 VP-93 History
Circa 2007
A 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
A 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
A 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]
Circa 2006
A BIT OF HISTORY:   NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii "...This was my favorite spot togo while with VP-93. Taken while on a recent vacation to Hawaii. This was the only evidence that our old stomping grounds at Barbers Point ever hosted a Naval Air Station. The beautifull art deco ex-HQ Building accross the street from this memorial had trees growing into the windows. I was unable to find any buildings I even recognised. Very sad and depressing..." Contributed by MOTTERN, AW1 Carl Retired cfmottern@yahoo.com [15OCT2006]
A BIT OF HISTORY:  VP-93 P-3 "...We remain active even though disestablished. VP-93's last aircraft LH-02 is in the Selfridge Air Museum at Selfridge ANG base in MI. This is the only known P-3B aircraft not only on display but open for tours! During the summer former 'Executioners' and friends 'man' the P-3 watch. We 'operated' LH-02 last summer with great success and intend to do the same this summer. This year LH-02 is 'armed'. Due to a lot of hard work, dedication and 'comshaw' artists we have taked a gutted aircraft to a near operational state. Pass the word VP-93 'Executioners' are on duty..." Contributed by BOOKER, AW1 Caryl L. Retired cbooker@neo.rr.com WebSite: http://home.neo.rr.com/vp93/ [06MAR2006]
"VP-93 History Summary Page"
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