VP-1
| Patrol Squadron 1 | |
|---|---|
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|
| Active | 15 February 1943 – Present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Anti-Submarine Patrol |
| Home Port | NAS Whidbey Island |
| Nickname(s) | Fleet's Finest (1955 - 1985) Screaming Eagles (1985 - Present) |
| Mascot(s) | Eagle |
| Engagements |
World War II Korean War Vietnam War Desert Shield |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Patrol |
PV Harpoon (1943) P-2 Neptune (1947) P-3 Orion (1969) |
Patrol Squadron One (VP-1), established 15 February 1943, is an active aviation squadron of the United States Navy operating the P-3C Orion aircraft from its home port at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, United States. The squadron is known by its nickname "Screaming Eagles", adopted in 1985 replacing its previous nickname "Fleet's Finest". The squadron went by the call sign "BACKDOOR" during the 1960s and 1970s.
The squadron was originally established as Bombing Squadron 128 (VB-128) on 15 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 128 (VPB-128) 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 128 (VP-128) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 1 (VP-ML-1) on 15 November 1946 and redesignated Patrol Squadron ONE (VP-1) on 1 September 1948. It is the fifth squadron to be designated VP-1. The first VP-1 was disestablished in July 1922, the second VP-1 was disestablished on 3 May 1926, the third VP-1 was redesignated VP-21 on 1 July 1939 and the fourth VP-1 was redesignated VPB-1 on 1 October 1944.
Bombing Squadron One Hundred Twenty Eight (VB-128) was established at Naval Air Station DeLand, Florida on 15 February 1943 as part of the build-up of Allied aircraft engaged in the Battle of the Atlantic. Under operational control of Fleet Air Wing Twelve, the squadron took only two weeks to bring aircrew and their PV-1 Ventura aircraft to operational status, and by May the squadron was able to send a detachment of aircraft to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to provide aerial cover for convoys while the squadron moved to Floyd Bennett Field in New York City. The squadron's first loss in action came on 7 August 1943 when a Ventura was shot down by a German U-boat it had attacked and damaged. The pilot, Lieutenant JG Frederick Cushing Cross, Jr., was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions in saving his crew's lives despite suffering a mortal wound.
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