VPNAVY - VQ-1 History Summary Page

VQ-1 History

Circa 1989
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Awards - Change-Of-Command - Page 26, 29, and 31 - Naval Aviation News - July-August 1989..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1989/ja89.pdf [22OCT2004]

Circa 1984
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...LETTER OF COMMENDATION - 19SEP84..." Contributed by CARPENTER, CTOCS(AW) Ed ecarp@iserv.net [21MAY2001]

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
FLEET AIR RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON ONE
FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

1650
Ser NIG/1008
19 September 1984

From: Commanding Officer, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE
To:
Via: Officer in Charge, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE Det Atsugi

Subj: LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. On behalf of myself and especially the aircrews, I would like to express the appreciation of all the members of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE for the outstanding spirit of cooperation and services demonstrated by the personnel of the FAIRECONRON ONE Det Atsugi SSO/INTEL and SPINTCOMM Communication Center.

2. As you well know, the success of our mission is depended upon rapid and accurate dissemination of special intelligence and general service message traffic. In this regard, our dependence upon the VQ-l Det Atsugi Communication . Center is total in recepting and transmitting message traffic and internally to SSO/INTEL for the precise and accurate up-to-date personalized briefs to all aircrew prior to each mission. I have repeatedly been impressed by your total dedication to this mission. When asked to respond to short-fused requirements, the results have never been short of outstanding.

3. As is known to all in the communications business, successful and reliable communications depends on each individual's assigned communications duties. In the past year the Det Atsugi Communications Center has provided exceptional communication support to not only FAIRECONRON ONE Det Atsugi, Naval Security Group Det Atsugi, COMFAIRWESTPAC, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, and the Naval Investigative Service on a continuing basis but has also acted as communication guard for the Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Commander-in-Chief Pacific, Armed Service Committee for Congress. Despite increased incoming message volume and ever increasing outgoing traffic, your communications service has always maintained the highest possible level of timeliness and accuracy. It is also gratifying when someone outside the command officially recognizes a job well done. During the past twelve months, Det Atsugi has acquired four certificates of communications excellence from Naval Technical Communications Center North Island, San Diego, California for an error ratio of less than one percent. This is a truely outstanding performance considering the demanding, high tempo environment in which your communications center works.

4. Though the SSO/INTEL Department has always been short of personnel your true espirit de corps in providing the most outstanding ser~ve to each aircrew is highly commendable.

5. The professional manner in which the men and women of FAIRECONRON ONE Oet Atsugi Communications and Intelligence Division perform their vital functions has earned the respect and appreciation of the squadron on Guam as well as numerous commands in the Pacific. "Well Done".

Copy to:
Service Record
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 37, 38 and 40 - Naval Aviation News - July-August 1984..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1984/ja84.pdf [17OCT2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...CITATION - 01JAN84 - 31MAR85..." Contributed by CARPENTER, CTOCS(AW) Ed ecarp@iserv.net [21MAY2001]

UNITED STATES SEVENTH FLEET

The Commander Seventh Fleet takes pleasure in commending
Commander Fleet Air Reconnassiance Squadron ONE
for service as set forth in the following:

CITATION

"For meritorious service while conducting sensitive reconnaissance operations between 1 January 1984 and 31 March 1985. Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE performed superbly in every endeavor, significantly improving intelligence data bases and dramatically increasing SEVENTH Fleet's Electronic Warfare capabilities. The squadron's indepth knowledge, real time Indicators and Warning (I and W) coverage, and subsequent detailed and accurate post mission reporting kept all operational commanders within the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans continually aware of the threat of. Soviet and other communist capabilities and activities. The superb coverage by Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE EP-3's and EA-3's of two Team Spirit exercises and FLEETEX-85 provided Battle Group and Battle Force Commanders with intelligence that was vital to the conduct of these exercises. Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE demonstrated the ability to perform its wartime mission on a dally basis in numerous potentially hostile environments on the fringes of unfriendly territory. The selfless dedication to duty and unmatched professionalism of the officers and enlisted personnel of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Signed
PAUL F. McCAR Vice Admiral
United States Navy
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Miscellaneous Photo's..." Contributed by CARPENTER, CTOCS(AW) Ed ecarp@iserv.net [21MAY2001]
VQ-1 09JAN85 "...VQ-1 Commanding Officer CDR Mitchell (Died in A3 off Guam with loss of nine crewmen - bad hydralics)..."
VQ-1 25SEP8? "...VQ-1 Intel Boss CDR Sydes..."
VQ-1 02NOV83 "...VQ-1 Commanding Officer CDR Hughes..."
VQ-1 Det Atsugi "...TOP: 06FEB84...BOTTOM: 03OCT83..."
VQ-1 Det Atsugi "...TOP: 15MAY84...BOTTOM: 03OCT83..."
Miscellaneous "...TOP: 12MAR86 Air Warfare Class...BOTTOM: 04DEC85..."

Circa 1983
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION - 01SEP83 - 05NOV83..." Contributed by CARPENTER, CTOCS(AW) Ed ecarp@iserv.net [21MAY2001]

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION to

TASK FORCE SEVENTY-ONE (KOREAN AIRLINES FLIGHT KAL 007'SEARRCH AND RESCUE/SALVAGE OPERATIONS) for service as set forth in the following . CITATION:

For meritorious service while attached to the SEVENTH Fleet and operating integral to Task Force SEVENTY-ONE from 1 September 1983 to 5 November 1983. While conducting search and salvage operations for Korean Airlines Flight KAL 007 in response to national taskings and operating close to the Soviet Islands Sakhaiin and Moneron in the Tartar Strait and Northern Sea of Japan, Task Force SBVENTY-ONE superbly carried out its humanitarian mission despite severe climatic conditions and frequent Soviet harrassment and obstruction. Low temperatures and high seas relentlessly harrassed personnel, equipment; and ships. Soviet insensitivity to international sanction to the shootdown and the intense proximity of United -States and chartered ships to claimed international waters spurted active Soviet efforts to frustrate, obstruct, and discredit Task Force SEVENTY-ONE which nonetheless meticulously completed a precision search of over 225 square miles of ocean floor. Exceptional shiphandling and intrepid professional response avoided even the occasion of an incident between the Soviet Union and the United States. By their sustained superior performance, steadfast initiative, and unswerving devotion to duty, the officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees of Task Force SEVENTY-ONE (Korean Airlines Flight KAL 007 Search and Rescue/Salvage Operations) reflected credit upon'themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Signed
Secretary of the Navy
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION - 01JAN83-01JAN84..." Contributed by CARPENTER, CTOCS(AW) Ed ecarp@iserv.net [21MAY2001]

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION
to
FLEET AIR RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON ONE

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For meritorious service in the performance of surveillance and reconnaissance operations in support of the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet and National Command Authorities from 1 January 1983 to 1 January 1984. During this period, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE and supporting units provided critical intelligence, frequently a sole reporting source, and proved to be a vital element in Fleet defense and joint services collection operations. Staging from aircraft carriers . and multiple land based locations throughout the Pacific Ocean and Indian Theaters, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE and associated Naval Security Group Personnel made highly significant intelligence contributions during arduous deployments, often involving extended periods of around-the-clock support, and in spite of adverse personnel and asset limitations. By their exceptional display of professionalism, extraordinary determination, and steadfast devotion to duty, the officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE reflected credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Signed
Secretary of the Navy

Circa 1982
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...P-3 Orion Twenty Years Young - Page 14 to 18 - Naval Aviation News - August 1982..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1982/aug82.pdf [15OCT2004]

Circa 1981
A BIT OF HISTORY: VQ-1 History "...1981 aboard the USS Constellation..." Contributed by Paul Jarvis vaq134@cox.net [11FEB2008]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...USS Constellation in 1981 featuring VQ-1 DET Bravo..." Contributed by Paul Jarvis vaq134@cox.net [23DEC2007]

Photograph's Top Row Left-to-Right:
Launch, Closeup Lowres, Launch, Closeup, Closeup and Closeup

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...A-3 photo's I personally took while in the Navy. The aircraft are from VQ-1 DET bravo off the Connie in 1981..." Contributed by Paul Jarvis vaq134@cox.net [03DEC2007]

"VQ-1 History Summary Page"