reservists and Full Time Support personnel operating and maintaining 45 P-3 "Orion" aircraft.

The birth of Reserve Patrol Wing can be traced back to a major restructuring of the Naval Air Reserve that took place in 1970. The restructuring established two Reserve Patrol Wings, one East Coast Wing and one West Coast Wing, and 13 Reserve Patrol Squadrons.

The Squadrons first flew the SP2H "Neptune" but soon transitioned to the P-3 "Orion" during the mid-1970s. From the initial P-3A models, Reserve aircrews transitioned to the more capable P-3B TACNA V MOD and then onto the P-3C. Eventually, COMRESPATWING Squadrons came to operate the most modem P-3Cs in the fleet, which included AlP, BMUP and Update III aircraft.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Reserve MP A maintained a significant Cold War anti-submarine warfare force, and the Squadrons were part of the fabric of the entire country with units based from coast to coast. The Squadrons included, VP-60 and VP-90 (NAS Glenview, Illinois), VP-62 (NAS Jacksonville, Florida), VP-64 and VP-66 (NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania), VP-65 (NAS Point Mugu, California), VP-67 (NAS Memphis, Tennessee), VP-68 (NAF Washington, D.C.), VP-69 (NAS Whidbey Island, Washington), VP-91 (NAS Moffett Field, California), VP-92 (NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts), VP-93 (NAF Detroit, Michigan), and VP-94 (NAS Belle Chase, LA).

With the fall of the Soviet Union and the resulting reduction in the size of the Navy, six Reserve Squadrons were disestablished and the East and West Coast Wings were consolidated into a single Wing, which became Commander Reserve Patrol Wing, currently located at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Post-Cold War, COMRESPATWING Squadrons expanded their role by routinely integrating into Fleet operations and deploying year-round to worldwide locations in support of Fleet Commanders.

With the start of the 21st Century, a new challenge arose for the Reserve Patrol Community. Years of heavy usage on the nation's P-3 force took its toll and many aircraft started to reach the end of their service life. In order to provide a bridge to the follow-on Patrol Aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, COMRESPATWING Units were called upon to embark upon an unprecedented integration and asset sharing initiative. To assure the maximum return on national assets, COMRESPATWING transferred its most capable P-3s to its Squadrons co-located with Active Component Squadrons and concurrently disestablished stand-alone P-3 Squadrons. With the disestablishment of COMRESPATWING on 30 June 2007, two remaining Reserve Patrol Squadrons will continue to serve the nation under the control of their Active Component Wings. The thousands of Officers, Chiefs, and Sailors who have served in Reserve Patrol Wing Units leave behind a proud legacy of professionalism, service and camaraderie.
                             COMMANDERS OF RESERVE PATROL WING 
			
                CAPT Joseph E. K1ause, USN 	        Oct 1970   Oct 1972 
                CAPT James A. McCraig, USN 	        Oct 1972   Sep 1974 
                CAPT William H. Saunders, III, USN 	Sep 1974   Ju1 1976 
                CAPT Donald R. Yeager, USN 		Jul 1976   Jul 1978 
                CAPT Richard J. Lanning, USN 		Jul 1978   Jul 1980 
                CAPT Richard K. Chambers, USNR 		Jul 1980   Aug 1982 
                CAPT Earl R. Riffle, USN 		Aug 1982   Sep 1984 
                CAPT Michael A. Nash, USN 		Sep 1984   Sep 1986 
                CAPT Gerald H. Mollencop, USNR 		Sep 1986   Jul 1989 
                CAPT Michael T. Korbet, USN 		Jul 1989   Jul 1991 
                CAPT Douglas R. Birr, USNR 		Jul 1991   Oct 1993 
                CAPT David C. Hull, USN 		Oct 1993   Apr 1995 
                CAPT Patrick B. Peterson, USNR 		Apr 1995   Jul 1996 
                CAPT Frederick S. Gay, USN 		Jul 1996   Jan 1998 
                CAPT Riley J. Gladden, USNR 		Jan 1998   Jul 1999 
                CAPT Robert A. Sinibaldi, Jr., USNR 	Jul 1999   Jul 2001 
                CAPT David L. Montgomery, USNR 		Jul 2001   Jul 2003 
                CAPT Michael J. Szostak, USN 		Jul 2003   Jun 2005 
                CAPT Christopher A. Patton, USN 	Jun 2005   Jun 2007 

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...COMRESPATWING Disestablishment Ceremony - June 23, 2007 - CD History (Squadrons: VP-60, VP-62, VP-64, VP-65, VP-66, VP-67, VP-68, VP-69, VP-90, VP-91, VP-92, VP-93 and VP-94)..." Contributed by ROBIDEAU, AWCS Larry Retired larobidoo@comcast.net [30JAN2008]

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Circa 2006

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY:  History ThumbnailCameraDecommissioned "...The Navy Reservist - Decommissioned - Volume 32 - Issue Number 6 - June 2006 - Squadron's Mentioned: VP-65, VP-66 and VP-94..." WebSite: Naval Reserve http://www.navyreserve.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/03F079BF-D545-42C6-A335-577B42BE2D5D/133151/TNRJune06.pdf [13OCT2006]


Circa 2005

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...OPNAV NOTICE 3111 06 Nov 05 - Subject: Diestablishment of Commanding Officer, Patrol Squadron Six Five (Patron Six Five), Commanding Officer, Patrol Squadron Six Six (Patron Six Six), and Commanding Officer, Patrol Squadron Nine Four (Patron Nine Four)..." Contributed by Merrill Kruse kruse@navmar.com [12JAN2006]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...OPNAV NOTICE 3111 29 Nov 05 - From Chief of Naval Operations..." Contributed by Marco P.J. Borst p3orion@planet.nl [02DEC2005]

1. Purpose: To approve disestablishment of subject fleet activities, all under the administrative command of the Chief of Naval Operations.

2. Background: The disestablishment of PATRON SIX FIVE (VP-65), PATRON SIX SIX (VP-66), and PATRON NINE FOUR (VP-94) are in compliance with the Active Reserve Integration (ARI) plan. In adddition, P-3 aircraft fatique issues have required the grounding of 30 aircraft during CY 05, neccessitating an accelerated disestablishment plan to recapitalize scarce aircraft resources.

3. Organizational Changes: Effective 31 March 2006, disestablish VP-65, VP-66 and VP-94.

VP-65 is in NAS Point Mugu, California. VP-66 in NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. VP-94 in NAS New Orleans, Louisiana. None of the three squadrons had any aircraft left on the ramp. Their 12 P-3s were already on temp loan to active squadrons. All 12 will be transfered no later than 01 Feb 06 to either the active fleet or the boneyard at Davis Mothan AFB. IMRL gear and SE are already in process of being shipped to other locations.

This will reduce the Reserve P-3 force to a total of 18 P-3 aircraft in CY 06.

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...A quick report on Patrol Squadron 94 in New Orleans and it's run-in with Katrina..." Contributed by LARSON, LCDR John Retired oriondriver1975@yahoo.com [06SEP2005]

NAS Belle Chasse survived with moderate storm damage which is mostly confined to roofs and light structures. No major flooding occured and water was limited to street and low lying areas.

VP-94's hanger, which just completed a multi million dollar renovation, did not fare well and suffered extensive damage. The good news is that the new 'hurricane proof' hanger doors stood up to the 150mph winds. The bad news is the doors ripped out of the hanger structure and impacted the P-3C parked inside. Said P-3C was already on the grounded list due to high TLI and the decision to hanger it, vice flying it out, was made during the last hurricane that approached the area. VP-94 also transfered it's last remaining flyable P-3C during the hurricane evac, essentially leaving VP-94 as a squadron without aircraft or airstation.

The major threat to the NAS and NSA is presently the Looters that roam the city.

Naval Reserve Headquarters P-3 Class Desk (TYCOM) is relocated to NSA Millington, Tennessee until NSA New Orleans, Louisiana East is back in operation.


Circa 2004

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY:  History ThumbnailCamera040731-N-8253M-001 Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans (July 31, 2004) "...Aviation Warfare System Operator 2nd Class Glenn E. Bigbee assigned to Patrol Squadron Nine Four (VP-94) based out of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, performs a pre-flight check on the anti-submarine acoustics system aboard the P-3 Orion aircraft. The VP-94 aircrew is preparing for their mission to El Salvador to conduct drug interdiction operations. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Dawn Morrison (RELEASED)..." Navy News Stand http://newshome.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=16839 [03MAR2005]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VP-94 History ThumbnailCamera041116-N-5152P-004 Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, La. (Nov. 16, 2004) "...Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Chad Albee of Macomb, Okla., removes old caps from the brake assembly of a P-3C Orion. The caps prevent hydraulic fluid contamination in the brake assembly. Albee is assigned to the "Crawfishers" of Patrol Squadron Nine Four (VP-94), a Naval Reserve squadron based out of New Orleans, Louisiana. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Justin C. Proulx (RELEASED) ..." Navy News Stand http://www.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=19018 [01MAR2005]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VP-94 History ThumbnailCamera041116-N-5152P-001 Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, La. (Nov. 16, 2004) "...Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Chad Albee of Macomb, Okla., jacks-up the airframe of a P-3C Orion aircraft while removing wheel struts on the aircraft. Albee is assigned to the "Crawfishers" of Patrol Squadron Nine Four (VP-94), a Naval Reserve squadron based out of New Orleans, Louisiana. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Justin C. Proulx (RELEASED) ..." Navy News Stand http://www.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=19017 [01MAR2005]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...BUNO: 161334 07 Sept. 04 at the downtown Kansas City. Mo airport..." Contributed by Brian Kemp b.kemp@earthlink.net [02FEB2005]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...BUNO: 161334 taking off..." Contributed by Brian Kemp b.kemp@earthlink.net [01FEB2005]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...This aircraft and crew were in Kansas City for a retirement of a fellow sailor. She was a co-worker (civilian job) along with a Naval Reservist. It was a very nice retirement..." Contributed by Brian Kemp b.kemp@earthlink.net [31JAN2005]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...21 Aug. 04 on a nice three H day in Kansas City, MO, (Hot Hummid and Hazy)..." Contributed by Brian Kemp b.kemp@earthlink.net [31JAN2005]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Sailor Sets World Record in Bench Press - Story Number: NNS040901-21 - Release Date: 9/1/2004 3:55:00 PM - By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Jay Cope, Naval Air Station New Orleans Public Affairs..." http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=14992 [16NOV2004]

NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- Navy Counselor 1st Class James Burdette attached to VP-94, set a new world record in the 181-pound weight class Aug. 14 with a bench press of 540 pounds. The record lift was made while he was competing in the American Powerlifting Association sanctioned Panhandle Open in Mobile, Ala.

Burdette competes in the drug tested open category. His meet winning lift in that category broke the previous record for that classification by 15 pounds. Burdette also lifted 500 pounds in the squat competition and 505 pounds in the deadlift event for a competition total of 1,545 pounds. His event total was second only to a lifter competing in the 308-pound weight class.

Burdette's previous best in competition was 520 pounds, but he surpassed that in his workouts in preparing for the competition and had told the organizers of the event that he was confident he could break the record at their meet.

He's hardly done, though, as he has his sights set on passing the 565 pound record bench press in the non-drug tested category for his weight class. If Burdette is successful, the 181-pound weight class would be the only one where the drug tested lift is higher than the non-drug tested.

"I want to show that you don't need the ‘juice,'" he said, referring to performance enhancing drugs. "In the long run, they're bad for your body, and you can reach the same levels with just a little more time and dedication."

But even the 565-pound record is not his ultimate goal. Burdette hopes to exceed 600 pounds in his current weight class, and possibly move up to the 198-pound weight class and shoot for 700 pounds. While those goals could take years to achieve, Burdette doesn't mind, because lifting has become pure fun for him.

He works out five days a week at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans physical fitness center, including a three mile jog each morning and an average of two and one-half to three hours of lifting in the afternoons.

But he says the meets are where the enjoyment really is.

"With most sports, there is a lot of negativity towards your opponents. Powerlifting has a different mentality," said Burdette. "Everyone pulls for each other. You want to see everyone exceed their personal best, because you only want to beat a guy on his best day."

Burdette's next competition is in Houston, Sept. 18, where he is hoping to break his newly set record.

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Valhalla for 'Val' After Years of NASKEF Service..." Navy News Stand http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=11706 [02APR2004]

Valhalla for 'Val' After Years of NASKEF Service
Story Number: NNS040302-02
Release Date: 3/2/2004 9:30:00 AM
From Naval Air Station Keflavik Air Ops Public Affairs

NAVAL AIR STATION KEFLAVÍK, Iceland (NNS) -- For nearly 19 years, NAS Keflavik, Iceland's (NASKEF) UP-3A aircraft, Valkyrja, affectionately known as Val, served NASKEF's personnel. Jan. 26, Val was retired and flown to Davis-Mothan Air Force Base, where she was inducted into the aircraft "boneyard."

"The loss of Val not only marks the end of an era of NAS Keflavik, Iceland having a base aircraft, but more importantly, has impacted the base's ability to get personnel to professional conferences, symposiums and training seminars," said Lt. Cmdr. Joe Dickinson, NASKEF's air operations officer.

Her moniker, Valkyrja, is drawn from the Norse name for the "female chooser of the slain." The helmeted battle maidens would fly on supernatural horses over battlefields, determining the course and victors of war. The Valkyries' primary duty was to choose the bravest of the warriors slain on the battlefield, gathering their souls to escort them to Valhalla.

She was delivered to the Navy Aug. 29, 1962, making her much older than many of the personnel who currently fly and maintain her. During her faithful years of service in NAS Keflavik, Iceland, she has carried more than 22,000 personnel to more than 15 countries, while accumulating just over 10,000 mishap-free flight hours, including 5,675 landings. In total, Val has accumulated 20,108 mishap-free flight hours and flown more than 7 million miles--the equivalent of two years, three months, and 18 days in the air, 282 trips around the equator, or 14 trips to and from the moon. Prior to being stationed in NAS Keflavik, Iceland, she was assigned to VP-30, VP-8, VXN-8, VP-94, and Naval Aerological Support Center, Miami.

The 34 personnel in the Operations Maintenance Division, under the leadership of Lt. Mike Hersey, were responsible for the upkeep and "TLC" of the Navy's best-kept UP-3A, and they maintained an astonishing 89 percent "mission capable" rate. Although stationed in NAS Keflavik, Iceland, Val aircrews provided time-critical logistical support to Commander, Task Force 67 during Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF), Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and numerous task force exercises. Over a three-month period, Val flew 25 logistics missions in direct support of OEF/OIF and exercises Booming, Blue Game and Baltops. NAS Keflavik, Iceland aircrews flew more than 150 hours across six different countries, providing time-critical, intra-theater wartime transport throughout the Mediterranean and European areas of responsibility for more than 500 duty personnel and 50,000 lbs. of cargo.

"In addition to providing base support to professional functions throughout Europe and CONUS, Val provided a huge quality of life boost to the base service members and dependents as a space-available transportation opportunity," said Dickinson.

Val's last local flight was completed Jan. 22 with Capt. Mark Laughton, commanding officer of NAS Keflavik, Iceland, and Dickinson at the controls. The pilots, air crew and maintenance personnel will deeply miss Val, as will all who enjoyed the benefits of having a station aircraft.

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Firm will help bar closure of base in Algiers - Saturday February 07, 2004 - Hoping to shore up Naval Support Activity's standing in anticipation of planned federal military base closures in 2005, an Algiers economic development panel will hire a firm to help local officials determine how they can strengthen the West Bank base. The state Department of Economic Development paid about $50,000 for the air station study, which was prompted in part by news last year that the Navy wanted to move and eventually decommission two of its three squadrons there, Strike Fighter Squadron 204 and Patrol Squadron 94. Those moves, which are thought to leave the air station vulnerable, have been postponed until after 2005..." http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1076137046115010.xml [11FEB2004]


Circa 2003

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY:  History ThumbnailCamera030322-N-7535G-013 New Orleans, La. (Mar. 22, 2003) "...Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd class Sean D. Nelson from Euless, Texas and Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Janice R. Rang from Anniston, Ala., both assigned to Patrol Squadron Ninety Four (VP-94) located at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans use a Rhino Jack to change out tires on a P-3 Orion aircraft. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Mark Gleason. (RELEASED)..." Navy News Stand http://newshome.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=6547 [07MAR2005]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY:  History ThumbnailCamera030322-N-7535G-011 Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, La. (Mar 22, 2003) "...Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Tyrone D. Evans is removing screws and plugs on a P-3C Orion in preparation to loading bomb racks on the aircraft. Airman Evans is from Mount Pleasant, Texas and assigned to the "Crawfishers" of Patrol Squadron Ninety-Four (VP-94) at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans. He's originally from Mount Pleasant, Texas. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Mark Gleason. (RELEASED)..." Navy News Stand http://newshome.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=5870 [07MAR2005]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY:  History ThumbnailCamera030305-N-5152P-002 Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, La. (Mar. 5, 2003) "...Aviation Ordnancemen assigned to the "Crawfishers" of Patrol Squadron Ninety Four (VP-94) load an AGM-42 "Harpoon" missile onto a P-3 Orion aircraft. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Justin C. Proulx. (RELEASED)..." Navy News Stand http://newshome.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=7477 [06MAR2005]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Reservists Instrumental in Major Drug Bust - Story Number: NNS030129-07 - Release Date: 1/29/2003 12:52:00 PM...http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=5590..." WebSite: Navy NewsStand http://www.news.navy.mil/ [22FEB2003]

Reservists Instrumental in Major Drug Bust
Story Number: NNS030129-07
Release Date: 1/29/2003 12:52:00 PM
From Naval Reserve Force Public Affairs

NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- Two Naval Reserve aircrews and a guided-missile frigate joined forces to bust an alleged drug operation in the Pacific Ocean.

The interdiction started when an aircrew from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 77 spotted a suspicious "go-fast" boat south of Ecuador Jan. 22. They then passed the information to Combat Aircrew 4 of Patrol Squadron (VP) 94, based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.

"Once they were spotted, the go-fast boat's crew began throwing drugs into the water, so our VP-94 crew threw markers out to allow the contraband to be recovered," said Lt. Cmdr. Bob Hill, officer-in-charge of VP-94's detachment in Puerto Rico.

Hill said Naval Reserve frigate USS Boone (FFG 28) then recovered the drugs. Six people were arrested, the boat was seized, and 4,000 pounds of narcotics with a street value of $90 million were recovered.


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