VP-47
Encyclopedia
Patrol Squadron 47, also known as "The Golden Swordsmen", is a maritime patrol squadron of the United States Navy
based at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay
, Hawaii
, attached to Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Two. The squadron currently flies the P-3C Orion, and is scheduled to transition to the P-8A Poseidon within the next few years. This elite squadron is informally known as "The Best in the West" by all other Orion-flying activities.
, North Carolina
on June 1, 1944 during World War II
. Deployed to Hawaii equipped with PBM Mariner
aircraft. The squadron participated in the Okinawa Campaign in 1945. When the war finished the squadron undertook courier services in the Western Pacific until VPB-27 returned to Hawaii and was redesignated VP-47.
After relocating to Naval Air Station San Diego, the squadron flew patrols along the west coast of the United States from Alaska
to Mexico
. The squadron deployed detachments to Saipan
, Naval Air Station Sangley Point, Philippines
and Oppama, Japan
in January 1950. With the outbreak of the Korean War
, VP-47 increased its deployment to Japan flying patrol missions and courier routes in the Western Pacific. At the end of the Korean War, VP-47 had made three deployments in support of United Nations forces in Korea and relocated to Naval Air Station Alameda
, California
and was re-equipped with P5M Marlin
seaplanes.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
based at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay
Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay
Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay or MCAS Kaneohe Bay is a United States Marine Corps airfield located within the Marine Corps Base Hawaii complex, formerly known as Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bay or Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, attached to Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Two. The squadron currently flies the P-3C Orion, and is scheduled to transition to the P-8A Poseidon within the next few years. This elite squadron is informally known as "The Best in the West" by all other Orion-flying activities.
Squadron History
VP-47 was officially established as VPB-27 at Naval Air Station Harvey PointHarvey Point
The Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity facility, owned by the Department of Defense, is located on a peninsula in Perquimans County, North Carolina, along the Albemarle Sound, near the city of Hertford, NC. Established in World War II as an operating base for sea planes conducting anti-submarine...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
on June 1, 1944 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Deployed to Hawaii equipped with PBM Mariner
PBM Mariner
The Martin PBM Mariner was a patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War period. It was designed to complement the PBY Catalina in service. A total of 1,366 were built, with the first example flying on 18 February 1939 and the type entering service in September 1940.-Design and...
aircraft. The squadron participated in the Okinawa Campaign in 1945. When the war finished the squadron undertook courier services in the Western Pacific until VPB-27 returned to Hawaii and was redesignated VP-47.
After relocating to Naval Air Station San Diego, the squadron flew patrols along the west coast of the United States from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The squadron deployed detachments to Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, Naval Air Station Sangley Point, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and Oppama, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in January 1950. With the outbreak of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, VP-47 increased its deployment to Japan flying patrol missions and courier routes in the Western Pacific. At the end of the Korean War, VP-47 had made three deployments in support of United Nations forces in Korea and relocated to Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay.NAS Alameda had two runways: 07-25 and 13-31...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was re-equipped with P5M Marlin
P5M Marlin
|- See also :- References :NotesBibliography* Andrade, John, U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0 904597 22 9.* Barth, Bruce D., "The Martin P5M 'Marlin'". Pacific Aero Press, 1994....
seaplanes.
See also
- History of the United States NavyHistory of the United States NavyThe history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons