VPNAVY VP-5 Mercury Capsule Recovery
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HistoryVR-1 HistoryHistory

Circa 1978

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation January 1978 "...History and Change-Of-Command - Page 30 and 33 - Naval Aviation News - January 1978..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1978/jan78.pdf [09OCT2004]

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Circa 1973

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: History ThumbnailCameraVR-1 History "...Navy C-9B Christened 'City of Jacksonville' - JAX AIR NEWS - VOL 31 - NO 18 - NAS Jacksonville, FL - 19 JUL 1973..." WebSite: University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ [04JUL2011]


Circa 1972

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation November 1972 "...Aviation Safety Awards Announced - Page 3 - Naval Aviation News - November 1972..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1972/nov72.pdf [27SEP2004]

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Circa 1968

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation August 1968 "...VR-1 Departs Patuxent River - Page 37 - Naval Aviation News - August 1968..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1968/aug68.pdf [15SEP2004]

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Circa 1962

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News April 1962 "...March Marked Twenty Years For VR-1 - Naval Aviation News - April 1962..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1962/apr62.pdf [23AUG2004]

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Circa 1959

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News July 1959 "...Going UP with VR-1 - Page 13 - Naval Aviation News - July 1959..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1959/jul59.pdf [15AUG2004]

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Circa 1957

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News January 1957 "...Up In The Air For Over Siz Years - Naval Aviation News - January 1957..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1957/jan57.pdf [10AUG2004]

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Circa 1955

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News January 1955 "...VR-1 Trains Wave Medics - Page 24 - Naval Aviation News - January 1955..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1955/jan55.pdf [03AUG2004]

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Circa 1953

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News June 1953 "...VR-1 Speeds Planes' Return - Page 24 - Naval Aviation News - June 1953..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1953/jun53.pdf [29JUL2004]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News April 1953 "...Pilots Learn To Fly R7V-1 - Page 16 - Naval Aviation News - April 1953..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1953/apr53.pdf [29JUL2004]

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Circa 1952

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News September 1952 "...Pax Jet Crashes By Hangar - Page 31 - Naval Aviation News - September 1952..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1952/sep52.pdf [27JUL2004]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News July 1952 "...Squadron Tops Own Record - Page 19 - Naval Aviation News - July 1952..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1952/jul52.pdf [26JUL2004]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News June 1952 "...Synthetic Training Service - Page 21 - Naval Aviation News - June 1952..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1952/jun52.pdf [26JUL2004]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News February 1952 "...Cuba Plane Aids Northerner - Page 15 - Naval Aviation News - February 1952..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1952/feb52.pdf [25JUL2004]

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Circa 1951

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: History ThumbnailCameraVR-1 History "...10FEB51 - Air Transport Squadron ONE - Report of Unusual Sighting - Publication Number: T1206 - Publication Title: Project Blue Book, 1947-1969 - Publisher: NARA - Year: 1951 - Month: February - Month Season Number: 02 - Location: 49.50N 50.03W (Atlantic) - WebSite: http://www.footnote.com/..." Forwarded by Stephen Miller f134kilmil@comcast.net [28AUG2008]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News August 1951 "...VR-1 Executes Mercy Errand - Page 24 - Naval Aviation News - August 1951..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1951/aug51.pdf [24JUL2004]

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Circa 1949

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News March 1948 "...Argentia Flight Hit Wind - Page 20 - Naval Aviation News - March 1949..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1940s/1949/mar49.pdf [15JUL2004]

Naval Aviation News March 1948

Circa 1948

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News April 1948 "...Winter and NATS Pilot Battle It Out - Page 15 - Naval Aviation News - April 1948..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1940s/1948/apr48.pdf [10JUL2004]

Naval Aviation News April 1948

Circa 1945

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...My Dad, LT Lawrence Joseph Krell (Deceased), served with many squadron including NAF Detroit, Michigan (1935-1939), NAS Pensacola, Florida (1939-1942), VP-62 (1942), VP-42 (1942), FAW-6 (1943), VP-43 (1943-1944), VH-2 (1944), VX-2 (1944), VR-11 (1945) and VR-1 (1945) as reflected in one of his Flight Log Books..." Contributed by his daughter Larinda Pilkerton lpilkerton@sandi.net [30OCT2005]

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Circa 1942

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...VR-1 History..." http://navymats.com/ [01JUN2002]

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, a driving need was foreseen by Capt. C.H. "Dutch" Schildhauer for the transport of vital equipment and personnel to various far flung naval commands to keep up with and support the needs of our fighting naval personnel. This would bolster the United States growing ability to stop the spread onaziizsm and the imperialistic desires of the Jap-Naziism and the imperialistic ideas of the Japanese. Plans were formulated to procure the necessary aircraft and personnel to support the plan for the Naval Air Transport Service (NATS). Having no cadre of qualified personnel for such an undertaking, this initial influx of aircraft and equipment was necessarily drawn from the commercial airlines. The first NATS squadron - VR-1 - was commissioned on Mar. 9, 1942 at NAS Norfolk with the DC-3 aircraft designated R4D by the Navy. It's complement consisted of 5 aircraft, 27 Officers, and 150 men. This initial complement grew to a total of 431 aircraft and 13 squadrons whose principal task was delivering vital cargo, personnel, and mail to the fleet and the ground forces in forwared areas in hours, instead of weeks by surface transportation.

In the formative stages, three squadrons were commissioned. These were VR-1 at NAS Norfolk VA. for service across the Atlantic, VR-2 at NAS Alameda CA. serving the West Coast and Pacific area, and VR-3 at NAS Olathe, KS. to join the training centers and supply depots together, linking with their East and West Coast counterparts. These units then began expanding their operations to provide this high speed transportation system access to far flung regions of the world such as Alaska, the Caribbean, and South Pacific including Australia. By the end of 1943 it had expanded to include four wings, ten transport squadrons, and three ferry squadrons. The fleet of aircraft grew to 200 aircraft, including the land based Douglas Skytrain R4D and Skymaster R5D's, and flying boats Martin Mariner JRM and Consolidated Coronados PB2Y.

Seven squadrons had been commissioned by 1943: VR-4 (Maintenance) Oakland CA.; VR-5 (Operational) West Coast and Alaska; VR-6 (Operational) Miami FL; VR-7 (Operational) South America; VR-8 (Operational and Training) Patuxent River MD; VR-10 (Maintenance) Honolulu HI; and VR-11 (Operational) Honolulu TransPacific. In 1944 three more squadrons were added: VR-9 (Maintenance) Olathe KS; VR-12 (Headquarters Squadron) Pacific; and VR-13, (Operational) Manus Island.

In 1944, equiped with the four engined Douglas Skymaster R5D, the Navy squadrons from the far out Pacific were called upon to support the invasion of France. This required a hugh airlift of mine-sweeping equipment to the U.K. The flight crews were drawn from all NATS squadrons. In the Pacific, as the Japanese were driven deeper and deeper back into the Pacific Ocean, a major organizational change was made, with the establishment of NATS as a flag command of the U.S. fleet.

At war's end, NATS personnel numbered 26,000. Officers and men were working around the clock to carry the burden of rush cargo, key military personnel and emergency operations. Aircraft and men were being utilized to their utmost while maintaining a spirit of "can do" that would match any organization of the military.


Circa Unknown
Can you identify the Month and or Year?

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: History ThumbnailCameraVR-1 History "...From Left to Right: XO of Commander Fleet Logistic Air Wing, CO of VR-1 (I think his name was Captain Avery), Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Aide..." Contributed by Richard Buddy Rice rrice@citynet.net [31DEC2003]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: History ThumbnailCameraVR-1 History "...From Left to Right: XO of Commander Fleet Logistic Air Wing, CO of VR-1 (I think his name was Captain Avery), Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Aide..." Contributed by Richard Buddy Rice rrice@citynet.net [31DEC2003]


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