VP-56 History
Circa 1978
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 Line Crew "...NAS Keflavik, Iceland deployment in 1978..." Contributed by HEARD, Robert robertheard@sc.rr.com [20JUL2007]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History and Change-Of-Command - Page 16 and 19 - Naval Aviation News - March 1978..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1978/mar78.pdf [09OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "21NOV78---Change of Command..." Contributed by Paul Waeghe, Jr. pjwaeghe@bellsouth.net [01MAR98] PATROL SQUADRON FIFTY-SIX 21 NOVEMBER 1978
Commander Robert C. Leslie Being relieved by Commander Dudley G. Oakes
1100 21 November 1978 hangar 1000-Segment 4 NAS Jacksonville, FloridaPrevious Squadron Commanders
COMMANDER H. C. McDONOUGH, USN Mar 1953-JAN 1954
COMMANDER C. L. BARDWELL, USN Jan 1954-Jan 1955
COMMANDER E. 1. STONECIPHER, USN Jan 1955-Jan 1956
COMMANDER D. G. MILLER, USN Jan 1956-Jan 1957
COMMANDER D. M. BIRDSALL, USN Jan 1957-Mar 1958
COMMANDER J. A. JONES, USN Mar 1958-Jun 1959
COMMANDER B. S. LARKINS, USN Jun 1959-Jun 1960
COMMANDER J. A. MONTGOMERY, USN Jun 1960-Jul 1961
COMMANDER R. L. MORRIS, USN Jul 1961-Jun 1962
COMMANDER D. W. HERLONG, USN Jun 1962-Jul 1963
COMMANDER C. G. BERKSTRESSER, USN Jul 1963-Apr 1964
COMMANDER L. E. MATHWICK, USN Apr 1964-Jan 1965
COMMANDER J. X. MILLER, USN Jan 1965-Dec 1965
COMMANDER G. F. THUMMEL, USN Dec 1965-Dec 1966
COMMANDER J. M. BROZENA, USN Dec 1966-Dec 1967
COMMANDER R. J. TOUCH, USN Dec 1967-Dec 1968
COMMANDER J. J. McINTIRE, USN Dec 1968-Dec 1969
COMMANDER M. MELTZER, USN Dec 1969-Dec 1970
COMMANDER S. E. KISH, USN Dec 1970-Nov 1971
COMMANDER H. P. FILLINGANE, USN Nov 1971-Dec 1972
COMMANDER J. B. KRAMER, USN Dec 1972-Jan 1974
COMMANDER C. S. CORNETT, USN Jan 1974-Dec 1974
COMMANDER W. H. COMPTON, USN Dec 1974-Dec 1975
COMMANDER J E. McNULLA, USN Dec 1975-Dec 1976
COMMANDER R. F. DONODEO, USN Dec 1976-Dec 1977
COMMANDER R. C. LESLIE, USN Dec 1977-Nov 1978MISSION OF PATROL SQUADRON FIFTY-SIX
All weather anti-submarine warfare TASKS:
1. Detect, track and destroy enemy submarines singlely, or in conjunction with other air, surface or submarine forces.
2. Conduct anti-submarine escort of convoysand Fleet units.
3. Patrol the sea and coastal areas to protect against enemy submarine-launched missiles.
4. Within the capabilities of ASW configured aircraft and equipment and ASW trained crews, conduct in addition to ASW tasks the following: A. Reconnaissance B. Assist in Air-sea rescue operations C. Destruction of enemy shipping D. ASW Aerial miningSQUADRON HISTORY
The Patrol Squadron FIFTY-SIX "Dragons" have to this day maintained a record of excellence, endeavor, and professionalism, despite numerous changes in skippers, aircraft, home-ports and operations. The name too has changed. In 1946 at NAS Anacostia, Washington, D.C. she was PATRON 900 and the aircraft was the PV2 "Harpoon". Today it is the Navy's most advanced operational, computer-integrated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform, the P-3C "Orion", a military variation of the civilian "Electra". In the interim, various models of the PBM "Mariner", P5M "Marlin", P-2 "Neptune", and earlier versions of the "Orion" have borne the squadron's combat air crews. VPML-71 and VP-661 were other names that we had, and they are now history. VP-56 is making and will make its own contribution to that heritage. Battle Efficiency Awards ("E's"), "Well Done's" and the lsbell Trophy for excellence in ASW have capped deployments to such diverse sites as NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; NAS Keflavik, Iceland; NS Rota, Spain; Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; NAF Lajes, Azores, Portugal.
Preparation for fleet introduction of the P-3C Weapons System began in the early summer of 1969 with special training in both Navy and Lockheed schools. The Squadron then spent a yea developing doctrine and tactics for the optimum utilization of our system. PATRON FIVE-SIX made its most recent move in the summer of 1971. The team that put the P-3C to work for the Atlantic Fleet became the first P-3C unit to be homeported at NAS Jacksonville, Florida.
The squadron has since made five highly successful deployments to NAS Keflavik, Iceland and two to NAS Sigonella, Sicily. The squadron returned from NAS Keflavik, Iceland in September, 1978.
Circa 1976
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-56 - Page 32 - Naval Aviation News - April 1975..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1976/apr76.pdf [05OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Change-Of-Command - Page 25 - Naval Aviation News - February 1975..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1976/feb76.pdf [05OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 Logo Contributed by Derric.Barber@warren.af.mil [05JUN2003]
Circa 1975
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-56 - Page 28 - Naval Aviation News - April 1975..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1975/apr75.pdf [02OCT2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...People Planes And Places - Page 38 to 39 - Naval Aviation News - January 1975..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1975/jan75.pdf [02OCT2004]
Circa 1973
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...'Dragons' To Keflavik - 'Woodpeckers' Return - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 30 - NO 50 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 15 MAR 1973..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [03JUL2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...This is AWN2 (AC) "Bookie" Bernie Bookhammer, Jr. in Holland on deployment to Iceland 1973..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...LQ-9 view from SS3..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...We once got a new pilot assigned to the squadron who came to us from the S2 Navy. He thought he was still driving a S2..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...The finest P3-C PPC I ever gave radar vectors to, LCDR Paul Moessner..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...AW2 Bookhammer. Honest, I am wearing ear plugs. Explains why I had a high frequency roll off in my hearing..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...ADJ2 Tom Martin. I think in 1973 deployed to Iceland. This photo I think was taken while we were in Thule Greenland..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...3rd Pilot LT Michalski 1973 I believe..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...IFT (AT1 or AX1) Ed Grindstaff and AEC Dutcher..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...LQ-9 and crew 9 Stavanger, Norway. 73 Deployment..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...IFT Ed Grindstaff aka "Dancing Bear" and AW2 Bill Hanna aka "Honda Bill." 1973 On Deployment..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...My roommate in Iceland, AO2 l. Bowers and his ordancemen buddies in our room. wonder why they might be called "BB stackers."..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [29MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...I think 1973 - NAS Keflavik, Iceland..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [28MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...The best job I ever had. I think this is from 1973..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [28MAR2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...This is what our interior looked like when we deployed. I think this is from a deployment to Island, either 1971, 1972 or 1973..." Contributed by BOOKHAMMER, AW2 Bernie bbookhammerjr@gmail.com [28MAR2006]
Circa 1972
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...Dragons Return Home - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 30 - NO 07 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 04 MAY 1972..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [01JUL2011]
Circa 1971
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...NAS' Newest Patrol Squadron Completes Arrival - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 29 - NO 18 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 22 JUL 1971..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [20JUN2011]
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 History "...New VP-Squadron Arrives Here - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 29 - NO 13 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 17 JUN 1971..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [19JUN2011]
Circa 1970
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...On Patrol - Page 24 to 25 - Naval Aviation News - July 1970..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1970/juln70.pdf [17SEP2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...On Patrol - Page 24 - Naval Aviation News - April 1970..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1970/apr70.pdf [17SEP2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...I Am Buno 156523- Page 24 to 25 - Naval Aviation News - February 1970..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1970/feb70.pdf [17SEP2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Squadron Awards..." Contributed by Mahlon K. Miller mkwsmiller@cox.net [23APR2001]
Humanitarian Service Medal 02 May 80 19 May 80 – 31 May 80
Meritorious Unit Commendation 11 Feb 82 – 11 Aug 82 25 Sep 87 – 23 Oct 87
Navy "E" Ribbon (Battle "E") 01 Jan 86 – 31 Dec 86
Navy Unit Commendation 04 Nov 70 – 15 Nov 70 23 Mar 86 – 31 Mar 86
Coast Guard SOS Ribbon 01 Jul 87 – 30 Sep 87
VP-56 Participating Aircrew Navy Expeditionary Service Medal 20 Jan 86 – 27 Jun 86 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 06 Jun 83
A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-56 AirFrames Crew "...AirFrames Crew, November 2, 1970, just prior to Iceland Deployment..." Contributed by Dave Koon AMS2 dkoon2007@comcast.net
"VP-56 History Summary Page"
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