Patrol Squadron-68 (VP-68)
Patrol Squadron-68 (VP-68) traces it's lineage to Naval Reserve Patrol Squadron VP-661 which was formed during the re-establishment of the organized Naval Air Reserve following World War II. In May of 1968, VP-661 and VP-662 were redesignated as VP-68A1 and VP-68A2, respectively, and on 1 November 1970, VP68A1 and VP68A2 merged with a third squadron, VP-8A1, to form Patrol Squadron 68. The new squadron was assigned to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, flying the P-3A "Orion" aircraft. In 1985 the squadron completed transition to the P-3B Tactical Navigation Modernization (TACNAVMOD) aircraft. In April of that year, VP-68 moved to Naval Air Facility Washington, DC, the location formerly known as Naval Air Facility Andrews AFB.
1994 and 1995 saw VP-68 complete multiple detachments in support of real world fleet operations. "BLACKHAWK" aircrews continued the support of Operation Sharp Guard out of NAS Sigonella. Three multiple week detachments were made to NS Roosevelt Roads and Howard AFB, Panama to conduct Counter Narcotics operations. Two crews and maintenance personnel participated in UNITAS XXXV-94, operating from Montevideo, Uruguay. VP-68 aircrews won 3 Crew of the Quarter awards, the CPWL Mining derby and the COMNAVAIRESFOR "Liberty Bell" VP-68 also, broke their own record for participation and qualification rates in the COMNAVAIRESFOR NATOPS unit evaluation.
The squadron was ordered to stand-down on 31 December 1996, but not before completing a six week detachment to Naval Station Keflavik.
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