VP-19

VP-19 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed the Big Red. It was the third squadron to bear the VP-19 designation. This article is about the third VP-19, but also includes information about the lineage of the others.

Lineage
The third VP-19 held that designation for 45 years, from 1946-1991. Its lineage is as follows:
 * Established as Reserve Patrol Squadron VP-907 on 4 July 1946.
 * Redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron VP-ML-57 on 15 November 1946.
 * Redesignated VP-871 in February 1950.
 * Redesignated VP-19 on 4 February 1953, the third squadron to be assigned the VP-19 designation.
 * Disestablished on 31 August 1991.

Previous VP-19s
The first VP-19 held that designation for 21 months in 1937-1939, in a squadron that ultimately became VPB-121. Its lineage was as follows:
 * Established as VP-19 1 Oct 1937
 * Redesignated VP-43 1 Jul 1939
 * Redesignated VP-81 1 Jul 1941
 * Redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-121 1 Oct 1944
 * Disestablished 1 Jun 1946

The second VP-19 held that designation for six months in 1944, and another six months in 1946, in a squadron that ultimately became VP-49. Its lineage was as follows:
 * Established as VP-19 1 Feb 1944
 * Redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-19 1 Oct 1944
 * Redesignated VP-19 15 May 1946
 * Redesignated Patrol Medium/Seaplane Squadron VP-MS-9 15 Nov 1946
 * Redesignated VP-49 1 Sep 1948
 * Disestablished 1 Mar 1994

Significant events

 * May 1946: VP-907 was established at NAAS Livermore, Calif. The squadron came under the operational control of FAW-4, Pacific Fleet, and administrative control by Naval Air Reserve Training (NARTU). The squadron was another of the 21 reserve squadrons established after the war to accommodate the large number of aircrews recently released from active duty and utilize the enormous stocks of aircraft in the inventory. The squadron flew the PV-2 Harpoon, and the amphibious PBY-5A and PBY-6A Catalina.


 * 15 Nov 1946: All patrol squadrons were redesignated. Regular Navy squadron designation numbers began with 1 and reserve squadron numbers began with 5. VP-907 was redesignated VP-ML-57. The ML, medium patrol squadrons, included twin-engine medium amphibious seaplanes, as well as twin-engine land-based bombers. Regular Navy patrol squadrons with the ML designation were for twin-engine medium land-based bombers only. The amphibious medium seaplanes like the PBY-5A used the AM, amphibian designation for regular Navy patrol squadrons.


 * Feb 1950: The personnel and assets of VP-ML-57 and VP-ML-72 were merged and redesignated VP-871 during the reorganization of Naval Aviation reserve units in 1949, the effective date for this action was February 1950. During this period the number of naval aviation reserve squadrons was reduced from the 1949 total of 24 to 9. The squadron transitioned to the P2V- 2 Neptune during this period.


 * 1 Mar 1951: VP-871 was recalled to active duty by the president for service during the Korean War. The squadron relocated from its home base at Oakland, Calif., to NAS Alameda, Calif. Aircrews were given transition training for conversion to the P4Y-2/2S (a redesignated PB4Y-2) Privateer. The 2S version of this aircraft featured surface search radar.


 * Oct 1951–Jul 1952: On its first deployment to NAS Atsugi, Japan in October VP-871 conducted shipping surveillance over the Sea of Japan. On 12 December 1952, the squadron formed a detachment that operated from Kimpo AFB, South Korea, to provide night interdiction missions in support of Marine Corps nightfighter squadrons in Korea. The squadron received its nickname, “Big Red,” for dropping red night illumination flares (150 Mk-6 flares per mission) for allied air and ground units. Upon its return from Japan in July 1952, the squadron began the transition to P2V-2 and - 3 model Neptunes.


 * Jan–Jul 1953: VP-871 deployed to Guam. Toward the end of the Korean War the decision was made to establish all nine reserve patrol squadrons activated during the 1950 to 1951 time period as part of the regular Navy. On 4 February 1953, VP-871 was redesignated VP-19. The redesignations did not require changes in tail codes or home bases. After returning to NAS Alameda in July 1953, the squadron commenced transition to the P2V-5 Neptune.


 * 4 Sep 1954: During the squadron’s deployment to NAS Atsugi, Japan, one of the squadron’s P2V-5 aircraft on a routine ECM and weather surveillance flight over the Sea of Japan, 40 miles off the coast of Siberia, was attacked and set on fire by two Soviet MiG-15 aircraft. The Neptune ditched successfully at sea, and all hands except for the navigator were able to exit the sinking aircraft and climb aboard a life raft. A USAF SA-16 amphibian picked the aircrew up the next day. Ensign R. H. Reid, the missing crew member, was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.


 * 1 Aug 1955: VP-19 received the first of its new Lockheed P2V-7 Neptunes with improved electronics, cockpit and enlarged bomb bays.


 * May 1957: VP-19 deployed to NS Kodiak, Alaska, with detachments at NAS Adak and Ladd AFB in Fairbanks. In five brief months, the squadron spotted 169 Russian ships. This compared with previous sightings in the Alaskan Sea Frontier of 92 Russian ships over a full year.


 * 10 May 1960: VP-19 deployed to NS Kodiak, Alaska. During the deployment the squadron conducted operational bombing exercises by breaking up ice covered rivers that were causing flooding along the Yukon River.


 * 1 Aug 1961: The squadron conducted weekly mail drops to ships of radar picket squadrons in the Pacific. This operation provided training for the squadron in locating ships at sea.


 * 23 Oct 1964–Jul 1965: Big Red deployed to NS Adak, Alaska. This tour of duty marked the first winter deployment of a P-3 Orion squadron to Adak, and one of the longest for a patrol squadron to date. The squadron was relieved by VP-45 in July 1965.


 * 9 Apr 1966: A squadron P-3A PE-4, BuNo. 152171, was lost off the coast of Baja, Calif., while engaged in an ASW training flight. All 11 members of the flight crew were killed.


 * 4 Jul 1966: The crew a squadron P-3A PE-5, BuNo. 152-172, was lost on a training flight near Battle Creek, Mich. All four members of the flight crew were killed.


 * 1 Aug 1966: The squadron deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. Various detachments conducted patrols over the South China Sea off the coasts of Vietnam, marking the first deployment of the squadron to a combat zone since the Korean War.


 * 1 Feb–Jun 1968: VP-19 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, under the operational control of FAW-6. Upon arrival, the squadron was put on alert due to the seizure of the intelligence ship Pueblo (AGER 2) on 23 January 1968 by the North Korean Navy. Through the end of February the squadron flew more than 1,500 hours in support of the surveillance of North Korea waters. In April, the squadron flew missions in support of operations in Vietnam, with detachments at Guam; Sangley Point, R.P.; U-Tapao, Thailand; and Iwakuni. In June, operations shifted to the air base at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.


 * 28 May 1969: VP-19 deployed to NAS Adak, Alaska. During the deployment the squadron provided support for the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) conducting nuclear weapons testing in the vicinity of Amchitka Island. The squadron earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its support of the AEC.


 * 26 Jul 1970: VP-19 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. Three crews were detached for duty at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, in support of Market Time operations, (coastal patrol operations off the coast of South Vietnam). Activities during the deployment earned the squadron its second Meritorious Unit Commendation.


 * 1 Nov 1971: VP-19 deployed to NAS Cubi Point, R.P., with a detachment at RTNB U-Tapao, Thailand. This would mark the squadron’s fourth and final tour in the Vietnam theater of operations.


 * 1 Aug 1973: Ensign Beverly A. Burns, USNR, reported aboard VP-19 at Naha, Okinawa, as the first female officer to be assigned to an operational squadron in the Pacific Fleet. Ensign Burns joined the squadron as a non-flying officer filling a ground officer billet.


 * 23 Oct 1974: The squadron deployed to WestPac at NAS Cubi Point, R.P. During the deployment the squadron participated in Valiant Heritage, the largest Pacific Fleet readiness exercise in the North Pacific since World War II.


 * 18–30 April 1975: The squadron was tasked with SAR missions as part of Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of American citizens from the capital of South Vietnam under heavy attack from the invading forces of North Vietnam.


 * 5 May 1976: VP-19 deployed to NAS Adak, Alaska. Big Red was the first patrol squadron to operate the new P-3C UI at the detachment site.


 * 1 Jan 1977: VP-19 deployed to Adak, Alaska. The deployment proved to be exceptional in the number of SAR missions the squadron was called upon to perform. A record 20 SAR missions were successfully completed, contributing to the awarding of the squadron’s second Battle Efficiency “E” award in its history.


 * 28 Dec 1979: VP-19 deployed to NAF Misawa, Japan. The squadron participated in operations to rescue Vietnamese boat people, as authorized by the president on 19 July 1979. By May of 1980, over 2,500 refugees had been rescued by elements of the Navy.


 * Jul 1987: The squadron split-deployed to NAF Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T.; and NAF Kadena, Okinawa. In October, a detachment of four aircraft was deployed to King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, on orders from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During deployment VP-19 flew support missions for five separate battle groups, including operations with battleships Missouri (BB 63) and Iowa (BB 61).


 * Jul 1990: VP-19 became the first patrol squadron to ever fire a Mark 50 torpedo war shot. The addition of this weapon to the armory of the Orion greatly increased its offensive capabilities.


 * Aug 1990–Mar 1991: VP-19 deployed to NAF Misawa, Japan. On 28 August, crew 4 and a squadron aircraft detached for duty to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield. Single crews rotated to the gulf to share this duty until December 1990, when three crews were sent forward in support of Operation Desert Storm. Additional detachments were maintained during the deployment at NAF Kadena, Okinawa; and Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T.


 * 31 Aug 1991: VP-19 was disestablished.

Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
 * NAAS Livermore, Calif. May 1946
 * NAS Alameda, Calif. 1 Mar 1951
 * NAS Moffett Field, Calif. 1 Sep 1963

Aircraft Assignment
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
 * PV-2/PBY-5A/PBY-6A May 1946
 * P2V-2 Dec 1949
 * P4Y-2S Mar 1951
 * P2V-2/3 Mar 1952
 * P2V-5 Jul 1953
 * P2V-7 Aug 1955
 * P-3A Jul 1963
 * P-3B Jun 1967
 * P-3C UI Jul 1975