A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Another history note: VP-23 was the second squadron to transition from P-3B to P-3C Update II following VP-44 who was first. VP-23 was the first Harpoon equipped squadron in the Navy as the Harpoon gear was not ready in time for VP-44 when they made the first Update II deployment to Keflavik, Iceland in 1979. As a result of all this, when VP-23 relieved VP-44 in Keflavik in September '79 they were still the only Harpoon equipped squadron of any kind in the Navy. On New Year's Eve the squadron was tasked to provide a four-crew, three-plane detachment to NSF Diego Garcia as a result of the Iranian hostage crisis and the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. We were extended on deployment for a month and made the remainder of the deployment a split Keflavik - NSF Diego Garcia deployment! We used to say: "If they were any farther away they'd be closer." In the end VP-26 relieved the Diego detachment while VP-46 came over and relieved the Keflavik portion. Oh by the way, we smashed all previous sub contact records with only 2/3 of a squadron in Keflavik!" Contributed by AWCS(AW/NAC) Jeffrey S. Morris 2yankeesfan15@comcast.net

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-44 NAS Keflavik, Iceland 1979 patch..." Contributed by LEVESQUE, David gettingfree@earthlink.net [12MAY2001]

Circa 1978

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 31 and 33 - Naval Aviation News - October 1978..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1978/oct78.pdf [09OCT2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History and Change-Of-Command - Page 27 and 29 - Naval Aviation News - September 1978..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1978/sep78.pdf [09OCT2004]

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Circa 1977

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Meritorious Unit Citation awarded to VP-8, VP-44, VP-64, and VP-92 for ASW operations with CTG 84.3 out of NAS Bermuda in the spring of 1977. The citation on the second page was given out in December of 1977..." Contributed by ROBIDEAU, AWCS Larry Retired larobidoo@comcast.net [15MAY2007]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Change-Of-Command - Page 24 - Naval Aviation News - October 1977..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1977/oct77.pdf [08OCT2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-44 - Naval Aviation News - July 1977..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1977/jul77.pdf [08OCT2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...New Platform - Page 40 - Naval Aviation News - March 1977..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1977/mar77.pdf [08OCT2004]

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Circa 1976

A BIT OF HISTORY: NAAF GREEN "...Aussie 1976 map of Green/Nissan Island. VPB-44 was the main squadron there mid 1944 to April 1945..." Contributed by BUSH, Milton c/o His Son Milton Bush, Jr. MWBUSH@compuserve.com [09JAN2003]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Squadron Awards..." Contributed by Mahlon K. Miller mkwsmiller@cox.net [23APR2001]

Joint Meritorious Unit Award
15 Aug 90 – 12 Oct 90

Meritorious Unit Commendation
09 Sep 70 – 31 Oct 70
09 Mar 76 – 30 Apr 76
13 Feb 77 – 22 May 77
16 Mar 79 – 12 Apr 79
15 Mar 81 – 23 Mar 82

Navy "E" Ribbon (Battle "E")
01 Oct 78 – 30 Sep 79
01 Oct 80 – 31 Dec 81

SECNAV Letter of Commendation
02 Jan 83 – 14 Jun 83

VP-44 Participating Aircrew

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
14 Mar 84 – 31 Jul 84

Navy Expeditionary Service Medal
01 Oct 80 – 10 Feb 81

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Circa 1975

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...CNO Awards - Page 3 - Naval Aviation News - November 1975..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1975/nov75.pdf [04OCT2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-44 - Page 29 - Naval Aviation News - October 1975..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1975/oct75.pdf [04OCT2004]

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Circa 1973

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-44 History "...The photo of LJG Jeff Averill and myself holding the Lockheed P-3 model at Bermuda represents our making PPTC and PPC, respectively, before the NAS Bermudadeployment in 1973..." Contributed by CDR KEANE [E-Mail Removed By Request 15FEB2012 | 15APR2008]

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Circa 1972

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Beer Bottles, Bombs And Battles - Page 22 to 27 - Naval Aviation News - June 1972..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1972/jun72.pdf [27SEP2004]

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Circa 1971 - 1973

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...A little command history while I was attached: CDR RJW Smith replaced CDR Gigliotti 1OCT71; CDR James Wyly became CO 1OCT72; and CDR PD Smith followed on 1OCT73, his XO being CDR Cullinane. We were the unit that lost a crew to a crash in the area of Ceuta, Morocco in 1972. I was on LT Tom Poole's crew that morning flying a patrol out of NAF Lajes, Azores, Portugal. We received a call on whether we had heard anything from LCDR Bob Mendenhall's aircraft; we hadn't. I remember a lot of what went on following the accident, but can tell you it was a great loss to us all..." Contributed by CDR KEANE [E-Mail Removed By Request 15FEB2012 | 15APR2008]

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Circa 1971

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-8/VP-44 "... P-3 Bermuda photo credited to all East Coast VP ever deployed to NAS Bermuda..." Contributed by CDR KEANE [E-Mail Removed By Request 15FEB2012 | 15APR2008]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Squadron Insignia - Naval Aviation News - August 1971..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1971/aug71.pdf [23SEP2004]

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Circa 1970

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...On Patrol - Page 26 - Naval Aviation News - May 1970..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1970/may70.pdf [17SEP2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...On Patrol - Page 24 - Naval Aviation News - April 1970..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1970/apr70.pdf [17SEP2004]

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"VP-44 History Summary Page"

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