#1240 P-3C Orion
Purchased products will not feature the Squadron Prints watermark
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1240 - P-3C Orion, 159323, Patrol Squadron FOUR SEVEN (VP-47), MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Patrol Squadron 47 (VP 47), as it is known today, came into existence with the commissioning of VPB-27 at Harvey Point, North Carolina on 1 June 1944. Its initial deployment was to Hawaii in the PBM “Mariner” Aircraft. As World War ll progressed into its later stages, VPB-27 actively participated in the Okinawa Campaign. After the war, the squadron remained in the Western Pacific to fly courier missions. The need for military forces in the area soon diminished and VPB-27 returned to Hawaii to be re-designated as VP 47. In the 1950’s, the squadron acquired the new P5M-2 seaplane and completed four deployments to lwakuni, Japan. During that time, the “Golden Swordsmen” won the Navy Battle ‘E’, two consecutive CNO Safety Awards and adopted as their motto “The Best in the West”. In 1971, the squadron received the P-3C Orion, the Navy’s advanced computerized Undersea Warfare aircraft, thus becoming the first fully operational P-3C squadron in the Pacific Fleet. The 1970’s were highlighted by the squadron winning the Royal Canadian Air Force Coastal Command Trophy, the Battle ‘E’, the Captain Arnold J. lsbell ASW Trophy, the prestigious Tactics Bowl Trophy and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions against enemy supply lines in the South China Sea. During the 1980’s the squadron deployed to numerous sites including Alaska, Japan, Republic of the Philippines, Thailand, Guam and Oman. In the latter part of the decade the squadron upgraded to the P-3C Update Ill and in 1988 passed 100,000 hours of mishap free flying. The squadron also won the Donald M. Neal Aircraft Maintenance Award for excellence in aircraft maintenance as well as a second Meritorious Unit Commendation and a second Captain Arnold J. lsbell ASW Trophy. In the early 90’s the “Golden Swordsmen” distinguished themselves again by winning yet another Battle ‘E’, another CNO Safety Award and another Tactics Bowl Trophy. In June 1993, the squadron changed homeports from Moffet Field, California to Barbers Point, Hawaii. In 1996, the VP 47 won the prestigious Commander, SEVENTH Fleet Undersea Warfare Excellence Award. VP 47 received its first ASuW Improvement Program (AIP) modified P-3C Aircraft in March 1999. In June of 2000 following a WESTPAC deployment VP 47 took residence at its current homeport, Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Throughout the next decade VP 47 deployed to various locations including Afghanistan, the Republic of the Philippines, Diego Garcia and Djibouti, Africa in support Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). In late 2007, VP 47 forward deployed to Tallil Air Base, Iraq in support of OIF. They established Task Group 57.18 to become the first fully deployed maritime patrol squadron in Iraq and the first Naval Aviation squadron deployed to a combat zone since Vietnam. During the 2010s VP 47 again conducted deployments to Japan, Iraq, Italy and Djibouti. The new millennium has proven to be extremely successful for VP 47 by winning four Golden Wrench Awards, one CNO Safety Award and two Captain Arnold J. lsbell ASW Trophies for excellence, proving the “Golden Swordsmen” continue to live up to their motto, “The Best in the West”!
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