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Naval Aviation Squadrons

Squadrons flying similar aircraft are grouped into functional wings and are located at the same air station. This arrangement helps coordinate training and maintenance by keeping similar aircraft concentrated at one base. The aircraft carriers on which the wings operate are likewise homeported in different locations. The logistics of matching the various wing squadrons with the ship are quite complex and challenging.

Hostile submarine forces pose an unique threat to the security of the United States and allied nations. To protect the sea lanes of communication, worldwide surveillance is maintained by Navy maritime patrol squadrons flying the P-3C Orion aircraft. The P-3C is a multi-engine, multi-piloted, transoceanic aircraft flying from shore air stations. COMNAVAIRPAC has maritime patrol squadrons at NAS Moffet Field, California and NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. COMNAVAIRLANT has maritime patrol squadrons at NAS Brunswick, Maine and NAS Jacksonville, Florida. Each base has six squadrons, with two squadrons deployed to forward operational bases. Normally, squadrons deploy for six months alternated with twelve months at home base. The patrol squadron consists of 9 airplanes, 36 aviators, 24 Naval flight officers, and 280 enlisted personnel. Flight crews consist of 3 aviators, 2 Naval flight officers, and 8 enlisted aircrewmen. Up to 23 total aircrew can be accommodated aboard the aircraft if needed. Various sensors include passive and active sonobuoys, magnetic detectors, and optical scanners. Weapons carried on board the P-3C include torpedoes, depth charges, mines, and Harpoon air-to-surface missiles.

A patrol squadron is a diverse element of the United States Navy that performs many assignments. They are hunters who serve as the eyes and ears of the Fleet. By patrolling in advance of the Fleet´s arrival or in its surrounding environment, potential enemies are located and, when armed, we are ready to engage on the Fleet´s behalf. They also serve as a strategic deterrent to crisis and conflict. Where adversaries around the world are closely monitored. Furthermore, they provide valuable information required by theater Commanders in order to support decisions on possible courses of action. They hunt at great distances and with great endurance, often from remote sites with little support required, and frequently serving alongside naval comrades, sister services, agencies, and allies. The diverse service of maritime patrol requires that they perform many specific tasks. These include: anti- submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, offensive and defensive mine delivery, sea surveillance and maritime intelligence collection, coastal and overland reconnaissance, targeting for strikes, counterdrug detection and monitoring, electronic warfare, battle damage assessment, and search and rescue.

In 1998 Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Jay Johnson, approved the redesignation of all VAQ squadrons from Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron to Electronic Attack Squadron. The short title for squadrons changed from TACELRON to VAQRON. The squadron's wing became Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. The short title for the Wing remained ComVAQWingPac. The Electronic Combat Weapons School (ECWS) was renamed the Electronic Attack Weapons School. Its short title changed to EAWS. In essence, what was done was to finally apply the correct title to the VAQ designation.

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• Aircraft Designations & Squadrons -- produced by Naval Aviation News (NANews) as a joint project of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the Naval Historical Center - current as of July 1998
• Naval Aviation Squadrons Sorted by Mission @ MilitaryInfo.Com