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HistoryVX-8 HistoryHistory

Circa 1969

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation March 1969 "...VX-8 Is Redesignated VXN-8 - Page 3 - Naval Aviation News - March 1969..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1969/mar69.pdf [16SEP2004]

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Circa 1968

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation March 1968 "...Heavy Attack Eight Retires - Page 3 - Naval Aviation News - March 1968..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1968/mar68.pdf [14SEP2004]

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Circa 1967 - 1993

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Lest We Forget - VX-8 By LCDR Rick Burgess, U. S. Navy (Retired) PROCEEDINGS - March 2006 Page 94..." WebSite: U. S. Naval Institute http://www.usni.org/PROCEEDINGS/proceedings.html [03MAR2006]

Oceanographic Development Squadron Eight (VXN-8) was established as Air Development Squadron Eight (VX-8) on 1 July 1967 at Navial Air Training Center Patuxent River, Maryland. Equipped with NC-12IJ/K long-range research aircraft, the squadron was assigned roles related to oceanographic survey.

VX-8 traced its origins to the Atlantic Fleet's Airborne Early Warning Training Unit, which was in 1951 assigned an ongoing airborne magnetic survey program-Project Magnet-to map the earth's magnetic variation. A P2V Neptune, succeeded by an R5D Skymaster, carried out the role until 1958, when a WV-2 (EC-121K) was acquired for the role. The WV-2 was painted in the distinctive white-with-red-trim scheme-and cartoon character-that made the project aircraft recognizable worldwide as it carried out its missions.

Two additional ongoing projects were assigned to the unit beginning in 1962. Project Birdseye mapped polar ice for the Naval Oceanographic Office using EC-121 KIP aircraft. Project Outpost Seascan, also using an EC-121 K (later NC-121 K), sampled hydrographic conditions worldwide for the antisubmarine warfare environmental prediction database, designed to support the Navy's Cold War antisubmarine surveillance.

The three oceanographic projects Were consolidated in the Oceanographic Airborne Survey Unit on 1 July 1965, the year the unit was assigned an unrelated role, Project Jenny, to provide airborne transmission platforms for radio and television broadcasts using C-12JJ (later NC-12IJ) "Blue Eagle" aircraft. The three Blue Eagle aircraft deployed to the Dominican Republic during the 1965 crisis and then to South Vietnam-where all three suffered combat damageuntil 1970.

On 1 January 1969, VX-8 was redesignated VXN-8. During 1972-73, the C-12l aircraft were replaced by two RP-3A Orions for projects Birdseye and Outpost Seascan and an RP-3D for Project Magnet. During the 1980s, the squadron added P-3A, UP-3A, RP-3A, P-3B, and RP-3D aircraft as replacements or to take on additional projects.

VXN-8 was disestablished on 1 October 1993. Its main projects and two of its RP-3Ds were transferred to the Naval Research Laboratory's Flight Support Detachment, which carries on numerous research roles today as Scientific Development Squadron One (VXS-l).


Circa 1967

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Naval Research Reviews - February 1967...Project Jenny..." Contributed by Ron Linford RonGL@aol.com [26NOV2000]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Naval Research Reviews - February 1967...Project Jenny..." Contributed by Ron Linford RonGL@aol.com [26NOV2000]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Naval Research Reviews - February 1967...Project Jenny..." Contributed by Ron Linford RonGL@aol.com [26NOV2000]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Naval Research Reviews - February 1967...Project Jenny..." Contributed by Ron Linford RonGL@aol.com [26NOV2000]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Naval Research Reviews - February 1967...Project Jenny..." Contributed by Ron Linford RonGL@aol.com [26NOV2000]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Naval Research Reviews - February 1967...Project Jenny..." Contributed by Ron Linford RonGL@aol.com [26NOV2000]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Naval Research Reviews - February 1967...Project Jenny..." Contributed by Ron Linford RonGL@aol.com [26NOV2000]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...VX-8 VietNam 1967..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [09OCT2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...VX-8 VietNam 1967..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [09OCT2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...VX-8 VietNam Flight Line Bunker 1967..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [09OCT2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...VX-8 VietNam Flight Line 1967..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [09OCT2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...VX-8 VietNam 1967 - Left to Right: AN Eaton ("The Beard">, Unknown and AT3 David Ferguson, ET2 Nason, ATN3 David Ferguson, and Unknown..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [09OCT2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...VX-8 VietNam 1967..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Orphans Saigon 1967 - PO3 Grantwits..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...VX-8 Ready Room 1967..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...LEFT: David Ferguson, Mike Stevens, Herbie Braun, Stancavage, and Jerry Trotter. RIGHT: Fred Works, Morris, Walter Steponavich, Merinsky, and Dale Tutko. Herbie Braun retires - Saigon Viet Name 1967. VX-8 DetWestPac..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...VX-8 DetWestPac Artwork 1967..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]


Circa 1966

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

  • Meritorious Unit Commendation
    01 Jan 66 - 01 Jul 70

  • Vietnam Service Medal
    26 Jul 67 - 21 Jan 68

    Circa Unknown
    Can you identify the Month and or Year?

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...1-Steve Pennington, 2-Unknown, 3-Dale Tutko, 4- "Tiny" Grantwitz, and 5-Fred Works. R&R..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...1-Morris, 2-Bob Moore, 3-Fred Wroks, and 4-LCDR Brennan..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Electronis Tower..."Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...1-Jim Lasster, 2-Eaton, and 3-John Vito. R&R..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...Day Room..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...1-Unknown and 2-Steve Pennington..."Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...1-Staneage and 2-Nason..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VX History "...ATN3 David Ferguson..." Contributed by FERGUSON, ATN David dferg0@aol.com [01OCT2001]


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